Structure & Design ISSUE 16

ISSUE 16 | 2018

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sixTEENTH ISSUE

CONTENT PUBLISHER Structure And Design Media MARKETING Clive Mapfumo Newton Musara Simbarashe Zvidza +263 779 141 137 +263 772 233 086 +263 8644 224 569/70 DESIGN & LAYOUT Tami Zizhou Tichakunda Majena

SPACE OF THE MONTH 08 | Bitumen World Gives Back

MAIN PROFILE 18 | New Office Block in Belgravia

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 34 | The Annual Garden Show 2018

INTERIOR DESIGN 42 | 360o Partnership with Plascon

COMMERCIAL PROFILE CONTRIBUTORS Michael Nott Tariro Ndoro

47 | PSMAS Renovations

INDUSTRIAL PROFILE 54 | ABC Auctions

PHOTOGRAPHY Ronald Mazhindu Structure & Design

DRIVE DESIGN 59 | Fawcett on the Road

SUBSCRIPTIONS +263 8644 224 570 EMAIL adverts.structureanddesign@gmail.com adverts@structureanddesign.co.zw WEBSITE www.structureanddesign.co.zw FIND US AT 31 Alexander Rd, Highlands, Harare

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of its content, neither editor nor publisher can be held responsible for any omissions or errors: or for an y misfortune, injury , or damages which may arise there-from.

All rights reserved. Cop Structure and Design M agazine: No Part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electric or mechanical, including photocopying or recording.

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Structure & Design Team publisher@structureanddesign.co.zw

S&D PARTNERSS&D PARTNERS

PUBLISHER’S MEMO

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s Zimbabwe’s construction industry continues to expand, it is easy to get bogged down in the everyday concerns of site plans, quantities, cement shortages, and project deadlines but it is always useful to take a step back, regroup and cast vision. As such, our 16th Issue looks at different ways in which construction practitioners are paying it forward and making life easier for people.

Bitumen World’s new roundabout along Harare Drive is our space of the month. Not only is the roundabout an example of high craftsmanship, but its construction also shows what can be accomplished when responsible citizens take ownership of their city. When the nation’s roads were declared a national disaster, Hararians petitioned for something to be done about the old T-junction as it had a high accident rate. Bitumen World outdid themselves by constructing a traffic circle that residents can be proud of. Well-wishing

citizens also chipped in by donating plants and other decorative accessories. Indeed, we are proud to feature this article in our magazine. PAGE 8 Whilst many companies are moving out of Harare’s central business district and into old residential homes in nearby suburbs, the new trend is to build office parks in Harare’s suburbs. Imara and Minerva have partnered up to invest in the Wellpage Office Complex, a three storey building that is located at the corner of Sam Nujoma and Maarsdorp Avenue in Belgravia and boasts 3900 square metres of office space. PAGE 18 PSMAS have also refurbished their headquarters, transforming the premises in George Silundika Avenue into a one-stop service centre designed to be more efficient. Additions to their offices include a 24-hour call centre, which will be in operation later this year, and a wellness corner to cater for clients with chronic illnesses. PAGE 47

This year’s annual Garden Show was an opportunity for gardeners, nursery owners and landscapers to exhibit their wares and give guests a bit of advice on gardening and landscaping.

PAGE 34 Plascon Zimbabwe (formerly Astra Paints) rolled out their new 360° Partnership Pledge at their recent Trend Talk. This initiative is all about helping project managers to make the best of Plascon’s paint products and use the most appropriate products for each project build. PAGE 42

All structure and design content and much more is available online at...issuu.com/ structuredesign or SDMagzim Head there now to use our extensive resource of top local projects and products.

Structure & Design Team publisher@structureanddesign.co.zw

S&D PARTNERS

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BITUMEN WORLD GIVES BACK TO THE CITY Text by Michael Nott Photos by Ronald Mazhindu Renderings, Plans and Additional Photos courtesy of Bitumen World

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IMBABWE’s road network was declared a national disaster back in 2017 with an estimated 80% of our roads in urgent need of repair or resurfacing. As part of the government’s programme to restore Harare’s ageing road infrastructure Bitumen World was engaged to rehabilitate Harare Drive from the intersection with Drew Road up to the intersection with Borrowdale Road. This section was in a particularly bad state of disrepair with plenty of potholes and in addition the road was very narrow with severe drop offs on either side. It’s a particularly busy section of road used by residents of the northern and eastern suburbs and it’s also the main route for heavy vehicles travelling from the industrial area of Msasa to Borrowdale, Pomona and the western suburbs.

The 4,3km section of the road was strengthened, widened from 6 metres (in some areas less) to 10 metres, and surfaced with asphalt.

Particular attention paid to adequate rainwater runoff making the road safer and more durable. Bitumen World has a dedicated road marking crew which painted the white centre line and the yellow edge lines. In addition they have supplied reflective cat’s eyes in the centre of the road and on the verges. The lines and the cat’s eyes help to make driving at night much safer, especially where street lights are inadequate or not working at all.

Of particular concern for residents and road users along this stretch of road was the four way intersection where Rolfe Avenue and Gaydon Road meet Harare Drive. Rolfe Avenue and Gaydon Road both had stop signs allowing traffic on Harare Drive to pass through unimpeded while causing long backups on Rolfe and Gaydon especially during peak traffic hours. During the morning and evening rush hours motorists could wait 15 minutes or more to enter or cross over Harare Drive. Lunch time traffic from the nearby St John’s College was also very congested. Newspaper vendors added to the chaos as motorists stopped to buy the daily papers. The intersection was a traffic

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blackspot with frequent serious accidents often involving late night revellers returning from the Borrowdale nightspots.

Mike Garden (editor of Ndeipi magazine and founder/director of the website Bambazonke Nhasi) started the public debate back in 2012 to try to petition City of Harare to install a roundabout at the intersection. Readers of Bambazonke wrote in to the City of Harare requesting that something should be done to alleviate the situation and eventually the flood of requests from the community was

HARARE DRIVE RECONSTRUCTION - C 119

Gaydon & Rolf islands: 9,140

9,500 Area = 0.5 x 9.14 x 9.50 = 43.42m²

Harare Drive islands: 13,720

12,350 Area = 0.5 x 13.72 x 12.35 = 84.72m²

GEE BLOCK AREA = 4,306m² - π x 20.0² - 2 x (43.42 + 84.72) = 2,793.1m²

ROUNDABOUT: GEE BLOCK AREA

CONSTRUCTION METHODOLOGY QA-P-PR-4-46 Rev: 0 Date: 17/07/2018

recognized. When the ERRP (Emergency Road Repair Programme) initiated the rehabilitation of that section of Harare Drive, a roundabout was considered and then finally approved earlier this year.

Bitumen World seized the opportunity to create a functional, safe and attractive roundabout that far exceeded the mandate from City of Harare and ZINARA. Andre Zietsman, MD of Bitumen World, conceived of a roundabout that would not only help to solve the problem of the traffic flow, it would also be a showpiece to illustrate the best of what > 11

SPACEOF THE MONTH

Harare residents could aspire to for their City. Inspired in part by the North Beach pier in Durban near the Ushaka Marine World, Zietsman came up with the idea to create something of value and beauty for residents.

Tim Johnson from Bitumen World came up with the final technical design and Chris Seager, Operations Manager of Bitumen World, helped to see the project through to completion. Quinton Riddle and Bigboy Sibindi were on site for weeks to oversee 12 structure & design |

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the project, which became something of a labour of love.

The roundabout is raised in the centre to shield drivers from the lights of oncoming traffic. Tonnes of soil were brought in to create the raised section and to accommodate the steep slope of the site.

Storm drains have been constructed to divert rainwater away from the centre and from the four quadrants. Altogether 340m

of storm drains have been constructed and lined with granite, and stone retaining walls maintain the integrity of the surrounding site preventing erosion and soil slippage.

