MEP Middle East - July 2010

MIDDLE EAST NEWS UPDATE |06EVENTS |11

MEP AWARDS 2010 |19BUSINESS LEADS |41

PRODUCTS |45THE LAST WORD |48

An ITP Business Publication | July 2010 Vol. 5 Issue 7Essential information for mechanical, electrical and plumbing professionals

Licensed by Dubai Media City

An in-depth look at who’s who in the

region, and current major projects

SOUND DESIGNTHE IMPACT OF AIR-CON ON ACOUSTIC COMFORT

ON THE BEACHAL RAHA INABU DHABI

TOP MEP CONSULTANTS

ALSO: JIM SEBASTIAN FROM ECOVAL ON SOLAR WATER HEATING

July 2010 | MEP Middle East 1www.constructionweekonline.com

JULY 2010 VOLUME 5 ISSUE 7

CONTENTS

03 CONSTRUCTION WEEK ONLINE

05 COMMENT

06 UPDATE

11 EVENTS

19 MEP AWARDS 2010

20 THE BIG INTERVIEW Jim Sebastian from Ecoval.

24 TOP 20 MEP CONSULTANTSA listing of the top MEP consul-tants active in the region.

32 TECHNICAL: ACOUSTICSAir-con equipment can have a massive effect on acoustic com-fort, especially in schools.

34 TECHNICAL: OIL SAMPLINGA well-run oil-testing programme can save time, money and a lot of unnecessary effort.

37 SITE VISIT Aldar’s Al Muneera precinct, part

of the Al Raha Beach development in Abu Dhabi.

40 LEGAL

41 BUSINESS LEADS UAE projects looking for MEP

contractors.

42 REGION IN FOCUS Top MEP projects in the UAE.

44 METAL MONITOR

45 PRODUCTS

48 THE LAST WORD Lewis Beck, Johnson Controls

Workplace Strategy Lead EMEA, on the impact of workspace utili-sation on sustainability.

25

34

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CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM

COLUMNS AND FEATURESFAD FREESelina Denman, Editor, Commercial Interior DesignDesign has a decid-edly uneasy relation-ship with fashion. Fashion is whimsical; design is dependable. Design is, in theory at least, free from fads.

IS LEED BOGUS?Orlando Crowcroft, Editor, Middle East ArchitectFrank Gehry is not the fi rst person to criticise the LEED ranking system, and he is unlikely to be the last. But the archi-tect’s comments have caused quite a stir …

EGYPT THE NEXT BIG THINGStuart Matthews, Senior Group EditorIs Egypt the next place to be? Contrac-tors and developers with interests in the country are trying to convince us that the answer is yes.

SPY IN THE SKYGreg Whitaker, Editor, PMV Middle EastFrom the operator of any kind of motorised fl eet – be it trucks, bulldozers, crop dust-ers or go-karts – the advantages of telem-etry are obvious.

AL MUNEERA, AL RAHA BEACHDubbed the ‘great Arabian water city of the twenty-fi rst century’, Al Muneera, a precinct of the Al Raha Beach development, for client Aldar Properties PJSC is a fl agship project for DSI Abu Dhabi, which falls under the auspices of DSI PJSC.For more galleries, check out www.constructionweekonline.com/galleries

IN PICTURES MOST POPULAR

• LEED buildings are ‘unhealthy’, says report

• New contractors liable for ghost building

collapse

• Saudi Electricity to build SR7.9 bn power

plant

• Saudi targets Jeddah city slums project

• Abu Dhabi to get world’s largest solar power

plant

• US$1.7bn contract for two IPPs in Oman

• ASHRAE enters into Japanese MoU

• Full steam ahead on Dubai Metro Red Line

• Singapore fi nes 14 companies for bid-rigging

EDITOR’S CHOICE

SPOT POLL

For more comments, check out www.constructionweekonline.com/comments

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COMMENT

Heat is on; power is off

Hot on the heels of us commenting on the power outages plaguing neighbour-

ing Sharjah (‘Lightless in Sharjah’, June), both Kuwait and Saudi Arabia were faced with the prospect of manda-tory power cuts as blistering early-summer temperatures sent power demand for air-con soaring. In Iraq, soaring

temperatures and accompanying power outages have sparked protests in two southern cities and the resignation of the electricity minister.

Recently power consumption in Kuwait peaked at 10 823 MW, dangerously close to the maximum capacity of 11 200 MW, according to fi gures on the electricity and water ministry Web site. Early sum-mer temperatures in Kuwait have already hit 49.5 de-grees Celsius (121.1 Fahrenheit), the highest so far this year, according to the state-run met offi ce. Elec-tricity and water ministry offi cials have appealed to consumers to switch off any unnecessary electrical appliances and air-con units, which consume most of Kuwait’s electricity output.

Amusingly, an emergency parliamentary session convened to discuss the power crisis recommended that working hours for government employees be changed from 07:30-14:30 to 07:00-12:00 in order to conserve power. In a much more serious light, MPs also called for an investigation into allegations of corruption in the ministry of electricity and water, which has allegedly delayed building new power plants since 1988, despite an 8% annual increase in electricity demand.

Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammed Al

MIDDLE EAST

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Ahmad Al Sabah has pledged that Kuwait aims to double its power capacity to more than 20 000 MW in the next fi ve years. The new Subbiya power sta-tion under construction at present is expected to produce 1 320 MW by the summer of 2011, and reach its full capacity of 2 000 MW in 2012.

Nowhere is the need to optimise HVAC systems more prevalent than in summer, as well as the criti-cal role played by the MEP sector in helping the re-gion stay cool while simultaneously saving energy. On the topic of energy conservation, this month we speak in-depth to Jim Sebastian from Ecoval about the impact that solar hot water heating can have.

One does not think of the necessity of water heat-ing in a region like the Middle East, but it is a big consumer of electrical energy – second to air-con, it seems. So any attempts to introduce new technology like solar hot water heating is bound to go a long way to reducing the strain on the electricity infra-structure.

However, Sebastian warns that a plethora of com-peting systems and rival vendors has resulted in a rather confusing market for the end user. The inher-ent disadvantage of this situation is it will delay the uptake of technologies like solar hot water heating. Meanwhile, customers who have burnt their fi ngers on cheap imported products not suited for the re-gion’s specifi c climatic conditions are likely to tar the sector with the same brush.

What is clear is there is a huge opportunity for the MEP sector to help the sector shine as a whole by disseminating installation and other technical infor-mation, as well as helping to integrate technology so as to offer customers the best optimised systems.

GERHARD HOPEEditor

Keep up-to-date with all MEP Middle East news at

5

COMMENTSDo you have any comments about the MEP industry in the Middle East? Please e-mail any letters to: [email protected] or post to: MEP Middle East, ITP Business, PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE.

ON THIS MONTH’S COVERWe showcase the top 20 consultants in the region in the MEP

sector, looking briefl y at their history, major achievements and

key current projects.

UPDATE

6 MEP Middle East | July 2010 www.constructionweekonline.com

Hastie wins MEP contracts in QatarFour contracts underpin fi rm’s growing regional presence

(From right) Rajesh Bhatia, divisional manager, A/C division, AFE; Dawood Bin Ozair, MD; Fuad Mashal, CEO of ICC; Farhat Noor Khan, regional sales manager; and Shadi Shadi, sales engineer

Energy City in Qatar

14 000 air-con units supplied to Al Razeen Labour CityAIR-CON

Al-Futtaim Engineering has won a contract to supply 14 000 Sanyo air-conditioners to Al Razeen Labour City in Al Wath-ba, Abu Dhabi for Abu Dhabi General Services Company (Musanada).

The contract was awarded by the International Construction Company (ICC).

Al-Futtaim Engineering is a multi-disciplinary engineering organisation operating across the UAE and Qatar, with over 30 years of successful operations.

The Al-Futtaim Group pro-vides total solutions to the

MEP CONTRACTS

Hastie Group Limited, a leading international provider of tech-nical services to the building and infrastructure sectors, has received contracts for four proj-ects in Qatar with a total value of A$66 million.

“These latest project wins confi rm Hastie’s increasingly strong market position in the Middle East, where we are cur-rently undertaking work in Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Dubai and Saudi Arabia,” said Hastie Group MD David Harris.

He added that Hastie was working on a slew of projects across the Middle East, and was therefore not dependent on any single market.

“The projects also demon-strate the value our customers in the Middle East place on our ability to provide an integrated range of MEP and refrigeration services from a single source.”

Harris said Qatar has the world’s third-largest gas re-serves, and its economy is grow-ing fast, opening up further

opportunities for the group.Two of the new projects re-

late to infrastructure. Hastie has been appointed by Leighton Contracting Qatar to provide MEP services including fi re and CCTV, infrastructure con-trol systems (SCADA) and in-strumentation and chlorination work for a A$233 million water infrastructure project that in-cludes nine reservoirs.

It will link two Qatari commu-nities. Hastie’s work will begin in June 2010 and is expected to be completed over 15 months.

The second, smaller infra-structure project, for the Public

Works Authority of Qatar, is to provide pipeline reticulation for offi ce cooling systems as part of the US$2.6 billion upcoming Energy City project.

The other project involves MEP services, including

fi refi ghting systems, for a major hotel development for Al Rayyan Tourism Investment Company.

The scope of works relates to the construction of the Traders Hotel managed by Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts.

Hastie has commenced works on the project this month, with completion scheduled for No-vember 2011. The fi nal project involves MEP services for the New Doha International Airport (NDIA) aircraft wash apron.

The NDIA is being construct-ed on a 22 square kilometer area east of the existing Doha air-port. Hastie has been appointed by Sinohydro-Gamuda WTC Joint Venture.

The group, which established its Middle East operations in 2005 and has 2 000 employees in the region, has had previous experience in the Qatar market, said Harris.

Among other projects in the Middle East, Hastie is currently working on a US$204 million contract for a new university campus in Abu Dhabi.

building industry through its proven expertise in MEP,

elevators and escalators, securi-ty and low-voltage systems, air-

conditioning, building products and scaffolding and formwork. The company represents inter-national brands like Hitachi, Sanyo, Toto, LM and Chubb.

Abu Dhabi is a key regional focus, according to Al-Futtaim Engineering MD Dawood Bin Ozair. “It is growing in a big way.” He adds that the compa-ny’s strategy of securing work outside Dubai has resulted in a “solid” order book.

“We are very hopeful about the future. We have not been as adversely affected as other com-panies have been, and are still growing,” says Bin Ozair.