The drains on the central section have been clad with stone specially brought in from Hwange.

The road surface surrounding the roundabout is made up of around 600,000 interlocking pavers or G blocks which are set on a bed of

250mm cement stabilised gravel with a 150mm ironstone sub-base, meaning that the road surface is extremely durable and long lasting.

D blocks were used to make the retaining walls on the central section.

D blocks, as the name implies, are D shaped interlocking concrete blocks which are filled with soil and will be planted with succulents and other waterwise plants. Bitumen World has even installed water storage tanks and an irrigation system for the maintenance of the plants.

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To further enhance the attractiveness of the site Bitumen World has brought in over 200 indigenous fever trees supplied by a donor from Beitbridge. The trees are very hardy and quick growing so when established the effect will be of a small natural forest. Terri Parham from Alfresco Landscaping is supplying mondo grass and succulents which are low maintenance.

But perhaps the most attractive feature is the twelve huge elephant tusks which were inspired by the Durban pier. The tusks are steel and fibreglass manufactured by Premier Products – fibreglass specialists from Bulawayo. Each of the 12 tusks has a blue LED light attached which shines down onto the centre and there are an additional twelve blue LEDS which shine upward to illuminate the centre retaining wall.

The solar lights were donated by Lighting World who also supplied four solar powered amber traffic warning lights, one on each approach to the roundabout. All of the extra additional decorative elements and the landscaping that make the roundabout so special were donated

by Bitumen World to the residents of Harare.

Bitumen World was incorporated in Bulawayo in July 2012 with the aim of providing public and private sector clients with quality, cost effective, safe and environmentally sound specialist blacktop surfacing solutions. Although a relatively new company the Directors and Management, together, have in excess of 150 years experience in the construction industry of which 120 years is in the blacktop field.

Bitumen World has developed the largest road reconstruction capacity in Zimbabwe in the form of three Bomag reclaimers and all the auxiliary compaction equipment required to achieve the cement stabilised monolithic base layers now favoured in road reconstruction contracts.

Backing up the reclaimer teams are four bitumen sprayers with the attendant chip spreading capacity, an 80 tonne/hr asphalt plant and two asphalt pavers. The haulage fleet consists of 32 tipper trucks and 6 double trailer side tippers suitable for long haulage.

Having been certified by the Standards Association of Zimbabwe as being ISO9001 compliant in 2017, Bitumen World has earned a reputation in the marketplace for quality work, completed safely, on time and within budget.

Undoubtedly Bitumen World is well positioned to fulfil the 100 day programme set by the His Excellency, President E.D Mnangagwa and the Honourable Minister of Transport, Mr. J. Matiza.

Other recent projects successfully completed by Bitumen World include: • • • • • •

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West Road Rehabilitation (Harare) Chinhoyi Road Rehabilitation Zvishavane Road Upgrading Bindura to Muchapondwa Road Rehabilitation Mbare Urban Road Highfield Roads rehabilitation and Mababasa Growth Point Access Road Bulawayo City Roads

Future proposed projects include a similar, though larger, roundabout on Gleneagles Road near the new Aspindale Park and the reconstruction of Harare Drive between Lomagundi and Kirkman Roads.

Bitumen World attributes the success of this, and all their projects, to the dedication and hard work of their whole team. Let’s hope their gift to the City of this outstanding project inspires other companies and individuals to contribute towards turning Harare into a world class destination and a better place to live for all.

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MAIN PROFILE

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WELLPAGE

OFFICE PARK IN BELGRAVIA Text by Michael Nott | Photos by S&D Plans and Renderings by DesignPro Architects

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ore and more businesses are choosing to move out of the congested Central Business District (CBD) of Harare.

The City’s zoning laws have been revised allowing commercial enterprises into the surrounding suburbs like Eastlea, Milton Park, Kensington and Belgravia. Many companies relocate to older residential buildings in these areas, although often the house-to-office conversion is not ideal. Houses are obviously not designed to be offices and sadly many conversions destroy any of the intrinsic historic value of older homes. For developers this is an ideal opportunity to invest in a more rational use of available, and highly sought after, property.

The old house on the corner of Maasdorp and Second Street had been neglected and had fallen into disrepair and it had few redeeming features or historic value. The developers realised that this site had the potential to become a prime office venue with street frontage facing onto Second Street and convenient access to Belgravia Shopping Centre. DesignPro Architects were engaged as the project Architects and Project Managers on this development opportunity of approximately 3000 square metres. The architects exceeded the clients’ brief and managed to create around 3,900 sq m of GLA (Gross Leasable Area) in a three storey structure and still include adequate on site parking.

The L shaped building is set back towards the northern and eastern boundaries of the plot with the open parking space in the front.

Investment giants, Imara and Minerva, have teamed up to develop a new Office Block in Belgravia on the corner of Maasdorp Avenue and Second Street Extension (Sam Nujoma Street) owned by Wellpage Investments. Most of the older houses along Maasdorp Avenue are already being used as offices, retail centres, restaurants and coffee shops – and of course there’s the Maasdorp Market held twice weekly on the grounds of an old double storey house. Most of the houses along this section of Second Street have also been converted for commercial use.

The building is intentionally very different from the other older houses around it, mostly single and double storey colonial style houses from the early part of the 1900s. The design, which stands out from its neighbours, is deliberately intended to drive change in the area. There’s already been a number of new, modern office blocks built in the area, particularly along nearby Natal Road, and there’s the Kwikstop Complex a little further along Second Street on the corner of College Road. So it seems inevitable that the face of the City and land usage in the neighbourhood will change rapidly.

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The outside units are available in two sizes – 3 x 6 metres and 3 x 8 metres. If you’re down-sizing these are great for storing personal possessions like furniture and other household goods. Storagemart even have a delivery truck so they can collect goods from clients’ homes, offering convenience and safe transport. The units are completely waterproof and safe from rodent damage. They are large

enough to store a car or a boat if you’re planning to be away for a while. They’re also ideal for small business operators like plumbers or landscape gardeners to store materials and tools safely. The driveways are wide enough to allow easy access for vehicles. They have roller shutter doors specially supplied by South African firm Seranda, which are of the highest security rating.

Kalamain Construction set off the project with fortress foundation basics from Pomona Quarries, reinforcement steel from BSI Steel and cemented the concrete with PPC.

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The main facade – the south facing aspect of the structure facing onto Maasdorp – is almost minimalist. It’s mostly double laminated glass 13mm glass chosen specifically to help block out the traffic noise from Second Street. In addition the glass is lightly tinted to help control heat and light from the south facing aspect. The glass is set into aluminium frames to create large panels or panes, and the panels are further set into concrete frames, all pleasingly geometric and symmetrical. There are few decorative flourishes and the overall impression is simple, slick and clean. The central section has a slight overhang above the ground floor windows which serves in part to reduce direct summer sun. The ground floor section in the middle is dark grey plaster while above – extending over the second and third storeys – is a box like frame of white Hulabond aluminium panels.

On either side of the central section there are six concrete frames for the windows with a pale grey, almost white, textured wall finish. From these square frames extending outward on either side are sections almost entirely of glass, only broken by the visible floor slabs. On the extreme west end there’s a plain dark grey box structure housing utilities like a substation and a generator.

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The north elevation, which is not visible from the street, has deep recessed windows to control the direct sunlight.

The other leg of the L shape is considerably

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shorter and is made up of a similar concrete and glass section of six white frames and ends in a glass box the same as the longer section. It’s almost like the longer leg cut in half.

The building is particularly attractive when lit up at night. The structural concrete frames almost disappear and the building glows like a faceted glass crystal.

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ELECTROTECH ELECTRICAL

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The roof of the building is a combination of concrete slab sections and a Chromadek pitched section with skylights which fills the interior with natural light. The first and second floors can be accessed either by lifts or internal staircases and in addition

there are two internal fire escape stairways which have been properly housed to ensure safety. The office space is largely open plan, allowing tenants to configure the space as they need with demountable portioning.