The projects also demonstrate the value our customers in the Middle East place on our ability to provide an integrated range of MEP and refrigeration services from a single source.“ – David Harris


UPDATE

Metito in IraqWATER TREATMENT

Metito has secured a US$50 mil-lion project from TRC to procure, design, manufacture and supply process equipment related to the assembly of two water-treatment plants in Iraq.

Both plants will have a com-bined production capacity of 17.52 million cubic metres of safe drinking water annually. These two plants are part of the efforts aimed at responding to the ur-gent and rising needs of Iraqis for clean, drinkable water. The plants are expected to be com-pleted and fully operational by the summer of 2011.

“Years of war and neglect have left the infrastructure in Iraq weak and in a deteriorated condition. This has had devastating effects, resulting in water quality that is well below national and interna-tional standards, not to mention a huge gap between increasing demand for water and decreased supply for it,” commented Metito Iraq GM Moustafa Hassan.

Situated in the north-west part of the Thi-Qar governorate, the Nasser treatment plant will sup-ply fresh drinkable water to over

INSULATED PIPING

Detailed plant engineering and design is underway for a new in-sulated pipe manufacturing plant in the Dammam Industrial Area in Saudi Arabia. The plant will be developed and operated by Perma-Pipe’s subsidiary, Perma-Pipe Middle East (PPME), in tandem with its existing plant in the UAE, with the aim of serving the entire GCC region. It will be known as Perma-Pipe Saudi Arabia (PPSA).

The new state-of-the-art manu-facturing facility will serve the special requirements of the oil and gas industry, as well as the rapidly

81 000 people residing in Naser and its surrounding communi-ties. Ghammas is located 70 km south-east of Al Diwaniyah city, and will cater to over 84 000 resi-dents. Both plants will utilise the natural rivers of Al Gharraf and Ghammas, which both fl ow past the centres of these towns.

“The annual volume of treated water produced by existing facili-ties in both cities is around 3.538 million cubic metres annually, which does not meet the huge de-mand for clean fresh water.

“This is why Metito was cho-sen for this project. Our exper-tise and work in other war-torn countries around the world will contribute heavily to the success of both projects,” said Hassan.

growing market for district cool-ing networks in Saudi Arabia.

PPSA will also be equipped to custom-manufacture pipe spools and a complete range of pre-insu-lated fi ttings. The company has received an industrial licence and the required commercial registra-tion, and expects the plant to be fully operational in 2011.

“We eagerly anticipate this ma-jor strategic initiative, which will address the largest market in the GCC countries,” said Perma-Pipe president Fati Elgendy. Perma-Pipe has successfully served Saudi Arabia since the 1970s.

New insulated pipe plant for Saudi

Contract for two water-treatment plants

Metito Iraq GM Moustafa Hassan

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UPDATE


Voltas grows 13% on back of UAE marketInternational order book of Indian MEP fi rm includes several high-profi le projects in the UAE

The scope of work at the Abu Dhabi Central Market project includes supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the complete MEP systems for two towers

MEP MARKET

Voltas, India’s largest exporter in electro-mechanical projects, saw revenue in this segment grow by 13% for the year ended 31 March 2010, largely due to an internation-al order book that includes several high-profi le projects in the UAE.

This includes a recent Rs800 crore (AED6.25 billion), 26-month contract for the T2 and T3 towers in Abu Dhabi’s Central Market project, awarded to Voltas by main contractor Arabian Construction Company LLC, on behalf of client Aldar Properties PJSC.

The scope of work includes sup-ply, installation, testing and com-missioning of the complete MEP systems for the two towers. T2 will be the tallest building in Abu Dhabi upon its completion in 2012. It will be 374 m high, with 88 fl oors and a total built-up area of 143 118 square metres. T3 will be 280 m high, 60 fl oors and a total built-up area of 132 326 square metres.

Other signifi cant projects in the UAE have included the iconic Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the Formula One race track in Abu Dhabi, the district cooling plant at the Dubai Interna-tional Financial Centre, the Ferrari Experience theme park and Etihad Towers Complex in Abu Dhabi, and the Sidra Medical and Research Centre in Doha, Qatar.

In the Indian market, the slow-down in the commercial real-estate sector had some impact on the fi nalisation of new electro-mechanical projects. In a strategic move, the company initiated ag-

gressive steps to increase its pres-ence in the industrial and infra-structure segments. The company also increased its equity stake in Rohini Industrial Electricals to expand its domestic offering in the electrical sector. The overall carry-forward order book for the electro-mechanical segment as at the end of March 2010 stood at Rs4720 crore.

Voltas has also signed a JV with Mustafa Sultan Enterprises LLC of Oman to facilitate its entry into that country’s burgeoning electro-

mechanical sector, CFO M.M. Mi-yajiwala told Reuters. The JV will be 65% owned by Voltas and 35% by the Sultan Group. “We are look-ing to expand operations in Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia,” said Mi-yajiwala. He added that Voltas had a total capex budget of Rs5 000 to Rs6 000 crore in FY11.

The reduced capex spending by companies in the wake of the glob-al fi nancial crisis had an adverse impact on Voltas’ engineering products and services segment. However, there was a pick-up in AED

6.25BN Contract for Abu Dhabi’s

Central Market

We are looking to expand operations in Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia.” “

– M.M. Miyajiwala

CENTRAL MARKET PROJECT, ABU DHABI HVAC• 6 600 FCUs• 68 AHUs• 28 plate heat exchangers• Ducting and piping

Electrical• 21 transformers• 16 MV switchgear• 1 580 LV switchgear• 78 500 light fi xtures

Public health systems• 10 booster pump sets• 833 water heaters• Hot and cold water supply

(copper pipework)• Firefi ghting

activity during the latter part of the year, benefi ting the textile ma-chinery and mining and construc-tion equipment businesses.

The unitary cooling products business grew strongly in 2009-10. Sales of room air-conditioners increased by 30%, well above in-dustry growth, while refrigeration products grew by 25%. The seg-ment has become a strong contrib-utor to the company’s profi tability, and continues to sustain robust growth in the current season.

Voltas, a Tata enterprise, report-ed that its consolidated operating profi t (profi t before tax and excep-tional items) rose by 47% to Rs507 crore as compared to Rs346 crore in the previous year. Profi t after exceptional items and tax rose by 51% to Rs385 crore as against Rs255 crore in the previous year. Sales/income from operations rose by 10% to Rs4830 crore, as compared to Rs4374 crore in the previous year. Earnings per share works out to Rs11.51 as compared to Rs7.60 for the previous year (face value of Re1).

UPDATE


Manlift Power supplied a 200 kVA genset

A typical toilet set-up in India

The interior of each car is 3.4 m wide, 2.8 m long and 2.6 m high

Manlift Power donates generator to Al ManzilRENTAL POWER

Manlift Power has donated a gen-erator to the Al Manzil Centre for Challenged Individuals in Sharjah to help it cope with the power out-ages in the emirate as summer ap-proaches. The Al Manzil Centre provides a professional care-giv-ing and learning environment for individuals with special needs.

When Manlift employees heard how the children’s sched-ules had been disrupted and how the conditions were causing them discomfort, they swiftly deployed a 200 kVA Ingersoll-Rand generator set to power the centre’s facilities. Ayesha Saeed Husaini Managing Director of the Al Manzil Centre remarked: “You cannot imagine what a relief it is to have this generator.” This is the second year that Manlift Power has donated a rental gen-erator to the Al Manzil Centre for the hot summer season.

“We fi rst heard about the Al Manzil Centre in 2009. It was

brought to my attention that they had been affected by the Sharjah power shortage, and naturally we contacted the centre to see if Man-lift could be of assistance,” said Manlift Power regional director Adam Ashcroft.

The GCC based Manlift Group was founded in November 2006. It is a JV between local sharehold-ers and a major European rentals company. Manlift Power operates alongside Manlift Middle East, a specialist in the sales and rentals of access platforms/manlifts. It has over 1 000 machines available within its fl eet.

SANITATION

A top American engineers’ body has lauded low-cost toilet tech-nology from Indian NGO Sulabh International. Dr Bindeshwar Pathak and his team from Sulabh International have developed an indigenous two-pit toilet technol-ogy that can also be used in pro-ducing biogas.

In India, more people have ac-cess to mobile phones than to toi-lets, says a recent UN study. India still tops the list of countries where people defecate in the open, at an estimated 640 million. The World Environment & Water Resources Congress, organised by the Amer-ican Society of Civil Engineers at Providence, Rhodes Island said the low-cost sanitation technology will affect millions.

Delivering the keynote address at the congress, Dr Pathak said the NGO would launch its sanita-tion campaign in 50 countries. He appealed to technical experts to join hands to achieve the UN’s Mil-

US engineers laud low-cost Indian toilet technology

lennium Development goals relat-ing to sanitation and hygiene.

Sulabh International is a pio-neer in the fi eld of biogas gen-eration from public toilet com-plexes. It has developed a more effi cient design approved by the Indian Ministry of Non-Conven-tional Energy.

Pathak-designed toilets are used by ten million people daily, helping push the number of people in rural India with access to a toi-let from 27% fi ve years ago to 59% today. Sulabh technology has also been used to construct over 5 500 public-toilet complexes in cities across south and central Asia, for people who are homeless or who have no sanitation in their houses.

ELEVATORS

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has installed the largest-capacity elevators to date in Japan. The fi ve elevators at Umeda Hankyu Building’s new offi ce area, which opened on 6 May 2010 in Osaka, Japan, can each carry up to 80 pas-sengers, or 5 250 kg in load.

The interior of each car is 3.4 m wide, 2.8 m long and 2.6 m high, with a fl oor space of 9.52 square metres. The cars are equipped with glass windows, allowing pas-sengers to look outside.

The fi ve elevators are operated as shuttle elevators carrying a large number of passengers non-stop from the entrance lobby on

the fi rst fl oor to the sky lobby on the fi fteenth fl oor.

Umeda Hankyu has a double layer structure, with a department

elevators provide Umeda Hankyu offi ce employees and visitors di-rect access to the offi ce area.

On the fi fteenth fl oor, passen-gers are able to select from three different elevator banks accord-ing to their fi nal destination. The ‘A’ bank serves fl oors 17 through 25, the ‘B’ bank serves fl oors 26 through 33 and the ‘C’ bank serves fl oors 34 through 41.

There are six new elevators for each bank, also supplied by Mitsubishi Electric. The com-pany has also installed two other elevators for the new offi ce area, bringing the total number of el-evators installed by the company at the building to 25.