Floors throughout are carpeted – apart

The buildings internal temperature is regulated by the careful placing and screening of the windows and the thermal mass of the concrete structure keeps it cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

The large parking area in front of the building also acts as a kind 28 structure & design |

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from the wet areas which are tiled – and the ceilings are matt finish aluminium panels with LED lighting. Provision has been made for solar water heaters to be installed with all the necessary conduiting in place.

of heat sink with the concrete paving blocks absorbing heat during the day and letting off heat at night. The blocks are more pervious than tarmac allowing some of the rain water to seep back into the ground and in addition there’s a scupper drain that >

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runs along the middle of the parking space of this nature – with Zimbabwe Nantong International being the main contractor and

Mahachi, Gwaze and Partners acting as the Quantity Surveyors. Costs and time were kept down through a strict implementation

programme, bulk procurement and advance payment which helped to cushion price increases.

THE RECENT OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE BUILDING WHERE THE CLIENT, PROJECT MANAGERS AND INVESTORS WERE PRESENT

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Annual Garden Show 2018 Text by Michael Nott | Photos by S&D

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The Annual Garden show is a delight for every keen gardener whatever type of gardening you’re into. Whether you prefer formal gardens, indigenous water wise gardens, growing your own fruit and vegetables, or just have a few pots on your balcony, the Annual Garden Show offers inspiration and excellent professional advice. This year’s Garden Show was the biggest and best so far with more than 100 exhibitors showing off their products and services, as well as an enormous variety of plants and gardening equipment on sale.

Even if gardening’s not a major passion in your life the event is a great day out for all the family.

You could take a slow, gentle stroll through the exhibition, listen to talks and demonstrations by the experts, check out the lifestyle exhibits with great presentations of outdoor furniture and decor, quirky floral displays designed around the theme of “Through the Looking Glass”, and a section devoted to the kiddies’ entertainment and recreation.

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For serious gardeners there were commercial greenhouses, seed companies offering the best vegetable seeds, fertilisers – both organic and inorganic – and an enormous range of gardening tools and equipment to suit every need. Or you could take a break for a cup of tea and a slice of cake, or stay and enjoy a delightful alfresco lunch under the trees. It was a great chance to catch up with old friends in a relaxed and stress-free environment.

Among the highlights were the Halsted’s Garden Centre exhibit which incorporated a vertical wall of plants and a unique shaded

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roof structure. Konak Walling showed off pizza ovens and fire pits and Big Sky Supplies introduced their portable hanging fire baskets. Jessica Anderson Designs exhibited garden furniture and decor much of it made from recycled materials. Abundant Life Nursery created a beautiful exhibition with a water feature made up of huge metal pots and inviting outdoor seating spaces. Plant Plan had an exquisite eastern inspired garden with Thai sculptures and a soothing water feature; a garden guaranteed to ease your daily stress and help you relax. Greencon Greenhouse Supplies had a range of greenhouses for

home or commercial gardeners, as well as irrigation equipment, pond liners and thermal pool coverings. The floating pool covers can be used in winter so you don’t need to keep adding chemicals or running your pool filter, and they keep the water warmer for longer, raising the water temperature up to 8 degrees, extending the time that you can enjoy your pool. Henning’s Nursery and Nature’s Way Landscaping provided amazing creative ideas to transform your garden into a little piece of Paradise. Mr Chris Nurseries and Jan Edgar Landscaping won a well deserved Gold Award for their exquisite exhibition stand.

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Plascon Unveils 360° PARTNERSHIP PLEDGE for Construction Professionals

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s part of Plascon Kansai’s global centenary celebrations, Plascon Zimbabwe (previously Astra Paints) unveiled their 3600 Partnership Pledge for professionals. The new product was launched at the luxurious Cresta Lodge in Harare, where Plascon Zimbabwe gave their second ever Trend Talk. Their first Trend Talk was held in 2014.

Mr. Ebenezer Gumbo, the Plascon’s General Manager opened the ceremony, indicating that the talk on industry trends was worthwhile and profitable for both private buyers and industry professionals. The aim of the Trend Talk was to share insights in colour forecasting with designers, architects, and contractors for the benefit of the construction industry at large.

Mr Gumbo also gave a brief overview of Plascon Zimbabwe’s history – Kansai Plascon South Africa acquired Astra Paints in July 2013, strengthening the position of Astra Paints in Zimbabwe. Kansai Plascon South Africa is a subsidiary of the Kansai Paint, a Japanese concern that owns up to 51 global paint operations and is the world’s leading paint supplier. This year, Kansai is celebrating its centenary year and, as such, has arranged special events across the world and the Trend Talk hosted

by Plascon Zimbabwe was a part of this initiative.

Over the years, Plascon Zimbabwe has engaged with the community by offering various competitions. Their Go Plascon, Go, Astra, Go Places promotion allowed them to send several customers to different holiday destinations.

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Affordable Two Colour Range and TradePro, a superior quality acrylic emulsion paint.

Plascon Zimbabwe has been involved in many key construction projects, including the Gweru Megawatt Shopping Centre, the renovation of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) headquarters (this building was featured in Structure and Design’s second issue) as well as Hartmann House’s new Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre and the Joina City complex.

The event’s guest of honour, Claire Bond, has been involved in the paint industry for the past 30 years and has worked on projects in both South Africa and other African nations. Her repertoire includes two hotels in Mombasa, Kenya. She was involved in the Plascon Spaces Showroom from 2005 – 2009, a period which saw Kansai Plascon South Africa receiving awards for their design work as well as their exceptional customer services.

Ms. Bond recently studied toward a diploma in Colour Therapeutics at the Irish School of Colour in Devon and her keynote speech lent some insights on this subject.

Global communities increasingly share ideas and beliefs but who really gets to decide which trends are here to stay? Claire Bond explained, in her speech, that skilled forecasters look at all sorts of events that affect everyday life. Ranging from sports and travel to theatre and fashion. Analysts then track consumer behaviour (any acceptance or rejection of a movement) to forecast whether a style will be a short-lived fad or a macro trend that is taken up by more people for a longer space of time.

Key insights are then shared with industry professionals. Ms. Bond emphasised the role of factors such as culture and climate in shaping trends, highlighting that African tastes can be different to European ones and vice versa. In the past, European styles had a greater influence on Africa but it seems that nowadays, the West is looking to Africa more and more for inspiration in handmade crafts.

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In a fast-paced world where one is constantly bogged down by noise pollution and digital stimuli, a color like grey which has no energy is soothing and therefore the current colour of choice as it revitalises the brain. This is why one of the colours forecasted to trend for the next 10 to 15 years is the 50 Shades of Grey & Charcoal Range.

The “grey” trend first appeared in the 1950s during the post World War II period when many people sought calming environments to distract them from the recent devastation of the war. This minimalistic style is making a comeback, however, fresh colours can be used to accentuate the grey and break the monotony.

Ms. Bond also stressed that it is important to remember that some greys in Plascon’s 50 Shades range have undertones of other colours and this tends to make a room cooler or warmer depending on the colour used.

In the words of the veteran designer, Ilse Crawford, a design should be about both interrogation and empathy, asking what each aspect of a living space is for and how to use it to make life easier for the people who use it. The same applies to paint, as the colour of a built environment or living area can enhance the positive feeling of an area or have quite the opposite effect.

At the Plascon Trend Talk, Claire Bond shared a lot about Colour Therapeutics and its applications, explaining that our brains decode different wavelengths of light along the electromagnetic spectrum in different ways and that each colour has negatives and positives. Whilst red is a bold colour, it also increases the heart rate and would be absolutely wrong to use in a hospital ward for instance but colour turquoise, on the other hand, has been known to calm cancer 44 structure & design |

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patients. It is also known that exposure natural light helps people with their sleep cycles.