Largest-capacity elevators to dateThe fi ve elevators at Umeda Hankyu in Osaka can each carry up to 80 passengers

store occupying the lower levels from fl oors B2 through 13, and of-fi ces located on the higher levels from fl oors 15 through 41. The


UPDATE

‘Infrastructure catches up’INFRASTRUCTURE

The slowdown in the construction industry due to the global fi nancial crisis has meant that “the infrastruc-ture now has time to catch up,” said Drake & Scull International PJSC (DSI) MEP director Charles Lever.

Lever spoke to MEP Middle East at the Construction Week Build-ing at Height Safely conference in Dubai. “The pace of building was so rapid during the boom period that infrastructure tended to lag behind general construction,” said Lever.

The prevailing slowdown, com-bined with the push towards sus-tainability and ‘green’ building, has meant an increased focus on overall health, safety and quality issues. However, Lever said the Dubai MEP market still stubbornly lagged fl ourishing areas like Saudi Arabia and even Egypt.

“A lot of unfi nished projects in Dubai will invariably be scaled back so they can be completed in the context of the current mar-ket conditions,” said Lever. This means that the infrastructure associated with such redefi ned

Slowdown in construction favours infrastructure developmentQUITO CONJSTRUCTION7-11 July, Quito Centro de Exposiciones, EcuadorProfi ling the growth of the construction industry, from technology to projects and fi nancing.www.biztradeshows.com

12TH CHINA BUILDING & DECORATION FAIR8-11 July, Guangzhou International Convention & Exhibition Centre, ChinaThe largest trade fair for the building decoration industry in Asia.www.biztradeshows.com

SANI-CERAMEX8-11 July, Guangzhou International Convention & Exhibition Centre, ChinaChina’s premier international exhibition for the sanitaryware and building ceramics industry.www.biztradeshows.com

SUSTAINABILITY ON SHOW9-11 July, Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, AustraliaGreen showcase for energy effi ciency, featuring the latest on solar technology, grey water systems and heating and cooling.www.buildexpo.com.au/ ERBIL TRADE SOLO12-15 July, Erbil International Fair Ground, Iraq Building and municipality exhibition, showcasing this growing regional market.www.biztradeshows.com

REALTY INDIA24-25 July, Harrow Leisure Centre, UKComprehensive property exhibition with builders and developers from all over India showcasing their latest projects and fi nancial Institutions.www.biztradeshows.com

BUILD ASIA27-29 July, Karachi Expo Centre, PakistanStrategic platform to explore the Pakistani, Afghastani, Middle East and Central Asian building and construction sector.www.buildasia.net

EVENTS

projects will go a long way in de-termining their new value.

Lever noted that the liquidity in the market had improved slightly, to the benefi t of small to medium contractors, although 2010 was likely to be a low-growth year all round. Nevertheless, the market had stabilised from the lows of 2009, and there was renewed con-fi dence among MEP contractors.

“The high level of attendance at an event like Building at Height Safely augurs well for the future; it is a testament to the renewed fo-cus on health, safety and quality,” said Lever. He added that DSI, which had focused on region-alisation from virtually its estab-lishment, was well-positioned to continue to grow, having secured recent fl agship contracts in Abu Dhabi and Qatar.

DSI MEP director Charles Lever

The fourth quarter saw 30% growth in rotating machines, switchgear and cables

Indian electrical equipment sector is growingELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

The Indian electrical equipment industry grew 11.25% in 2009-10, after 2.73% growth last year, the lowest in fi ve years, according to the Indian Electrical Equip-ment Manufacturers’ Associa-tion (IEEMA). The industry is witnessing a turnaround due to an increase in demand from sec-tors like power, textile, water, steel and cement.

The fourth quarter of 2009-10 saw a growth of 30% and above in sectors including rotating ma-chines, switchgear and cables, following an economic recovery in real estate and infrastruc-ture. The growth fi gures were in terms of volume, and the fi -nancial results may differ from sector to sector depending on the order book, expected busi-ness, raw material prices and margins, said IEEMA.

The highest growth of 14.54% was reported by the switchgear

tered more than 20% growth due to increased off-take from building and railway sector. The cable industry showed an over-all growth of 12%, mainly due to a 14.54% growth in the power cable segment, due to higher de-mand from industrial projects.

Industry sources expect util-ity demand to rise, especially for high voltage (HV) and extra high voltage (EHV) cables. The building wire segment has also seen an overall improvement in demand from the construction sector. The transformer sector grew 9%, led by power trans-formers at 17.16%.

IEEMA director general Sunil More stated at a press confer-ence in Mumbai: “This demand growth could likely see a twofold increase in the next two to three years,” adding that the increase was fuelled by increased de-mand in the country’s housing and construction sectors.

sector, though high-tension switchgear recorded a low growth of 5.78%. A growth rate of 56% was experienced in the ex-tra high voltage (above 245 kV) segment. Demand for medium (up to 36KV) and high-voltage breakers (36-245KV) declined by 4% and 23% respectively.

Power contractors, miniature circuit breakers and other low-voltage circuit breakers regis-

UPDATE


E&M contract awarded for monorailDesign and supply of system-wide electrical and mechanical elements for Riyadh project

The next-generation Innovia Monorail 300 system

ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL

Bombardier Transportation has signed a contract with Saudi Oger, a leading Saudi Arabian construction company, for the supply, installation, operation and maintenance of a 3.6 km Innovia Monorail 300 system for the King Abdullah Financial District, the new fi nancial and business centre under develop-ment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Oger Limited, as the contractor responsible for the full turnkey construction of the new monorail system, was awarded the contract by the Ray-adah Investment Company, the investment vehicle of the Public Pension Agency of the govern-ment of Saudi Arabia. Bombar-dier, as subcontractor to Saudi Oger, will design and supply all of the system-wide electrical and mechanical (E&M) elements for the six-station monorail system.

This includes six Innovia Monorail 300 trains (12 cars) with Bombardier Cityfl o 650 au-tomatic train-control technology for driverless operation, as well as providing project manage-ment, systems engineering and integration, testing and commis-sioning. Engineering and design for the Monorail vehicles will be centred at Bombardier’s site in Kingston, Canada, and manufac-turing of the 12 cars will be car-ried out by Bombardier in Pitts-burgh, US.

Together with Saudi Oger, Bombardier will also provide its

branded Innovia O&M operation and maintenance services for the system for an initial contrac-tual period of ten years. The total value of Bombardier’s contract is US$241 million. Completion of the system is scheduled for 2012,

with operation and maintenance services to commence at the start of revenue service.

Commenting on the announce-ment, Andre Navarri, president and COO of Bombardier Trans-portation, said: “As the global leader in the supply and opera-tion of turnkey transit systems, we are exceptionally proud to se-cure our fi rst major project in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and to be associated with the presti-gious King Abdullah Financial District. Our next-generation

3.6 KMtotal system length

As the global leader in the supply and operation of turnkey transit systems, we are exceptionally proud to secure our fi rst major project in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and to be associated with the prestigious King Abdullah Financial District.“

–Andre Navarri

Innovia Monorail 300 system combines service-proven driv-erless technology with the lat-est in wide-bodied, lightweight, aerodynamically-styled monorail trains. They provide superior val-ue and performance for demand-ing and sophisticated users.

“The long-term nature of our operation and maintenance con-tract further underlines our com-mitment to building local roots in Saudi Arabia and with other countries in the GCC,” said Na-varri. Saudi Oger, established in 1978 as a construction company in Riyadh, gained momentum with the founding of Oger Inter-national in Paris in 1979. Since its inception, Saudi Oger has become a leading construction, FM service provider and infra-structure project development company in Saudi Arabia and the region.


UPDATE

The solar sector lacks focus

Knowledge Economic City in Saudi Arabia

UAE solar market refl ects global trend of oversupplyRESEARCH

A new research white paper on the global solar industry warns that “the solar market is now faced with a gross oversupply of modules. The industry is cur-rently supplied by more than 190 cell and module manufacturers, making consolidation of weaker competitors an inevitable out-come,” said Pike senior analyst Dave Cavanaugh.

Overcapacity and intense competition will create down-ward pressure for module aver-age selling prices (ASPs), which will accelerate grid parity for the cost of solar-produced power to the 2013 timeframe in many markets. Increasing competi-tion is also a feature of the bur-geoning solar-energy market in the UAE, where there are over 50 vendors at present, according to Eurostar divisional manager: solar Jit Chakravarty. Challeng-es include a long supply chain: “We need to have a stronger lo-cal supplier and manufacturing base,” says Chakravarty.

According to the new white paper from Pike Research, while solar demand will experience strong growth this year, the oversupply factors have had a strong infl uence on which com-panies will lead the industry in 2010 and beyond, and which will face low profi t margins and pos-sible consolidation.

The report also fi nds that the total solar market demand will exceed 19 GW by 2013, a 25% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2010. Worldwide solar demand, driven by lower costs and greater availability of credit, will increase to 10.1 GW in 2010, a year-over-year in-crease of almost 43%.

STANDARDS

The Air-Conditioning, Heat-ing and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) has signed co-operative agreements with the Saudi Stan-dards, Metrology and Quality As-sociation (SASO) and the UAE’s Emirates Standardisation and Metrology Authority (ESMA), aimed at further harmonising HVAC and water heating testing and rating standards globally.

The agreement calls for SASO and ESMA to adopt AHRI’s stan-dards as Saudi and UAE national standards respectively – and, in some cases, with regional adap-tations, said AHRI president and CEO Stephen Yurek.

“Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE have begun to place a new emphasis on energy effi ciency and environmental protection. AHRI has signalled its serious intent to work closely with the governments of those nations to use AHRI standards and perfor-mance certifi cation programs to help them meet with effi ciency and environmental goals and to

AHRI signs standards agreement with Saudi, UAE

further global harmonisation of standards and certifi cation pro-grammes,” said Yurek.

“This agreement is an impor-tant fi rst step in what we hope and expect will be an ongoing and very productive mutual re-lationship,” said Yurek. “Our active involvement in this region not only helps us expand our global reach, but also helps our member companies that do busi-ness in the region compete on a level playing fi eld with other manufacturers.”

Discussions are underway be-tween AHRI, SASO and ESMA about a series of workshops that could lead to an agreement on adoption of certifi cation in the near future. The ESMA has invited AHRI and other pri-vate parties, including AHRI member companies, to apply to participate in ESMA standards development and conformity assessment committees that ul-timately will develop Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for the UAE.

SUBSTATIONS

Areva’s Transmission and Distri-bution (T&D) division has secured an €11 million (AED36.5 million) contract for Knowledge Economic City in Saudi Arabia. The contract is for the supply and installation of a 110/13.8 kV gas-insulated substa-tion (GIS) at Knowledge Econom-ic City in Madinah, Western Saudi Arabia, which will power a newly developed luxury residential area. The order is scheduled for comple-tion in 2012.

“This new deal positions us as a key player in the region’s transmis-sion and distribution infrastruc-

ture, and puts us in a strong posi-tion to capitalise on the emerging possibilities,” said Areva T&D VP: international sales Anil Chaudhry.

The Kingdom’s Economic Cities strategy is to place Saudi

Arabia among the world’s top ten competitive investment des-tinations. Considered the most important of the six cities due to its proximity to the al-Madinah mosque, Knowledge Economic

AED37m Saudi win for Areva T&DSupply and installation of gas-insulated substation at Knowledge Economic City

City is being punted a leader in hi-tech economy initiatives.

A network of transportation fa-cilities is planned to connect the city to the Al-Madinah mosque and other major cities and eco-nomic centres in Saudi Arabia. It involves SR30bn (US$8bn) of aggregate investment for devel-oping the project, 20 000 new job opportunities, an expected population of 150 000, accommo-dation for up to 30 000 visitors, a retail area with 1 200 shops and a residential area with 30 000 resi-dential units.

UPDATE


KAUST boasts Saudi’s first solar plantThe 2 MW rooftop plant is also the Kingdom’s largest solar installation to date

The photovoltaic plant occupies 11 577 m² of roof space

SOLAR

A consortium of Hamburg-based solar experts and Saudi Arabia’s leading solar system integrator, National Solar Systems (NSS), have completed the 2 MW solar park on the rooftop of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). It is the fi rst and largest solar instal-lation in Saudi Arabia.

The 2 MW solar plant consists of two rooftop solar installations with a capacity of 1 MW each, installed on the north and south laboratories of the university. The power system features pre-mium components, combining over 9 300 high-effi ciency solar modules with Conergy Suntop III mounting systems and Con-ergy 280 K central inverters.

The photovoltaic plant oc-cupies 11 577 m2 of roof space and produces 3 332 MW hours of clean energy annually, while also saving up to 33 320 tons of carbon emissions. This equates to carbon offsets of approxi-mately 6 000 circumnavigations of the world by car. Conergy designed the park and was re-sponsible for the engineering, supervision and commission-ing, while installation works and operational management were implemented by NSS.

The solar park initiative is part of KAUST’s wider green technology programme, as the fl agship university wants to advance solar energy research through its Solar and Alterna-tive Energy Science and En-gineering Centre, and deploy clean energy solutions on its

campus. For their ecological en-gagement, it has been awarded LEED Platinum certifi cation by the US Green Building Council.

PIONEERSA KAUST spokesman said: “We are proud to be among the solar pioneers in our country, and to have the fi rst and the largest so-lar park at KAUST. Despite our country being the largest oil producer, we think it is essential to develop new and sustainable technologies for the benefi t of

the Kingdom, the region and the world. This commitment is built into the DNA of our infrastruc-ture as well as our research and academic mission.”

“We are extremely pleased to be part of this groundbreaking project,” said Marc Lohoff, head of Conergy Asia Pacifi c and the Middle East. “We support the future of renewable energy in the Middle East with our solar know-how and the latest tech-nology. This project demon-strates that the development of alternatives to traditional fossil fuels has taken on a new ur-gency, even in oil-rich countries like Saudi Arabia.”

“For the fi rst time, clean pow-er is fl owing into the national grid. This is a historical event for us in Saudi Arabia. The

3332 MWH

produced by the PV plant

Saudi Arabia aspires to export as much solar energy in the future as it exports oil now.“

–Ali Al-Naimi

strong collaboration and mutual cooperation between NSS and Conergy was the secret formula behind this success,” said NSS MD Abdulhadi Al-Mureeh.

Saudi Arabia, the largest oil producer in OPEC, with about one-fi fth of the world’s proven oil reserves, is planning to make solar power a major con-tributor to energy supply in the next fi ve to ten years, accord-ing to the Kingdom’s Minister


UPDATE

A view of the control room

A view of the rooftop solar plant at KAUST

for Petroleum and Mineral Re-sources. “Saudi Arabia aspires to export as much solar energy in the future as it exports oil now,” said Ali Al-Naimi in an in-terview with Reuters.

The latest sustainability re-search report from Bank Sara-sin further predicts that the use of solar energy in the Middle East will grow at an annual rate of more than 50% in the next fi ve years. The Middle East has the benefi ts of favourable insola-tion levels and extensive areas featuring very low population densities, which are ideal char-acteristics for the deployment of solar energy.

LANDMARKNot only KAUST and its solar partners but also other big play-ers in the energy branch see the opportunities of clean solar power in the Middle Eastern re-gion. Therefore the landmark project was managed by Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil corporation, and was executed by several large construction contractors, including major players like Saudi Oger.

The Hamburg-based Conergy

AG is a leading solar com-pany, with 1 400 employees and business in 16 countries on four continents. As a sys-tem supplier, the Conergy Group develops and produces

crystalline solar modules, in-vertors and mounting systems at its three German manu-facturing locations. Conergy can therefore not only ensure quality standards, but can also

produce all the components re-quired for a photovoltaic facility from a single source due to its in-house production.

With its own components and systems, the solar company de-velops, fi nances and implements solar facilities, plants and entire solar parks. Furthermore, Con-ergy distributes its ample prod-uct portfolio in a large network of partners and wholesalers. Conergy was founded in 1998, and has sold more than 1.25 gigawatt of renewable energy, including solar systems with a total power output of more than 1 gigawatt.

NSS is a leading solar system integrator in Saudi Arabia, and has been providing a full spec-trum of products and services in the fi eld of renewable en-ergy since 2004. NSS is an ISO 9001:2000 certifi ed company in Al Khobar, and covers the GCC and North Africa. It has the in-house capability for turnkey solutions from conception to installation and commissioning, focusing on economical, envi-ronment-friendly and effi cient-energy solutions.

UPDATE


Johnson Controls secures Burj KhalifaSecurity management system supplied to Emaar Properties to manage world’s tallest tower

The security system works in conjunction with the BMS at Burj Khalifa

SECURITY

Johnson Controls has supplied a security management system to Burj Khalifa to allow developer Emaar Properties to manage security in the tower’s corpo-rate, residential, hotel and public spaces, including nearly 900 resi-dential suites, hundreds of offi ce suites and an observation deck.

“The security system works with the building management system to allow security per-sonnel at the Burj to take quick action during a security breach or threat,” said Johnson Con-trols VP and MD: Middle East Magdy Mekky. “The interoper-ability of key building systems ensures a comfortable and safe environment for all guests and tenants. The safety benefi ts are immeasurable.”

If an unauthorised person ac-cesses a secure area, the building sub-systems, including cameras and intercoms, are activated im-mediately. If a fi re is detected, the airfl ow system will deactivate au-tomatically to confi ne or smother a fi re. Additional features include audio/visual systems, including project screens and video dis-plays, and conferencing systems installed throughout the tower. A two-way radio system allows facility and hotel management to communicate with maintenance and security personnel through-out the building.

LV SYSTEMSIn addition to the security management solution, Johnson Controls installed low-voltage systems that enable many of

the high-end amenities enjoyed by tenants and residents. The nearly 900 residences of the Burj feature E-Home, a smart home technology. Each resi-dence is equipped with a single control system that interfaces with lighting, curtains, HVAC, home theatre and security man-agement. Similar controls are

The Burj Khalifa is now the blueprint for engineering in the Middle East and

beyond.“ –Magdy Mekky

facilities and identify opportuni-ties to reduce costs without sac-rifi cing security or comfort.

“Our success in the West, including the recent retrofi t of New York City’s iconic Empire State Building, has made a last-ing impression. The Burj Khalifa is now the blueprint for engi-neering in the Middle East and beyond,” said Mekky. Additional high-profi le energy-effi ciency projects in the region include the Bahrain Bay Project, the Pearl Development in Qatar, and both the Kingdom Tower and Jebel Al Qala in Saudi Arabia.

900residential suites

installed in the hotel’s total of 324 guest rooms.

The Burj Khalifa project fur-ther illustrates the expanding presence of Johnson Controls’ building effi ciency business within the Middle East. “The state of the global economy has forced business owners in the East to take a close look at their

INTERNATIONAL UPDATE


SOUTH AFRICAThough not as visible a crisis as electricity pro-vision, water supply is already impeding South Africa’s socio-economic development in some localities, according to a new report based on dis-cussions convened by Business Leadership South Africa and the Centre for Development and Enter-prise (CDE), reports Engineering News. CDE Exec-utive Director Ann Bernstein said that there were a number of water-related issues in South Africa that needed “urgent attention” to avoid a water crisis, in-cluding: political leadership, strengthening water management institutions, maintenance of existing infrastructure, tackling the impacts of acid mine drainage and minimising water waste.

UKThe Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) has pub-lished a fully-updated version of ‘Guide E: Fire safety engineering’, including new chapters on Performance Based Design Principles, and Application of Risk Assessment. Now in its third edi-tion, CIBSE Guide E has been updated fully to take into account new knowl-edge and latest techniques. Written by experienced fi re engineers, it is intend-ed to give useful, practical advice on fi re safety engineering. This new edition has also been updated throughout to include BS9999 and other recent developments.

SINGAPOREThe Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) has fi ned a cartel of 14 electrical and building works compa-nies a total of US$190 000 for rigging bids. The companies were found to have colluded on tender bids for ten projects from July 2007 to April 2009. CCS began investigating the cartel after receiving a tip-off from one of the companies concerned, Arisco, which revealed that its previous man-agement had entered into bid-rigging arrangements with other companies to co-ordinate the price of quotations.

PHILIPPINESThe World Bank has approved US$10.9 million fi nancing for a project in the Philippines that aims to replace 375 chillers used in establishments nation-wide with a technology that is more energy-effi cient and environment-friendly. In a statement, the World Bank said the Philippines ‘Chiller En-ergy Effi ciency Project’ will provide fi nancial incentives to chiller owners to encourage them to replace old chill-ers, which consume around 50% more energy than the new ones.