Such knowledge allows professionals to utilise colour to improve the health and livelihood of people who use the painted buildings for commercial or residential use.

Because colour can have such a profound effect on people’s health and moods, she reminded listeners that paint “is not just about resources but about kindness too.”

However, the main product revealed at the event was Plascon’s new 360° Partnership Pledge. The Partnership Pledge includes efficient support services that allow contractors and consultants to get the best out of Plascon’s services, allowing the client to concentrate on their business.

Plascon Zimbabwe’s technical manager, Fungai Patikai explained that the 360° Partnership Pledge also involves product

guarantees of up to 15 years as Plascon believes in their product. Each paint product is designed for a specific project build – residential, commercial, mining, industrial or coastal. Every building is assessed individually, based on the environment of the building and the scope of the building’s purpose which is dictated by each client’s individual requirements. The specifications produced allow Plascon’s technicians to produce tailor-made paints for each job.

Colour consultants also weigh in on the colour themes according to the client’s branding and objectives. Each tailor-made paint product comes with recommended film thickness and number of top coats that are specific to each project.

In order to secure their 15 year guarantee, Plascon is creating a database of preferred applicators as we speak. Part of Plascon’s 360° Partnership Pledge is guaranteeing both their paint projects and the workmanship of applicators. To qualify, each painter/applicator must have worked on at least three supervised projects. Interested applicators are encouraged to contact Plascon for further assistance. Mr. Gumbo assured the members of the audience that the database would be made available to contractors.

Part of the initial assessment for paint projects will involve sampling a reference area as a benchmark for the project.

Environmental variables taken include moisture, content, surface preparation, and temperature. This reference assessment allows Plascon to troubleshoot effectively.

Plascon also undertakes to conduct site visits as part of their joint supervision programme.

These site visits will be used to assess paint progress and comprehensive progress reports will be compiled for the client’s benefit. Final

site inspections with all the contractors and consultants involved take place before the building is signed off and the guarantee is given.

The paint products on guarantee system include: • Double Velvet, interior paint (15-year guarantee) • Cashmere, stain resistant interior paint (15-year guarantee) • Velvaglo, interior and exterior satin sheen finish (12-year guarantee) • Kitchen and & bathroom, humid interiors (year guarantee) • Micatex, exterior matt finish (12-year guarantee) • Nuroof Cool, exterior low sheen finish (12-year guarantee) • Wall & All, exterior low sheen finish (12 year guarantee) The product guarantee for consumers can be registered on the Plascon websites. When the buyer registers a purchase of a paint product with the correct primer and top coats, they are eligible to claim up to $2000 on their guarantee. For the entire 360° partnership pledge, however, it is necessary to work with Plascon technicians to obtain the reference point and engage applicators on Plascon’s database.

Although Plascon has upgraded their paint products to keep in line with global trends, their Essential Colours List has stood the test of time. In keeping with being health friendly, Plascon is also moving to make more of their products water based as many people react badly to the solvent-based paints. Brochures will be made available for architects in addition to a library of specifications and technical data. All in all, the event was a success and Plascon’s 360° Partnership Pledge is set to take the construction industry by storm.

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PSMAS Zimbabwe

SHIELD PLAN

PSMAS UPDATES THEIR SERVICE CENTRE AND CORPORATE IMAGE

text by Michael Nott | photos by S&D

P

SMAS (Premier Service Medical Aid Society) has over the last two years embarked on a major turnaround programme. PSMAS was founded way back in 1930 and is the oldest Medical Aid Society in the country. Sadly in recent years they have been struggling to provide adequate services for their membership and some health practitioners were reluctant to treat patients when they presented their PSMAS cards. The company was struggling under huge historical debt, massive inflation rates for drugs, stagnant membership numbers and a host of other problems. However, under the leadership of Eng. Tendai Kapumha (Managing Director) the organisation has undergone a huge restructuring programme and is well on the way to recovering its former glory. Not only has the organisational structure been shaken up and improved they have also improved their own facilities for the benefit of their clients.

Their headquarters on George Silundika Avenue (between Third and Simon Muzenda) was officially opened in 1998. The building still looks quite modern from the outside, with exposed steel structures, curved balconies, a geometric A-framed portico over the entrance and a tiled blue and white facade, but the interior needed major refurbishment to accommodate the new streamlined and more efficient business model.

The refurbishment of their headquarters has been undertaken in several phases. The first, and probably the most important, stage was the restructuring of the way services are provided for their members. Previously various departments were scattered around on different floors and members would be forced to traipse around all over the building. PSMAS engaged local company Metamorphosis AIDPM (Architectural Interior Design and Project Management) to create a new well co-ordinated, one stop Service Centre which would be much more convenient. PSMAS’s brief to Metamorphosis was to create a bright, modern and airy space which was immediately appealing and attractive on approach from the lift or the staircase. To achieve this the solid wall separating the lift foyer from the new Service Centre was replaced with modern glass and aluminium partitioning and a wider doorway, and the structural gap overlooking the reception was similarly glassed in.

central desk is deep blue – the colour taken from the PSMAS logo – with ultra modern perforated aluminium sheeting, laser cut aluminium lettering and a 12mm toughened glass top. The new design also incorporated closing in the first floor curved balcony with glass panels to add extra floor space. The Service Centre was opened out to the first floor atrium to provide a pleasant outdoor overflow waiting area. The floor was tiled with white nonslip tiles with black tile detail strips following the shape of the desk and subtly suggesting the circular pedestrian traffic flow. Circular bulkheads with downlighters and concealed red strip lights reinforce the circular flow.

There’s ample seating both inside and outside in the atrium as well as a series of comfortable interview booths off to one side.

A circular central Client Services desk was installed, so members can work their way around the different services. The 47

COMMERCIAL PROFILE

The Service Centre was inaugurated in 2016 and encompasses four main departments: Membership Registration, Payments, Authorisation and Queries all located in the west wing of the first floor.

The second phase of the refurbishments, completed in 2017, included the Service Centre extension or interview area situated in the east wing of the first floor, and the ground floor reception area. The extension provides more private booths where members can discuss their health issues with PSMAS staff.

The ground floor entrance and reception was extensively redesigned by Metamorphosis to be more practical as well as being more attractive and promoting a positive brand image. The entrance facade was completely restructured and the interior space enlarged.

The old facade was a sort of horizontal V shape with two entrances set at 90 degrees to each other – one for staff and one for members. Metamorphosis extended the interior space by creating a single flat glass and aluminium wall situated at the outermost point of the V shape. The additional space created has been used to provide seating space for the public. The front glass panels have been fitted with welcoming graphic images printed onto perforated vinyl or Contra Vision. The vinyl appears solid from the exterior but it’s see-through from inside and allows light in to the reception. There are still two separate entrances but it’s now much more inviting for the public. Metamorphosis designed a curved reception desk which echoes the upstairs Service Centre desk. The reception desk is bright red (the colour also taken from the PSMAS logo) and similarly clad with perforated aluminium and it also has a 12 mm glass counter top. The original black and grey granite panelling on the walls has been retained but Metamorphosis has installed a backdrop behind the desk made up of plasterboard painted in a mustard yellow central panel with deep blue pillars on either side. The overall effect is bright, cheerful and funky while still maintaining a smart and serious corporate image. Again, curved bulkheads with recessed downlighters suggest the way pedestrian traffic should flow towards the stairs and the elevator.

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Phase three of the refurbishments included the new 24 hour call centre located on the second floor, an innovation in line with PSMAS’s modernisation programme. It’s geared towards providing the best and most convenient service for members at all times. Although the facilities are complete the Call Centre will only be operational later this year once all the necessary equipment has been fully installed. Phase four, which is currently under construction, will be a training centre for staff which will include a small library, and a kitchen and dining area.