IRAQMetito has secured a US$50 million proj-ect from TRC to procure, design, manu-facture and supply process equipment related to the assembly of two water- treatment plants in Iraq. Both plants will have a combined production capacity of 17.52 million cubic metres of safe drink-ing water annually. These two plants are part of the efforts aimed at responding to the urgent and rising needs of Iraqis for clean, drinkable water.


MEP AWARDS 2010

All the winners from the MEP Awards 2009

REWARDING THE MEP SECTOROn-line nominations are now open for the fourth annual MEP Middle East Awards.

ominations for the MEP Awards 2010 can be made on-line at the newly-launched Web site for this prestigious industry-leading event. Early submissions of nominations from industry players augurs well for the

success of the 2010 Awards. The nominations will be judged by a panel of leading industry experts, culminating in a gala awards ban-quet in December to announce and honour the winners.

This is the premier platform for the me-chanical, electrical and plumbing sector in the UAE to recognise its achievements, hon-our those individuals and companies who made these happen, and to acknowledge the latest innovations, technology and processes that have helped drive down costs and en-sure adherence to best-practice standards. It is also an opportunity to highlight the excel-lence in MEP design and installation under-pinning those iconic projects contributing to the evolving and rapidly maturing construc-

tion landscape in the UAE.The combination of a global economic

downturn and the advent of environmental awareness in the construction industry have resulted in the MEP sector playing a pivotal role in the advent of ‘green’ building in the UAE. It is an old but valid maxim that extraor-dinary circumstances lead to extraordinary achievements. The MEP Awards 2010 is the perfect occasion to acknowledge the sterling efforts and achievements of the sector in en-suring its continued viability and innovation in light of current constraints and global eco-nomic volatility.

JUDGING OF AWARDSAfter the closing date for submissions, all nominations will be collected and reviewed by the judging panel. Each award winner will be decided by consensus among the judges, and no correspondence will be entered into with outside parties. Judging will be based on the strength of the submissions, together with a review of the nominee’s activities in the area of nomination.

GALA DINNERThe MEP Middle East Awards 2010 will take place in December. The gala awards banquet will be held at a top fi ve-star hotel in Dubai. The evening will play host to the majority of the region’s leading mechani-cal, electrical and plumbing professionals, with representatives from other key areas of the developer and construction industry expected to attend.

NOMINATIONS: SEE WWW.CONSTRUC-TIONWEEKONLINE.COM/MEPAWARDS

THE BIG INTERVIEW


he potential of the solar wa-ter heating market in the UAE is indicated by the fact

that Ecoval is now the number one global distributor for Solaha-rt of Australia. “Italy is number two and South Africa number three.” Sebastian is convinced that Dubai’s green building code will play a major role in the expo-

nential growth of this sector. “It will defi nitely have a big impact, and is already stimulating the demand for renewables.”

However, a major hurdle for the renewable sector at present is unsustainably low energy prices. “Energy prices are so cheap there is no real incentive for people to save electric-ity and water, let alone spend extra money on renewable systems.” Having said that, while the sector only comprised as few as six com-panies two years ago, “now we count up to 30,” says Sebastian.

“The surprising thing is that most of these companies are new entrants. The major es-tablished building services players locally have not really entered the UAE solar sector, probably because they are in a comfort zone. Some local players have made inroads, but they are not in the big leagues.” Sebastian predicts the market will reach a saturation level, at which point consolidation will take place. Thus it is important for the market fundamentals to be in place right from the outset, says Sebastian.

The company was established in Dubai in 2002. “We started off with heat pumps for swimming pools, with the solar water heater business slow to catch on until 2007 with Sheikh Mahommed’s green building decree. That helped us a lot.” In terms of heat pumps, Ecoval was among the top two in the indus-try, with a locally-manufactured unit. “We foresaw that at some point competition would defi nitely come in, especially from China.”

CHINESE COMPETITIONHowever, Sebastian says the company did not anticipate the extent of the competition, which resulted in the virtual demise of the local manufacturing base for heat pumps. “There used to be up to four local manufac-turers, but now it is just so much cheaper to import from China, and the quality is compa-rable.” It is for this reason Sebastian is urging the solar water heating sector to consolidate itself in the face of the relentless competitive pressure from such juggernauts as China. “So we left that industry and got into other avenues of business like ICI steam and hot water boilers, Alfal Laval heat exchangers and Sanyo PV systems.”

Dubai’s new ‘green’ building regulations are expected to mandate that solar water heating systems must also be in-stalled to provide 75% of domestic hot water requirements. This will herald major opportunities for the MEP sector. We speak to a local leader in the fi eld, Ecoval Trading LLC MD Jim Sebastian.

Green light for solar hot water


THE BIG INTERVIEW

average lifespan of a Solahart system

12 TO 15 YEARS

The secret to any company’s success, says Sebastian, is differentiating itself from the herd. “You have to make yourself stand out from the competition, and let the market not only know what you do, but how you do it differently.” This also means one has to be open to new ideas and trends. “When I was with my previous company, I was introduced to the Solahart product, with a consultant friend telling me the future lies in solar en-ergy.” Sebastian says his initial research made him aware of “a lot of negativity about solar and misunderstanding of the market potential.”

At that stage Solahart did have represen-tation in the Middle East, but it was looking for a way to break out even further. “It is easy to sell electric water heaters, as there is a common need for it. But for solar water heaters you have to create a want. It requires an entirely different perspective.” As a re-sult, Sebastian invested heavily in the sector … and admits with a smile: “It could have gone either way.” However, his confi dence in the Solahart brand was soon to reap rich dividends. “One thing I have learnt over the years is that if you do not have a good brand and a high-quality product, it is never a long-term venture. I have always held close to my

heart the idea that quality is remembered long after price is forgotten, and that hap-pens all the time.”

Sebastian had his work cut out for him, as that stage there was little awareness locally about solar water heating. “They knew about it, but did not believe in it. Even now, the most common questions is why do we need hot water in this region?” And yet hot water is a major consumer of electricity after air-conditioning, says Sebastian. Electric water heaters are prevalent in the winter months, when the temperature can drop as low as 15˚C – “and yet everyone wants piping hot water at 60˚C. Therefore I do not compre-hend the reasoning that maintains we do not need water heating.”

CONSTRUCTION BOOMSebastian says the boom in construction, es-pecially high-rise and villa developments, has placed an extra burden on electricity genera-tion, as all these have electric water heaters. “We are urging customers to install solar water heating systems, and thereby save up to 75% of the connected electric load.” An-other problem is that while consultants may be aware of the technology and its potential benefi ts, “when it goes out to tender, it of-

ten gets sidetracked in value engineering.” However, the latest trend towards building effi ciency has placed the spotlight fi rmly on solar water heating as a cost-effective option to realise immediate savings.

In addition, Solahart products are particu-larly suited to the region’s harsh climatic con-ditions, when some similar European prod-ucts are known to have overheating issues. “Solahart has a presence in 90 countries, and has been manufacturing solar water heat-ers exclusively since 1953. Its technology is characterised by the drainback principle, whereas most other manufacturers utilise fully-fl ooded systems. “What happens nor-mally is that most people place everything on the roof, which means the circulating fl uid is always in the loop, the temperature goes too high, and then the pumps and pipes

Ecoval designed and installed an 8 MW water heating system for the Movenpick on Palm Jumeirah

THE BIG INTERVIEW


fail. Our system is very simple, as it switches and drains back off before it can overheat,” explains Sebastian.

In addition, the collectors comprising the system are extra strong and durable. Sola-hart has six different collectors, depending on the specifi c requirement. “We install and commission the systems on a one-stop shop basis from design to installation. We even assist in calculating the total hot water re-quirements, the number of collectors and what back-up is needed, as consultants are normally so busy.”

The average lifespan of a Solahart system is anywhere from 12 to 25 years, depending on routine mechanical equipment mainte-nance. “We have a maintenance contract with Holiday Inn, for example, whereby we supply technicians and ensure that the sys-tems are running properly.” Sebastian says that one particular Solahart system reloca- ted to the company’s head offi ce in Australia had been in operation for an astonishing 50 years.

An example of Solahart systems on-site

Solar power encompasses both solar thermal and solar PV. Firstly, effi ciency is much higher for solar thermal. Up to 80% of the sun’s energy can be exploited with a thermal solar collector, whereas with a PV collector, sunlight-to-electricity conversion rates average about 12% to 16% only.

The rule of thumb is that the energy available from the sun is about 1 kW a square metre. This is equivalent to 3 412 BTU/h/square metre. Therefore if you can get 80% effi ciency using a solar thermal collector, you would only need about 37 square metres to generate 100 000 BTU/h, or the amount of heat generated by a typical gas furnace.

Thus a solar thermal system would require much less space (and many fewer collectors) than a solar PV system. Not only that, but solar thermal collectors are about fi ve times cheaper than solar PV panels. So you have a scenario in which you have a system that is six times more effi cient at 20% of the total cost of its rival. How then can solar thermal not be dominating the solar industry?

Of course, it is not quite that simple. For one, heat is diffi cult to store without a thermal mass. Passive solar homes will likely incorporate thermal mass walls (that is, concrete or other masonry) to store collected heat. Yet this can only be achieved via a passive solar design, starting at the home’s

conception. It is diffi cult to add thermal walls and other passive solar collectors to an existing home. Therefore, when retrofi tting a solar thermal system, you will have to use an active system, which uses a transfer fl uid and a large water storage tank.

Furthermore, you will need to calculate the intensity of the sun at different times of the year. In addition, because of clouding, you may need to have a back-up system also. All these complications and distributed yet fast-accumulating costs may be why solar thermal space heating is still more possibility than actuality.

Another big advantage for solar PV is that it is usable year round. A solar thermal space heating system will sit idly by during the long summer months while a solar PV system will provide usable electricity all year. The system would be at its most effi cient just when you need it most.

However, solar thermal is said to represent the future of solar energy and a ‘green’ electrical grid. There have been new innovations in thermal storage techniques, if only practical on a commercial scale at the moment. For the residential homeowner, a solar thermal hot water system can result in quick, tangible savings, especially as hot water is the second most consumptive energy user in a home.

SOLAR THERMAL VERSUS SOLAR PV The installation of solar water heating systems

can save up to 75% of the connected electric load.

Jim Sebastian“

HOW TO BE GREEN AND PROFITABLE

The Building Sustainability into the Middle East conference is the ideal platform for you to learn, discuss and network with the leading companies and individuals

driving the region’s sustainability initiatives.

For contractors, developers, sustainability consultants and engineers, this conference is an opportunity to be part of the solution and make a difference –

from the construction phase to the behaviour of tenants in buildings.

To sponsor the 3rd Building Sustainability into the Middle East Conference contactAndrew Parkes, tel: +971 4 210 8570, email: [email protected]

September 28th 2010 Fairmont Bab Al Bahr Abu Dhabi

MEDIA PARTNERS

ENDORSERSPLATINUM SPONSOR SILVER SPONSOR

CONSULTANTS


MEP Middle East looks at the impact of the

downturn on leading consultancies, the

effect on quality and value, and how they are

expanding into the rest of the region.

REGIONAL MEP

CONSULTANTS


CONSULTANTS

he MD of Hyder Consulting Middle East, Wael Allan, says “the economic land-

scape in Dubai has changed drastically in terms of busi-ness.” This calls for a particular approach on the part of consul-tancies as they strive to main-tain growth. “The best strategy is a simple strategy. It is about having a sustainable business.

I guess during the boom we tended to do things differently, where we designed things simply for the sake of design. I think with the boom people tended to for-get some of the basics of client care,” says

Allan.“I think whenever there is a crisis in the

economy it brings maturity to the market. Expectations from clients become a lot higher

because now they are questioning why they need something much more, and why

they need to spend a certain amount of money. Therefore I believe only competent companies that bring operational effectiveness to bear will survive in the region. In the past, there was so much work I think clients were looking for any-one who was willing to do it; now it is going to be a lot more focused on the value proposition.

“So I believe operational effective-ness is absolutely key, and that is what

we are trying to do in all our sectors: to improve performance, to do things

better with less cost and shorter time, and obviously then you have got to balance those parameters depending on client needs. I think another thing that has really changed in terms of ensuring growth in the future is that we as professionals tend to defi ne excellence from our own perspective, when excellence really has to be defi ned in what the clients think ex-cellence is. Some clients may want quality at any costs; other clients may require a specifi c level of quality for a certain cost; we have to customize our offering to suit client needs, rather than what we defi ne as their needs,” says Allan.

As for the future, Allan says future growth in Dubai will be much more controlled. “We do not anticipate the kind of growth experienced in the last three to fi ve years, at least for the foreseeable future defi nitely. I think 2010 will be a tough year. A lot of the backlog of compa-nies has been exhausted, so they are looking for new work. And I think companies that have reacted properly to the slowdown will survive and do well. If there is any region to be in dur-ing a recession, I would say the Middle East

I guess, more process in the paperwork now, mirroring the European market more, and be-coming more prevalent here. This is all good, as it brings a different level of innovation and understanding to bear, but it is bound to slow things down further.

“If you are actually going to audit yourself every time you do a development or a master plan, you cannot do it in a snap judgement way, because then you are not according it your due respect.” What this all means at the end of the day is “in my view a slightly more mature mar-ket,” says Hill. In terms of specifi c challenges, he cites ongoing transition as a major issue. “I think we are in that big transition stage right now, certainly if you look at Abu Dhabi as a focal market. It is now the centre of attention again, probably as it used to be back in the 1980s.”

Smith confi rms that the market in terms of MEP specifi cally has also changed drasti-cally. “The market has obviously gotten a lot bigger, a lot faster and a lot more complex, especially in terms of buildings going through technological step changes. We had reached a point where buildings as single entities could become so big that the primary focus was no longer building services but infrastructure in the vertical plane.

“If you go back to 2003, it was really diffi cult to present a business case for a hotel. Then we went through the dizzy period of 2005-2007, where any hotel in Dubai would be full within a month of opening and would have no problem in turning a profi t. In this scenario the business case potential was a no brainer, which is no longer the case. The people who

make those sorts of investment decisions are now going to make sure they obtain the best advice and look very carefully at how

offers the best opportunity, compared to much more developed economies like the US and the UK.”

Richard Smith, group chair of carbon criti-cal design at Atkins, describes the current situation as “quite complex”, and stresses “we are not under the illusion that things will just bounce back to what they were. What will come out of this is that things will be different to what they were before.” In this regard, At-kins is exerting considerable effort in trying to understand the current situation and marshal its resources accordingly.

“The Atkins business model is totally dy-namic, and is always being reviewed. Some of the larger contractors I have spoken to have not been that affected. They lost work, then won other work. Their turnover is down a bit, but not fundamentally. Then there are people who have had horrendous experiences. And then there are those still recruiting because they have work in Saudi Arabia, for example. It is kind of how the dice fell.”

Atkins design director Keith Hill says work-ing in Dubai is substantially different than working in more mature markets like Eu-rope. “When you are working here, timelines are more constrained, but things actually get built. So you tend not to have that big a lag on a project, whereas in Europe there is quite a lot more prior consultation, which is all good and what should be done. So the industry differs slightly in its approach to major projects.

“Combined with the economic crisis, people are a little bit more nervous than usual. Maybe they have not tied up all their downstream is-

sues, and there are no people at the end of the line queu-ing to snap up the assets, as they were be-

fore.” Added to this, says Hill,

is “a case of,

now, cefocal magain, 1980s.”

Smitof MEPcally. “Tbigger,especiatechnopoint wbecomelonger the ver

“If yoto preswe we2007, wwithin problethe buwhich

makare best

sues, and there are no people at the end of the line queu-ing to snap up the assets, as they were be-

fore.” Added to this, says Hill,

is “a case of,

Eddie Foster

Jeff Willis

CONSULTANTS


they procure the solutions they need,” says Smith.

Allan says another key focal market at the moment is Saudi Arabia. “Most companies operating in the region are anxious of going into Saudi Arabia. To them it is an unknown. However, I believe it is core to our strategy to be in Saudi Arabia. It is the largest country in the GCC, offering the most attractive oppor-tunities for multinational companies in design and consulting. To be honest, I believe we should have been there much earlier, but it is never too late. Saudi Arabia is spending a huge amount on infrastructure and also on the pri-vate sector as well, so it offers both pub-

lic and private sector opportunities,” says

Allan.Regional di-

rector Eddie Foster says Scott Wilson is looking at

the rest of the region. “We

had already

restructure based on market sectors. This brings with it a heavy focus on clients and their needs, and certainly the needs have changed drastically in the Middle East.” The restructur-ing was based on three sectors, namely prop-erty, transport and infrastructure and water environment.

“That really helped us break the barriers be-tween different offi ces, and look at the whole Middle East business as one. So that was part of the key strategy. During the recession, re-sources become scarce, and there are obvious issues created by the credit crunch, such as cash issues. For us, diversifi cation – geograph-ically and product-wise – is not a strategy.

“Our strategy is to focus on our core com-petency, enhance that through operational ef-fectiveness, and really concentrate on what we know well,” says Allan. “The fact that property has slowed down, combined with our decision to be sector-driven, means we have got a better balance of the business than just being profi ta-bility-driven by the property sector.”

Arup associate director Jeff Willis agrees that the looming clouds of the downturn do indeed have a silver lining. “The way we per-

ceive the slowdown is that it should be a benefi t, as it will give us

more time to think and plan. I have experienced a number of such economic downturns which affect all industry, and not just construction, although this one is worse than others in

its global impact. I heard the phrase that the slow-

down will lead to a ‘fl ight to quality’, which is some-thing we do not mind at all.”

Keith Hill

Wael Allan

started to view the Bahrain offi ce as a spring-board for other things, because we recognised that Bahrain itself is a relatively small market over the long term. Of course, the slowdown has focused our efforts even more on opera-tions in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar. We now have representatives in all those coun-tries, and we hope to have some good news on projects there very soon. We are chasing a lot of work in Saudi Arabia.”

In order to succeed in this approach it is critical to adopt a ‘two-front’ approach, says Foster. “We are working on two fronts: As an international company working on specifi c projects, which we have been doing, on and off, for many years; the second front is to JV with a local entity, which we are in the process of formalising. As an international consultant, we can look at big projects on a project-by-project basis. But having a JV with a Saudi company will bring us closer to the grassroots market. It basically opens up more doors.

“Last year, completely independent of the recession, it was decided that Scott Wilson would move towards a more sector-orienta-ted organisation rather than being organised geographically. It does not mean the regions are not important, but that the sectors have a bigger say in how we operate in any region. We are split into certain sectors such as envi-ronment and natural resources, highway and transportation, infrastructure and buildings and strategic consultancy, which includes ma-rine and airport work.”

Foster says a major reason for this approach is that it prevents people from working in iso-lation. This means “our skills and resources can be applied wherever necessary. It will also help us tell which sectors are doing the best – these fi gures can be lost when reporting as a country offi ce. This makes our growth strategies and opportunities clearer when analysing the fi gures.”

Allan concurs that a sectoral approach is more viable given the current market conditions. “A key strategy for us was to

We are not under the illusion that

things will just bounce back. What will come out

of this is that things will be different ... “

Richard Smith

2007MEP Consultancy of the YearWinner: AtkinsRunners-up: Deerns, Hyder Consulting, SDT International, Specialised Engineering Consultants

2008MEP Consultancy of the YearWinner: AtkinsShortlist: Buro Happold, Hyder Consulting, Specialised Engineering Consultants, Red Engineering

2009MEP Consultancy of the YearWinner: Hyder ConsultingShortlist: Atkins, KEO International Consultants, Red Engineering

Specialist Consultancy of the YearWinner: AtkinsShortlist: Mott MacDonald, Specialised Engineering Consultants

MEP AWARDS

ceive the slowdown be a benefi t, as

more time to tI have experieof such econowhich affect anot just construthis one is wors

its global impphrase

dow‘fl w

hich includes ma-

for this approach m working in iso-s and resources ssary. It will also e doing the best hen reporting as

s our growthclearer

oral ens. o

vate sector as well, so it offers both public and private sector

opportunities,” saysAllan.

Regional di-rector EddieFoster saysScott Wilsonis looking at

the rest of theregion. “We

had already

Richard Smith


CONSULTANTS

AECOM has a long heritage in the Middle East, having worked in the region since 1965. It has 3 200 staff in the GCC, as well as in Jor-dan, Lebanon and Iraq. On 6 April 1990, AE-COM evolved to an independent fi rm formed by the merger of fi ve Ashland entities. While its offi cial founding was in 1990, some of its predecessor fi rms had distinguished histories dating back to the early 1900s. Since then more than 30 companies have joined AECOM, and in 2007 it became a publicly-traded company on the New York Stock Exchange. Today it is listed on the Fortune 500 as one of America’s largest companies, earning more than US$6 billion in revenue annually. It has 45 000 tal-ented professionals in 100 countries.