Metamorphosis has achieved these remarkable improvements 49

COMMERCIAL PROFILE

often working under difficult conditions. The premises were still fully operational during the renovations meaning that generally only light work could be done during business hours with much of the work done at night or over the weekends. In addition foreign currency restrictions made the importation of imported materials more difficult.

Other recent successful projects undertaken

by Metamorphosis include Steward Bank Masvingo Branch, National Aids Council Head Office, Steward Bank Platinum Branch Bradfield Bulawayo, Steward Bank Joina City Branch, and ZPC Hwange Guest House Extension, among others.

PSMAS has also introduced a brand new Wellness Corner which offers free advice on healthy lifestyle modification, nutrition, stress management, exercise. They also provide information about dealing with chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes and managing cholesterol levels.

The recent success of the restructuring of PSMAS’s corporate organisation and the improvement to their company image will ensure that the company will continue to grow and provide top quality service for their members.

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PSMAS Zimbabwe

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COMMERCIAL PROFILE

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53

Buying or Selling?

Whether you are buying or selling goods, it will be well worth your while to find out what we can offer you.

Your vehicle, machinery, furniture, unwanted goods, you name it, we will BUY or SELL it!

CONTACT HARARE : +263 772 565 887 | CONTACT BULAWAYO: +263 772 299 336 BUSINESS HOURS : 8am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday www.abcauctions.co.zw @abcauctions

ABC AUCTIONS WHAT YOU NEED AT YOUR PRICE Text by Michael Nott | Photos by S&D 54 structure & design |

ISSUE 16

INDUSTRIAL PROFILE

W

hether you’re looking for a new luxury vehicle, an antique walnut dresser, or doors and window frames for your new home, chances are you can find it at ABC Auctions. Not only can you find everything from the ordinary to the unique you can buy it at the price that suits you. ABC Auctions is conveniently located along the Seke Road in Graniteside, Harare and in addition, in May this year, they have opened a brand new branch in Bulawayo at 77 Plumtree Road in Donnington.

Their regular weekly sales include household and office goods on Mondays, a yard sale of building equipment and supplies on Tuesdays, and vehicle sales on Fridays. Lately they’ve been conducting Saturday sales for a variety of embassies disposing of furniture and other items as they update their various offices and residences. These are all high quality goods many of which are not often available locally.

For the past few weeks they’ve been holding sales on Thursdays to dispose of excess construction equipment and materials on behalf of the U.S. Embassy Building Contractors as the construction of the new embassy campus in Westgate nears completion. On offer were cranes, Alimak and Genie hoists and lifts and a host of other great machinery and supplies essential for serious building contractors. ABC Auctions has a unique one of a kind mobile office so they can hold sales on site for goods that cannot be moved easily.

ABC Auctions were selected by the Embassy to host these prestigious sales because of their outstanding and well established reputation for integrity and reliability.

Apart from the Embassy sales, the usual Tuesday Yard Sales offer a treasure trove of equipment and tools for the construction industry as well as for the mining, manufacturing and agricultural industries – equipment and machinery like compressors, generators, concrete mixers and even tractors and irrigation systems. They are holding an entire wood laminating plant which will be coming up for disposal soon, so if you’re interested keep checking out their upcoming sales. At the moment they have a lot of scaffolding available but the beauty of the auctions is that there’s something new every week. You can find cut and dressed granite, door and window frames – whether new steel ones or old reclaimed wooden ones – timber lots, and even steel beams and rolls of wire. In fact, if you’re looking for something specific that’s not immediately on offer, have a word with them and you’ll find they can often hook you up with the right seller or they can let you know when what you’re wanting comes up for sale.

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INDUSTRIAL PROFILE

Their vehicle auctions include both luxury and economy cars, minivans, motorbikes and light pickup trucks. Generally they hold a heavy/versatile vehicle and equipment sale at least once a month. Items on offer include trucks of various sizes – for example 1 tonne, 3 tonne, 5 tonne and 10 tonne trucks, horses, trailers, rigids, tractors and farming and mining implements. Some vehicles are accident damaged or non-runners, some are almost brand new and in excellent condition, so there’s something to suit every taste and every budget!

Sagittarian (Pvt) Ltd. t/a ABC Auctions began way back in the early 1960s when the original owner, Mr Louis Stynberg, set up an auction house in downtown Wynne Street. In 1975 they moved to their current premises in Hatfield House along the Seke Road, and they’ve been there ever since.

They have their offices there, as well as their sales floor and extensive warehouse space and yard space to store goods coming up for sale. ABC Auctions has brought the people of Zimbabwe a number of firsts.

ABC Auctions was the first auction house to bring the innovative idea of the drive through vehicle auction to the people, the

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first to provide a purpose built auction house and the first auctioneering company to be fully computerised. ABC Auctions has served as the training ground for many auctioneers who have since left to open their own auctioneering companies. Their current auctioneer, Mr Joseph Ndawana (affectionately known as Wero) is recognised as the best in Zimbabwe, if not in the region.

Kiaran Knight, Floors Sales Manager,

emphasises that an auction is, “the most honest way of price setting”. Each and every sale is totally transparent ensuring the best prices for both buyers and sellers.

Keep an eye out for outstanding future auctions or visit the sales floors to mosey around and see what’s coming up. They even have an out of hand section were goods can be purchased without going to auction. But be warned, you might just become addicted!

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4 REASONS WHY YOU NEED TO SIGN YOUR BUSINESS UP FOR DEFENSIVE DRIVER TRAINING IMMEDIATELY

The new state of the art Fawcett Security Defensive Driver Training School

1 2

We’re registered & licensed Fawcett Security hi-tech defensive driver training school is registered with the Traffic Safety Board of Zimbabwe. This means your drivers are trained thoroughly in a state-of-the-art facility, with the best possible practical driving course available You get a safer, more alert & more responsive driver The training course is designed to detect and highlight irregularities in driving patterns. The detailed reports generated by the system provides drivers with exact ways to improve and also provides employers with a detailed assessment of a driver’s road readiness

3

4

You SAVE on insurance & vehicle repair costs Because the program delivers a certified betterperforming driver, insurance premium reductions become a real consideration. This also means reduced accident-damage repairs which saves your business thousands of dollars in losses every year.

You get peace-of-mind Sending your drivers on this intense driving course has a real and direct impact on reducing motor related accidents on the country’s roads as well as loss of precious lives through motor accidents.

Fawcett Security Training Academy 5 Darwin Road Workington Harare Quentin Mathazia 0775 553 261.or Fawcett Security Harare 0772 161 782-91 58 structure & design |

ISSUE 16

FAWCETT SECURITY

– MAKING OUR ROADS SAFER Text by Michael Nott Pictures supplied by Fawcett

F

awcett Security has a great reputation for keeping our homes and businesses safe, and now they’re making our roads safer too.

In June 2017 Fawcett introduced the first and only driving simulator in Zimbabwe.

This brand new, one of a kind, initiative could not have come at a better time as driving on our roads has become positively dangerous. It seems like almost every

week we hear of serious fatal accidents involving buses, trucks, kombis and private vehicles.

Fawcett has a fleet of around 350 vehicles and they first introduced the simulator to be used in-house. The initial idea was to ensure their own drivers were driving safely, as well as to help reduce fleet maintenance costs by training drivers to drive economically and sensibly by, for example,

not riding the clutch, not breaking too hard, or accelerating unnecessarily.

Although the simulator is based on a small passenger vehicle it can be set up to imitate driving a normal passenger vehicle, a bus or different classes of heavy vehicles. It can also simulate different driving conditions - night driving or driving in rain or mist or heavy traffic, in fact it can recreate just about any driving situation 59

DRIVE DESIGN

situation in just about any vehicle. The machine resembles the front section of a small sedan with a driver’s seat, steering wheel, accelerator, clutch and brake pedals, light switches, indicators, wiper switches and all the correct details.

The driver or trainee sits in front of three computer screens which are like the car’s windscreen. The three screens create a fully immersive, realistic experience. In addition, at the Fawcetts driving Centre there are three other large wall mounted screens so onlookers can share the experience. The instructor can observe another screen at the back of the machine.

The machine also produces a computer generated assessment of the driver’s performance indicating which skills need further training.

The simulator has three main functions: as a tool to train learner drivers; as a preemployment assessment for employers to make sure the driver has the necessary skills; and it can be used to train licensed drivers to drive defensively. Defensive driving is becoming more and more important on the roads these days as the standard of driving has dropped so dramatically and there are so many more vehicles on our roads.

The simulator was displayed at the recent Harare Agricultural Show in a shared stand with the Automobile Association of Zimbabwe. The simulator is easily moved to different off site locations so it can be used to train senior students in schools, companies with large fleets, or wherever it’s needed, provided there is an adequate Internet connection. Classes of up to eight trainees can be easily accommodated at the Fawcett Training School. Quentin Mathazia attended a training course in South Africa and is a skilled and experienced Simulator Instructor who can guide trainees through the whole process.

The advantages of the simulator are: • The anxiety of the pupil is decreased.

Training happens in a safe environment

without stress, which enhances learning.

• Situations which one cannot see while

driving (skidding of the clutch for

example) can now be visualised.

• Because the driving environment is

entirely controlled, the focus on

progressive teaching objectives is more concentrated.

• A simulator makes it possible to follow

a progression established in advance and 60 structure & design |

ISSUE 16

to evaluate the trainee’s

performance in

a methodical manner.

• The trainee can be put

in and made accustomed

to situations that do not

occur frequently on the

road. A simulator training

environment is without

risk and thus authorises

experimentation in

dangerous situations.

• A simulator ensures

standardised driver

training, thereby

guaranteeing a level

of quality for all students,

resulting in safer driver behaviour.

• Simulation can

immediately output the results of the training.

This means that a trainee can quickly

know his mistakes and take

corrective action.

• Fewer hours on the road reduces

fuel consumption, which is good for the

environment. One hour in the simulator

gives a CO2 emission of 13 times less

than one hour in a car.

• The simulator ensures high quality

training in less time and at lower cost.

• The driving simulator is very suitable for

trainees who have a fear of driving.

• Driving simulation integrates with

classroom sessions.

Fawcett Security has the sole rights for the driving simulator in Zimbabwe.

Booking is essential and sessions can usually be accommodated within a few days.

For more information call Fawcett Security on: Tel: 621131-9, 086 7004888/9 Cell: (Quentin Mathazia) 0715 722 525 Or visit their website: www.fawcetts.co.zw

Nicolas Scale

Southern Africa

E mail- scaleman@zol.co.zw Contact- +263 772 216643

Certified

www.nicolasscale.co.zw

Accuracy – Quality – Variety - Expertise

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MATERIAL FOCUS

Five tips to Prepare your Buildings for the Rainy Season THE RAINY SEASON IS ALMOST UPON US AND, UNFORTUNATELY, RAIN MIGHT RESULT IN WATER DAMAGE TO YOUR BUILDINGS AND PROPERTY. WE AT UNION HARDWARE HAVE COMPILED A LIST OF FIVE TIPS TO KEEP YOUR BUILDINGS SAFE AND, IN THE PROCESS, PROTECT YOUR HOME, FAMILY, EMPLOYEES, AND POSSESSIONS.

1

Inspect your Roof Walk around your home’s exterior, inspecting your roof to make sure your roof is in good condition. Do this at least twice a year to avoid costly problems that could escalate into a much greater expense.

As you walk around your house be sure to: ●

●

●

●

●

Inspect the roof from the ground. Look for signs of damage, sagging, and aging.

Check for skew, loose or missing tiles and for any cracks in the chimney. Missing roof tiles means your roof is directly exposed to adverse weather conditions.

Look for cracks along the ridge of your roof and along parapet walls. Damaged mortar joints on ridge capping tiles will result in roof leaks.

Inspect the valleys of your roof. This is the area of your roof with a downward slope). Make sure that any flashing does not have any holes or rusty spots.

Take notes of any possible problem areas or areas in need of closer inspection.

2

Inspect your Gutters Gutters are an essential part of your roofing system. The purpose of the gutter is to collect and funnel away any water that lands on the roof, taking water away from the building’s foundations and protecting your exterior surfaces while stopping water from entering the home. If water penetrates your home, woodwork can perish, mould will begin to grow, condensation will form and brickwork will erode and damp patches, which can cause health issues, will spread quickly.

This is how you can protect your home and health: ● ●

●

Ensure the guttering outside your home isn’t broken or leaking.

Clear out any leaves or other debris. This will reduce the risk of blockages during heavy rain, which could cause your guttering to overflow and create problems for your home. (You can use a trowel to scoop out debris which is clogging your gutters, or purchase a cleaning tool specifically designed for your gutters that is attached to your hosepipe).

Additionally, check that there are not a lot of little granules collecting in gutters and down-pipes. Finding granules is a good indicator that your roof’s coating needs to be resealed and painted. To reduce the risk of blockages there are preventative measures you can follow: tight-fitting wire mesh or plastic caps are available to fit most types of down-pipe. They allow water through but trap leaves and dirt.

3

Inspect the inside of your buildings Check all windows and doors. Make sure that they both close and seal properly, and make any repairs or improvements as necessary.

Inside your home, check your ceilings to make sure that you are not experiencing signs of roof, or other, leakage. Be on the lookout for water rings, mould, or dark spots and trails. Wall or ceiling discoloration could also be an indication that there is a problem.

Black mould spots on your curtains or fabric could also indicate damp or a high moisture content in the wall.

4

Surrounding Trees and Foliage It would be prudent to consider cutting back any trees and foliage that hang over the house and gutters as their branches and leaves will most likely cause blockages and guttering problems. Additionally, it will reduce the risk that they will fall during a storm and damage your home.

5

Collect and recycle water Consider installing a rainwater collection tank to help you harness the potential of your home to provide its own water, and cut unnecessary waste. We really only need the expensive municipal water for drinking and cooking. Most of the household water we consume is to flush toilets, wash cars and water plants and gardens. Rainwater is perfect for filling your pool, watering the garden, or washing cars and dogs.

Collection tanks come in different sizes and can be connected to your guttering system without much effort. Some tanks have built-in pumps so you could connect it directly to your garden sprinkler systems.

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MATERIAL FOCUS

G&T SCALES

G

&T Scales Services’ vision is to be the partner of choice in providing professional weighing solutions in Southern Africa. We have all the tools required to serve the whole industry and we are capable of supplying a wide variety of scales (weighbridge, platform, precision and crane scales) to all sectors of industry, including mining and construction.

The mining industry has a variety of needs in terms of weighing solutions which vary depending on the nature of the material being measured. Large boulders of mineral rocks can be weighed on surface heavy-duty scales which are available in different sizes and dimensions. The idea is to have the most reliable measure of the inertia of each object of interest. Mining requires the most accurate scales for measuring granules of minerals such as diamonds, gold etc. To accomplish this, we use precision scales which offer a high degree of accuracy and these operate in an environmentally controlled space as slight windy, noisy or vibrational conditions affect the readings of the scale.

We at G & T Scales have a number of good brands of precision weighing scales. We offer highly reliable calibration services to ensure consistent and accurate readings. Several factors affect the accuracy of every weighing machine and machines require servicing and calibration within stipulated periods of time. Technical adjustments on the surfaces and surroundings of the scale are put into consideration to ascertain a reliable and best measure of the quantity being measured.

Weighbridge scales are the largest group of the scales in our product range. G&T Scales Services offers this solution from civil works to the installation of the weighbridge itself. Training for all users of the system is conducted to ensure effective use of all functions of the weighbridge. There are a number of categories in this group of scales where we have movable and non-movable weighbridges. These serve different purposes,

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depending on the size of the materials being measured.

These serve different purposes depending on size of what is being measured.