CURRENT PROJECTSSAADIYAT ISLAND CULTURAL DISTRICT (US$210 MILLION)AECOM is providing programme manage-ment services for the Saadiyat Island Cultural

District which, when completed, will include some of the world’s most signifi cant museums and cultural facilities, such as the Guggenhe-im Abu Dhabi Museum designed by Frank O. Gehry, the Louvre Abu Dhabi by Jean Nouvel and the Sheikh Zayed National Museum by Lord Norman Foster, as well as more than one million square feet of mixed-use facilities. AE-COM is also supplementing the master plan-ning, landscape architecture, economics and architecture/engineering services on selected facilities. As programme manager, its profes-sionals are managing the Cultural District and about two-thirds of the public realm, which in-cludes all external works beyond the building fabric, from signage and lighting to irrigation systems and drainage.

LIBYAN HOUSING AND INFRASTRUCTURE (US$65 BILLION)The Libyan Housing and Infrastructure Board (HIB) is a government agency funding a

US$50-billion-plus (60-billion Libyan dinar) programme to improve housing, roads, bridg-es, water and utilities to Libyan residents. As programme manager, AECOM is helping the HIB orchestrate the myriad projects involved.

CLEVELAND CLINIC, ABU DHABIAECOM is responsible for building engineer-ing services at the high-profi le Cleveland Clinic Hospital in Abu Dhabi. It is located on Al Sowah Island, which has been masterplanned by Gensler Architects in conjunction with the Mubadala Development Company. Adjacent developments include the Abu Dhabi Finan-cial Centre and a proposed hotel. It is a 360-bed hospital building with MEP provision for expansion to 490 beds. The total project area is 5.1 million square feet, including the 2.2 mil-lion square foot hospital, a 50 000 square foot central utility plant area and 2.2 million square foot parking for 3 200 vehicles. The maximum building height is 24 storeys.

Buro Happold, established in 1976, offers civil and structural engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering, quantity surveying, building services and environmental engineer-ing, health and safety management, infrastruc-ture and traffi c engineering, ground engineer-ing, façade engineering, fi re engineering, computational fl uid dynamics analysis, inclu-sive design consultancy, project management, urban design and a range of specialist CAD services.

CURRENT PROJECTLOUVRE ABU DHABILocated on Saadiyat Island off the coast of Abu Dhabi, Buro Happold is the multi-disciplinary engineer on the project. Most works will be contained in a strictly-controlled indoor climate, alongside workshops, an education centre, restaurant and café facilities. A variety of passive energy systems are being investigated, including natural cooling of the buildings and the optimisation of water use. The iconic ‘desert Louvre’ has been de-signed to withstand Abu Dhabi’s extreme climate, which includes air-borne dust, sand, salinity, humidity and the occasional sandstorm.

Burt Hill maintains a network of offi ces in the US, the UAE and India. In 2005 it changed its name from Burt Hill Kosar Rittelmann Associ-ates to Burt Hill, Inc. After working on projects in Dubai and the Middle East, it launched an offi ce in Dubai Investment Park to serve cli-ents in both private development and govern-ment. In 2007 it launched its India offi ce to fur-ther serve the international community.

The fi rm provides a wide range of services including architecture, engineering, interior design, landscape and research, with particu-lar expertise in sustainable design, technology integration, energy management and historic preservation.

Scott Wilson Group plc offers strategic consul-tancy and multi-disciplinary professional serv-ices in the railways, buildings and infrastruc-ture, environment and natural resources and roads sectors. It is a global integrated design and engineering consultancy for the built and natural environments. It has a global network of 80 locations, employing over 5 500. Its key key regions are the UK, Asia-Pacifi c, Europe, India and the Middle East, with regional cen-tres in London, Hong Kong, Warsaw, New Delhi and Bahrain/Dubai.

CURRENT PROJECTDIYAR AL MUHARRAQ, BAHRAINLocated on reclaimed land off the north coast of Muharraq, this is one of the largest mixed-use developments in Bahrain, and will house 100 000 people. This 12 million square metre development comprises a main island and fi ve smaller islands, offering 40 km of waterfront land. The project includes residential, recrea-tional, educational, medical and retail facilities. The project is divided into two phases, with Phase 1 covering six million square metres and 1 200 houses. Scott Wilson is the consulting engineer, and is taking on a number of roles, including concept master-planner, marine de-signer and modeller, supervising engineer and environmental consultant.

BURO HAPPOLD BURT HILL SCOTT WILSON

AECOM

Saadiyat Island

CONSULTANTS


Shankland Cox specialises in architecture, landscape architecure and master planning, engineering and project management, with offi ces in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. It famously oversaw the iconic US$80 million Dubai Etisalat Tower on Sheikh Zayed Road.

CURRENT PROJECTAL AIN CONVENTION CENTRE DISTRICTShankland Cox is the architect on this AED3.5

Founded in 1946 with an initial focus on struc-tural engineering, Arup fi rst came to the world’s attention with the structural design of the Sydney Opera House, followed by its work on the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

Arup has since grown into a truly multidis-ciplinary organisation. Most recently, its work for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing has reaf-fi rmed its reputation for delivering innovative and sustainable designs that reinvent the built environment.

Arup has been working in the Middle East since the early 1970s. It has offi ces in Doha in Qatar and Dubai, providing clients in the Gulf

Atkins in the Middle East and India draws on the group’s 17 300 staff worldwide, and directly employs 3 000 professional staff in eight regional offi ces. These comprise multi-disciplinary teams who work with clients from the outset of a project. Atkins’ design capability extends across all business divisions, from in-novative architecture for the hotel and leisure sectors to detailed engineering and design for major infrastructure projects.

CURRENT PROJECTSBUSINESS BAY EXECUTIVE TOWERS, DUBAIThis Dubai Properties development, currently under construction, comprises fi ve residential towers varying in height from 27 to 47 storeys, with a total of 1 041 apartments, from studios to luxury penthouses, with a swimming pool, spa and 6 186 m² of commercial space.

IRIS BAY, DUBAIThis 170-m-high, 32-storey tower for client Sheth Estate International, with a total built-up area of 36 000 m², topped out at the beginning

Davis Langdon LLP, known globally as Davis Langdon and Seah International, is a construction consultancy fi rm headquartered in London, with 30 offi ces throughout the UK, Europe and the Middle East, and over 100 worldwide. The fi rm is headed by senior part-ner Rob Smith, and has a turno-ver of £154 million throughout

Europe and the Middle East and £580 million globally. It has 2 239 employees in Europe and the Middle East and around 5 000 employees in 110 offi ces working in 28 countries.

On 21 May, building.co.uk reported that the Europe, Middle East and Africa arm are expected to vote on a proposed takeover by £3.8bn-turnover US consulting giant AECOM. It is understood the deal could be completed shortly after the 70 voting partners in the Eu-rope, Middle East and Africa arm of the cost consultant decide whether to approve the take-over by the 45 000-strong fi rm.

CURRENT PROJECTITHRA CULTURE CENTRE, SAUDI ARABIAIt was reported in March 2009 that Davis Lang-don is providing consultancy services for the Ithra Culture Centre, a landmark cultural and iconic project in Saudi Arabia. The Bahrain of-fi ce has also been appointed to provide cost-management services to Norwegian architects Snohetta, which has designed the centre to resemble fi ve pebbles standing in the desert. Buro Happold is structural and mechanical engineer.

The centre is being built on the site of the fi rst well in the Kingdom to produce oil in com-mercial quantities, namely Well No. 7 on the

oil-rich Dammam Dome. Cov-ering 65 000 m², the stainless steel clad buildings will house exhibition halls, museum, au-ditorium, a mosque, library and the country’s fi rst public cinema.

The fi ve different ‘pebbles’ create a gross fl oor area of circa 70 000 m². Each main component of the project will feature inside a different ‘peb-ble’ all linked together by an internal plaza.

Saudi Aramco aims to complete the US$400 million scheme by 2011 and open it to the public in 2012.

billion ADNEC project. It com-prises a convention centre, a cultural centre, hotels, a serv-iced apartment complex and a multi-storey car park. It also includes a cluster of mixed-use low-rise buildings within an in-tegrated micro-city that places the convention centre at the heart of the development.

of the year. Designed, engineered and project managed by Atkins, the tower comprises two identical double-curved shells rotated and cantilevered over a four-storey podium, under-neath which are three levels of basement and underground parking for 920 cars.

with a multidisciplinary service offering in re-sponse to increasing demand for the delivery of high-quality, international-standard projects. Its team in the Gulf works closely with many Arup teams worldwide, providing clients wit access to its full range of skills and experience across the fi rm.

On certain projects, Arup teams will also collaborate with selected local consultants to ensure that all project requirements can be met. Subjects such as energy effi ciency, mate-rial usage and sustainable design are integral to its practice of holistic design and central to its guiding principal of shaping a better world.

SHANKLAND COX

ARUP

ATKINS

DAVIS LANGDON

Louvre Abu Dhabi

Ithra Cultural Centre


CONSULTANTS

Halcrow is a leading UK consultancy founded in 1868 by civil engineer Thomas Meik. It originally bore his name, and later those of his sons, Patrick and Charles.

It worked extensively on port, maritime and railway projects in the North of England, Wales and Scotland, before undertaking its fi rst com-missions outside the UK in the 1890s.

Halcrow has offi ces in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, with major project sites in Ras Al Khaimah. With a track record in the Mid-dle East stretching back continuously over 55 years, Halcrow has been instrumental in build-ing the infrastructure that underpins the quali-ty of people’s lives in the region today. Halcrow is a full member and signatory of the BuildSafe UAE organisation.

CURRENT PROJECTSYAS ISLAND, ABU DHABIAs lead consultant for the £23 billion fi rst phase of Yas Island, Halcrow delivered all primary infrastructure in preparation for the infl ux of Formula One spectators, as Abu Dhabi hosted the fi nal race in the 2009 Grand Prix calendar

on 1 November. Works included roads, pota-ble water, sewerage, power and irrigation sys-tems, as well as provisions for district cooling and vacuum solid waste.

Essential utilities and infrastructure pave the way for phases two and three, leading up to the development’s scheduled completion by the year 2018.

Yas Island is home to the world’s second-largest underground water tank, capable of holding 91 million litres of drinking water. Drawing on its Pakistan-based design centre, Halcrow engineers were able to complete all design work for this part of the project at half the original cost.