The construction industry has equivalent needs to that of the mining sector. Heavy vehicles bearing loads of cement or bricks can be measured on weighbridge scales to determine load quantities. Crane scales are used to give the digital measure of the mass of the material being used to accomplish a specific task or role in the construction process.

G&T Scale Services is here to ensure all measurable quantities are evaluated with a high degree factor for the durability of structures, increasing business viability. We supply and service all the heavy-duty scales required. The service department is well equipped with enough tools and assuring our customers of less downtime in the event of weighing system failures. We are always open to inquiries and suggestions. Feel free to visit our premises where you will receive a hospitable welcome, it is you, our customers, who drive us forward.

65

CITY GLASS HOSTS GLAZING SYMPOSIUM AS PART OF THE CONTINUING CIFOZ 3030 LECTURE SERIES

C

ITY GLASS recently held a glazing symposium in partnership with the Construction Industry Federation of Zimbabwe (CIFOZ) at the CIFOZ headquarters in Eastlea. The main aim of the symposium was to explain the importance of using the correct glazing products in completing project builds. City Glass is the leading supplier of glass and glazing solutions, not only in Zimbabwe but in the Southern African region as well.

This particular symposium was part of the 3030 Lecture series being hosted by CIFOZ to educate the public about the use of different building materials. In his opening remarks, Institute of Architects in Zimbabwe (IAZ) President Emiel Murwira spoke about the technological advances that are taking place at a rapid pace and how they affect the construction industry. He emphasised that there is a greater need for sharing information to ensure that all

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construction industry professionals are on the same page.

In the past, there have been issues where constructors use the wrong building materials and, therefore, the 3030 Lectures are a perfect solution as they give suppliers a chance to educate the public about their products and construction professionals the chance to utilise materials from an informed position. Issues have also arisen regarding to pricing and the 3030 Lectures are also meant to clear up any confusion resulting from the disparity in pricing options between materials supplied by private companies and the government.

Brandon Samuels, an expert glazer brought in from PFG South Africa, gave a detailed presentation on glass products and glazing.

He stressed the importance of asking qualified architects to recommend the correct glass laminates as each of their products

has different properties. He explained the danger of buying cheaper glass products to cut costs as products that are different from the ones specifies in an architect’s concept might compromise the standard and functionality of a building in the long run.

Over the years, City Glass has established a good reputation by providing worldclass products and providing exceptional customer services, underscored by competitive prices. Most recently, they have used polymer technology to produce modern glazing solutions, which are detailed in The Glass Guide, a comprehensive brochure that City Glass has introduced for the first time ever.

In addition to their vast range of products, City Glass offers the most extensive range of stock sheet sizes and thicknesses available in the nation. Their edge working services encompass polishing, edging, beveling and drilling. Finished sheets either have arrissed, polished (standard profile) or flat ground finishings.

The guide informs prospective buyers and industry professionals about City Glass’s float and architectural glass applications. Glass solutions covered in the guide include; clear glass, patterned glass, tinted glass, mirrors, laminated safety glass, toughened glass, and safety bullet resistant glass.

Float glass, or as the proprietary name would have it, CityFloat, is a basic clear glass that is made by pouring molten glass onto a flat tin bed. This glass can be used in most regular applications and is manufactured according to ISO9001 standards which dictate Quality Management System

requirements ensuring that CityFloat is completely safe and reliable.

Other patented City Glass products have been produced by leveraging polymer technology to manipulate attributes such as security, light reflection, UV resistance, sound control, decorative properties, building aesthetics and energy efficiency to suit specific construction requirements. Glass is inter-layered with the polymer polyvinyl butyral (PVB) to produce glass products of varying strength and light resistance.

Exciting products offered include CityLam which is mainly marketed for buildings in the city that require greater security than other buildings. CityLam has considerable tensile strength and is resistant to burglary. Polymer inter-layer coheres to the two glass layers preventing shards from falling and causing injury in the event of an accident.

The basic CityLam products are clear with three strength options: normal strength, high performance, and high impact.

CityLam also has a tinted range with shades such as Aquamarine, Coolblue, Coolgrey, Regal Blue, Coolbronze and Shadowlite.

CityLam’s ColourVue range either combines two layers of clear float glass between one or more polymer inter-layers or by using two sheets glass (clear and tinted) with a PVB layer. This offers a wider range of tints and, therefore, a wider selection of applications.

For instance, lighter tints are ideal for eliminating solar energy while deeper tints are best for glare control and eliminate a greater amount of heat.

For users who value their privacy, CityLam Translucent is the ultimate solution as it allows light to enter buildings but detailed shapes cannot be seen from outside. In addition to the signature strength of the entire CityLam range, CityLam Translucent laminates filter out noise and stop ultraviolet light from damaging artworks and fabrics.

CityLam CoolVue products have been manufactured to block heat from the sun whilst transmitting light which makes them the perfect laminates to use in industrial and roofing glazing as well as shop display windows and curtain walls used in commercial buildings.

CityLam Low E Glass increases the insulation value of a window by keeping the heat out in summer and in during the winter months. By reducing ultraviolet radiation, the Low E Glass range assists in the preservation of textiles used in curtains, carpets, and furniture. The CityLam Solarshield range, on the other hand, reduces glare in buildings and is used in curtain walls and lift interiors. The SolarVue range blocks heat from the sun whilst letting light in and is perfect for glazed partitions and screens.

Although glass is commonly viewed as a fragile material, glass structures such as balustrades, sliding doors, shower doors, and balcony enclosures don’t break easily.

Panels used for such applications are made by subjecting sheets of CityFloat glass to a rapid sequence of heating and brisk cooling, resulting in CityTough glass which is five times stronger than CityLam and can be used in refrigerators and ovens.

CityBRG is a specialised bullet resistant glass made with polycarbonate technology.

67

This laminate is 250 times stronger than glass sheets of the same thickness. City Glass also manufactures mirrors (CityMirror) which are produced using a palladium substrate, unlike traditional mirrors that are made using copper and lead. These mirrors last longer and are more environmentally friendly than their copper/lead predecessors.

Manufacturers of: Fireplaces, Garage Doors, Sliding Gates, Braai Stands, Waste Incinerators, Expanda Screens, Palisade Fencing, Fireplace Decorations & Metal / Steel Fabrication

City Glass also supplies glazing accessories such as CityPutty and their Glass Guide provides comprehensive glazing and maintenance advice including detailed diagrams illustrating the proper installation of balustrades to ensure that buildings are glazed properly and that installed CityGlass products last for a long time.

All in all, the City Glass Symposium was an invaluable opportunity for professionals in the construction industry to learn a thing or two about recent technological advances in the glazing industry. The first lecture in the 3030 series was given by Beta Bricks and a third symposium is to be held towards the end of October.

Visit City Glass at 16792 Bessemer Road, Graniteside, Harare

Workshop: 174 Gleneagles Road, CSC Complex, Willowvale, Harare Tel: 04-2926200 / 756128 HOTLINES: 0772 446 633, 0732 446 633, 0719 446 633 Whatsapp no. 0776 735 669 Email: sales@moushtecfireplaces.com, moushtecsteel@gmail.com

Website: www.moushtecfireplaces.com

The Home Of Innovative, Quality & Genuine Products

teds Supporting Halsteds

68 structure & design |

ISSUE 16

2 RODENS ST, MAGABA, MBARE, HARARE 0772 347 157 | 0776 106 546 | 0717043156 | 0733 249 819 operations@steelcentre.biz, sales@steelcentre.biz

Suppliers Of

C.R Sheets, Galvanised Sheets, I.B.R, Deformed Bars, Round Bars, Tubing, Angle Iron, Window Section, Channel Iron etc.

BARBED & GALVANISED WIRE

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70 structure & design |

ISSUE 16

ZBCA ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2018 ZBCA ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2018 VENUE

:

ELEPHANT HILLS HOTEL (VICTORIA FALLS)

DATES

:

Wednesday 10th October to Friday 12th October 2018 BOOKING FORM

Names of Delegates:

1 .........................................................

2 .........................................................

CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION FEES

MEMBERS (Tick Appropriate box) $300.00

NON-MEMBERS (Tick Appropriate box) $500.00

$520.00

$720.00

$570.00

$770.00

Telephone No.

1. Participation Fees (excluding accommodation and transport) 3 .........................................................

2. 2. Participation Fees + Accommodation BB (2 nights, single room) .......................................................................... (excluding transport) Early Birds paid by 15th September 2018 .......................................................................... 3. Participation Fees + Accommodation BB+ (2 nights single room) (excluding transport) .….......................Cell No ...................................

Fax/Email

...........................................................................................................................................................................................................

Company Address

Banking Details: Zimbabwe Building Contractors Association, ZB Bank, Account Number: 4144 121 884 202, Rotten Row Branch.

NB: Participation fee is charged per person.

Banking Details: Zimbabwe Building Contractors Association,

For more information kindly contact our Membership Secretary, Mr. Boniface Mahwere +263884 773 595 599 Rotten or the Admin Assistant, Miss Kudzai Chikwana on +263 773 483 886 ZB Bank, Account Number: 4144on121 202, Row Branch. or landline numbers: +263 242 779 283-4 or email: zbacoffice@gmail.com | membership@zbca.co

NB: Participation fee is charged per person.

For more information kindly contact our Membership Secretary, Mr. Boniface Mahwere on +263 773 595 599 or the Admin Assistant, Miss Kudzai Chikwana on +263 773 483 886 or landline numbers: +263 242 779 283-4 or email: zbacoffice@gmail.com | membership@zbca.co Website: www.zbca.co

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CONSTRUCTION COUNCILS

Report Guidelines: ZIE Training and Experience Report & Technical Project Report

seasons greetings

By Dr Wilson Banda and Eng. Peter Smith (Pr. Eng; MZweIE) wilson@zie.co.zw

chronologically, starting with your current position.

1.0 PREAMBLE

1.1. GENERIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ZIE TRAINING & EXPERIENCE REPORT

For purposes of membership admission into either the Technician/Technologist or Member Grade of the Zimbabwe Institution of Engineers (ZIE), applicants are advised to submit Training and Experience Report, plus a Technical Project Report, where applicable. Exemption is only extended to applicants who are certified members of engineering institutions that are recognised

by ZIE. In essence the membership thereof should have been conferred upon submission of a technical project, and member subjected to an interview. This implies that all online membership is not recognised by ZIE. If one is a member of a recognized engineering institution, attach certified copy of the membership certificate as evidence thereof. In cases where the two reports are not required, as outlined above, provide a detailed CV, where you report your work experience in retrospect, which is, 72 structure & design |

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Applicants should refer to the booklet ‘General Requirements for the Training of Engineering Graduates’. A comprehensive training report of 2000 words is required. The report must include the following: a. Work experience from the first working day (post college/university) to time of application. b. Description of projects/works that you have been involved with during your working life. c. If a project is not required, expand on at least one recent project in technical detail.

Describe the background for the project, assumptions made, design principles (if applicable), technical details (include sketches or photographs, as necessary, for better understanding), problems encountered

and their solutions. This description should be in addition to the report on Training and Experience of 1500 to 2000 words mentioned above. d. If a project is required refer to the requisite guidelines.

State clearly the extent of your involvement, your responsibilities (technical and managerial), who was your supervising engineer/tutor, mistakes made and what you learned from them, problems encountered and their solution. e. Your work experience should be listed, together with the projects/work undertaken, in chronological order with the most recent experience first. f. In this report you should also include any details of courses attended and how these helped you in your working experience. g. If you have registered with ZIE as a Graduate under training, your training diary summaries signed by your supervising

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engineer/tutor) should be submitted with your application and you should bring your diary along with you to the interview. h. If you are in the teaching profession, information about the level of responsibility in the department, the level of the course and perhaps a summary syllabus would be helpful.

but must be indicative and illustrative of the current or recent engineering work undertaken by the applicant. For this reason it is not acceptable to reproduce a report or thesis that was written whilst attending full time education or training.

i. Where applicable, published papers, reports and patents should be listed.

The project described in the report can be either entirely the work of the applicant, in the case of a smaller project, or be a larger project in which the applicant played a significant role.

1.2 ZIE TECHNICAL PROJECT REPORT WRITING GUIDELINES

1.2.3 ROLE AND POSITION OF THE APPLICANT IN THE PROJECT

1.2.1 PREAMBLE

It is important that the project as a whole is described from the point of view and written in the first person singular. In the case where the project is relatively large and where the applicant was part of a team the report must make clear where the applicant stood in terms of the team hierarchy.

Most applicants for the positions of Member/ Technologist or Technician will be expected to attend an interview and submit a Technical Project Report. This section offers guidelines to the applicant on the form and content of the Project Report. All applicants must bear in mind that the Project Report is probably the most important component of their application in that it proves the applicant’s general engineering suitability for acceptance by the institution.

During the interview the applicant will be questioned on the report and be expected to describe in detail any matters arising from the report. There will inevitably be differences in reports submitted by academic applicants, such as those working in tertiary educational establishments, and those submitted by non-academic applicants. Where appropriate, the different requirements are outlined in the specific sections below. It cannot be over-underscored that the report must be the work of the applicant and be technical in nature. Documents that have been downloaded from the internet or are general company documents relating to a specific commission or task will not be accepted. In general the Project Reports should be approximately 2000 words in length and can be supported by drawings, sketches and supporting documentation and photographs. The applicant should feel free to ask for assistance from either existing members of ZIE with regards to the drafting of the report.

The report must be written in English language, that is, British or American. The adopted language should be consistently used for each submission.

1.2.2 TYPE OF PROJECT The project can be of the applicant’s choice 74 structure & design |

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Examples of this would be descriptions of who the applicant reported to, such as the senior engineer, and who reported in turn to the applicant, such as technicians, draughtsmen, site staff and the like.

Although the report is to be technical the applicant should demonstrate managerial, administrative and financial responsibilities where appropriate. In the case of published papers submitted by academic applicants, especially co-authored, the applicant should describe which elements of the report was primarily their responsibility. This can take the form of a simple description outside of the main body of the paper.

1.2.4 CONTENTS Obviously the actual contents of the report will vary. However, there are a number of common features that should be included.

A useful guideline for both contents and format would be the final year thesis paper that under-graduates produce. As a guideline the applicant should consider the bullet points below although it must be remembered that this list is not exhaustive.

1.2.4.1. Cover page with full names of the applicant and the title of the project 1.2.4.2 Contents page 1.2.4.3 Abbreviations 1.2.4.4 Executive summary 1.2.4.5 Introduction with a general description of the project

1.2.4.6 Description of the other parties that were involved such as clients, contractors, colleagues etc.

1.2.4.7 General technical contents including calculations, graphs, drawings, photos etc.

This will be the main body of the report and demonstrates the applicant’s engineering prowess 1.2.4.8 Problems encountered and the solutions to them. Very few engineering commissions go exactly to plan and it is important that the applicant demonstrates their ability to overcome adversity 1.2.4.9 Lessons that have been learnt. The applicant should sit back and review what happened during the course of the project and how it could have been done differently and the related justification.

1.2.5 CONCLUSION It may help for the applicant to put himself/ herself in the position of the interviewer. One will be interviewed by engineers/technologists/ technicians that have wealthy of engineering experience and genuine professional interest in most of the projects submitted by applicants.

The interviewers will want to know more about what you learned, how you overcame the inevitable problems that arose and how you exhibited engineering expertise in problem solving. The interview will not be an interrogation in the aggressive sense of the word but will want to dig deeper in order to assess your engineering capabilities/prowess.

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