SHARJAH SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTRecent master-planning work demonstrated that the existing treatment works will reach full capacity by 2010, and as a consequence the Sharjah Municipality commissioned Halcrow to design the Phase 8 plant to provide suffi -cient treatment capacity until 2020.

To meet the site constraints, and high effl u-ent quality requirements, an MBR plant was

selected for Phase 8. As well as producing a re-liable effl uent quality, an MBR would provide more treatment capacity per square metre than conventional process technology.

As the treatment works is located in the mid-dle of a residential and light industrial area, odour control was a concern to the client, and a signifi cant amount of design time was dedi-cated to this, which was complicated by the high ambient temperatures and the high sew-age loading from septic tanks.

The phased expansion of the effl uent dis-tribution systems has resulted in a complex, manually-operated distribution system. The new system required integrating with the ex-isting one to allow the higher-quality effl uent from the Phase 8 extension to be sent down the existing effl uent pipelines to where it was needed in Sharjah.

To achieve this, a new pumping main was designed, which allowed the four existing ef-fl uent pump stations to discharge into a cen-tral irrigation pipeline with automatic wasting of surplus fl ows through pressure sustaining valves to a new sea outfall.

SpEC was established in 2006 in Dubai, with offi ces in Abu Dhabi and Cochin and Calicut in India.

It has 40 experienced building services en-gineering professionals. SpEC is associated with leading international consultants.

Founded by David Heffernan in 1997, Septech is a leading water infrastruc-ture company in the region. It provides in-house business units that special-ise in offering solutions to the water, wastewater, mobile water, precast in-frastructure, marina and utilities-man-agement sector.

Septech has a 20-year exclusive part-nership with Bellingham, the world’s largest marine developer. It locally de-signs, manufactures and installs Uni-fl oat fl oating concrete marina systems, fl oating wave attenuators and dry stack storage solutions, as well as providing marina management and consultancy services.

The latest development at the group is the extension of its presence across the Mid-dle East through the creation of a regional of-fi ce in Muscat, Oman. Septech Muscat LLC forms part of an ongoing overall GCC expan-sion strategy.

The offi ce, which includes a group of ten engineers and water specialists, is dedicated to building long-term relationships to identify future opportunities, as well as managing all Septech projects in Oman.

HALCROW

SPECIALISED ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS

SEPTECHSCHNABEL AG is a globally ac-tive fi rm of planning consultants with core competencies in data centre design, safety engineer-ing, building services and net-work technology.

It is an international service provider specialising in com-plex, real-estate related engi-neering services. As independ-ent engineering consultants it advises customers worldwide in the planning of highly available, complex building services. It has offi ces in Dubai and Roma-nia and subsidiaries in India and Germany.

SCHNABEL AG

Its expertise is utilised in areas like marina construction, energy effi ciency, green energy, specialist building interior, façade and external lighting, advanced security systems, life safety, IT and multimedia and hospital and airport systems.

Diyar Al Muharraq

CONSULTANTS


The P&T Group is the oldest and largest international archi-tectural engineering practice in South East Asia with over 1 600 staff, with offi ces in Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Bangkok, Viet-nam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Shanghai, Beijing, Wuhan, Dalian, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah.

P&T was established in Hong Kong in 1868. It offers a full range of architectural, structural and mechanical engineering, planning and project manage-ment services, with full support from in-house interior and graphic design divisions. Model making, extensive computer and photographic facilities, as well as full administrative support, complete its total design service.

CURRENT PROJECTAL REEM ISLAND, ABU DHABIWith a site area of 24 642 m² and a gross fl oor area of 210 358 m², this Tamouh Investments development consists of two separate plots of land within the City of Lights part of Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi. The larger plot of 14 190 m² has the two 28-storey Sigma residential towers and the 34-storey Omega offi ce tower. These sit above an eight-storey podium con-taining parking and ground level retail and two levels of basement parking. The podium deck level is landscaped with amenity facilities. The smaller plot of 10 452 m² is on the waterfront and has the Marina Bay I and II residential tow-ers of 25 and 29 storeys. There is a fi ve-storey parking podium and three basement levels. The buildings have clean outlines with unclut-tered façades, with extensive use of glazing.

NDY opened its Dubai offi ce in 2008. Its UK and Australian offi ces have been respon-sible for a number of major projects in the UAE and other Middle East countries. The Ritz Carlton Ho-tel in Dubai with

services designed in NDY’s London offi ce is the highest-profi le project handled in this manner. In 2008 NDY was invited to take the role as engineering services consultant on the 1.2-km-high Nakheel Tower in Dubai, a project cancelled as a result of the fallout of the global fi nancial crisis. Despite this setback, the Mid-dle East remains a key strategic area.

CURRENT PROJECTABU DHABI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTThe fi nal section of the roof for Abu Dhabi

In 1954, Kling Consult originated in the en-terprising activities of Karl Kling, a young engineer who made a name for himself in the booming post-war construction business. Starting a small offi ce in his hometown in Krumbach/Bavaria, he assembled a team of engineers and soon gained a huge reputation within the region.

Always responsive to the demands of an ev-er-changing industry, Karl Kling’s small offi ce

in the southern German town grew into an interna-tional consultancy centre providing and distribut-ing engineering services throughout the world.

In 2004, Kling Consult took its fi rst steps in the UAE, and built up its offi ce in Dubai to undertake serv-ices and activities.

With its 350-strong staff in Germany and Dubai, it has become one of the most respectable design and engineering companies in Western Europe and the Middle East, serving a wide market.

P&T GROUP NORMAN DISNEY & YOUNG

KLING CONSULTCURRENT PROJECTSGALLERIA, JEDDAHThe Galleria project has been designed with a classical façade enclosing a contemporary core. The development consists of 12 storeys, three basement levels, more than 400 hotel rooms, numerous retail units and several res-taurants and assembly rooms.

The central core of the building is formed by an eight-storey mall, where it is envisaged that the fi rst two storeys will be for boutiques and the remaining fl oors for hotel use.

The individual rooms offer views across the Jeddah skyline, as well as views into the mall. Excavation and shoring works are scheduled for completion by July 2010.

KING’S ROAD TOWER, JEDDAHSageifat Al-Safa announced in January that King’s Road Tower, with its distinctive ‘pearl’ in the middle, is in the fi nal phase of construc-tion. Upon completion it will be Jeddah’s tall-est tower, boasting the world’s largest digital advertising screen.

The tower comprises 34 fl oors for offi ce use, two shopping levels and attached parking fl oors. Kling Consult is responsible for the ar-chitectural design, MEP structural design and interior design.

Aircraft Technologies Hangar 6, which will be capable of housing three A380s and six other mid-sized aircraft, was lifted into place in April 2010. Hangar 6 is an L-shaped three bay hang-ar with 32 000 m² of hangar space. The work is being undertaken by Aircraft Support Indus-tries. The newly-lifted roof is 40 m high and has a 28 m clearance throughout. NDY’s MEP engineering included air-con, power, lighting, communications, hydraulics and fi re services.

Air-conditioning the hangar was a unique challenge. A displacement system was used to air condition up to a height of 15 m, despite the roof being 40m high. It allows tempera-tures to be returned to preferred levels within two hours of the hangar doors closing. Other notable features include the fi re suppression system, which utilises leading-edge discharge methods. The system is capable of discharg-ing 1 700 litres/second of foam/water solution. The hangar also includes HV reticulation and substations, centralised 400 Hz generation and reticulation, hazardous zone electrical services and high uniformity lighting systems.

Al Ain Convention Centre

Cleveland Clinic


CONSULTANTS

With over 150 years’ experience and a global team of experts, Hyder Consulting Middle East is proactive in applying its insight and knowl-edge to create innovative solutions that gener-ate sustainable and commercial advantage for its clients and the communities they serve. It offers multidisciplinary engineering and scien-tifi c services to clients in the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Australia and the Asia-Pacifi c. The division is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hyder Consulting Hyder Consulting, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. Revenue for the Hyder Consulting Group for March 2009 was £319 million (£233.7m in 2008).

In its annual results for the year ended 31 March 2010, released in June, the fi rm stat-ed that Middle East revenue amounted to £93.9 million, 12% lower than the prior year, with staff num-bers reduced by 370 to about 1 200 follow-ing the slowdown in Dubai, which now ac-counts for 30% (2009: 45%) of its total Mid-dle East revenues. The fi rm’s long-standing presence in Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Bahrain has helped it win major projects there, and more recently it has been winning projects in Saudi Arabia, including the tallest building in Riyadh. In Dubai, Hyder was the architect and engineer of record for the Burj Khalifa, and the surrounding infrastructure of Downtown Dubai.

CURRENT PROJECTCMA TOWER, RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIASet to be the centrepiece of the King Abdul-lah Financial District, the tower will be the new headquarters for the Capital Market Authority, which will occupy the top fl oors of the 385 m high tower.

The design for the signature tower comes from a collaboration between architectural fi rms HOK and Omrania & Associates, with Cyril Sweett providing costing and project management services for the project.

Constructed from steel with fully-glazed façades, the form of the tower takes its cue from the four other towers comprising the project. Much shorter than this tower and of varying heights, they all have similar angular forms creating an appearance similar to that of crystals.

With offi ces in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Doha in Qatar and Damascus in Syria, WSP Middle East is one of the region’s leading, multi-disciplinary engineering consultancies, with a 350-strong team providing sustainable and cost-effective engineering and architectur-al solutions through innovative thinking.

CURRENT PROJECTBLUE BAY, SHARJAHSharjah-based developer Marsa Al Nejoum Real Estate has signed an agreement with WSP Middle East for the infrastructure de-sign of the Blue Bay Villa project. Work on the

project’s water canal has been completed, which represents two thirds of the infrastruc-ture total work. Blue Bay is the fi rst phase of the Nujoom Islands project. With 95% of the land being natural, the villas are being built in an eco-friendly manner, using natural elements, recycling of wastewater and solar energy.

KEO International Consultants has offi ces in Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Al Gharbia, Bahrain, Qatar, Dubai, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman and Washington in the US. It is a global provider of total professional consulting solutions in the construction industry. Founded in 1964, the fi rm has garnered international recognition as a dynamic and highly capable leader in the delivery of planning, architectural design, civil engineering and project management serv-ices. KEO is structured as fi ve unique consult-ing fi rms, each highly specialised and a leader in their respective fi eld. These are KEO Strat-egy, Planning and Urban Development; KEO Design; KEO Project & Construction Manage-ment; KEO Infrastructure and KEO Contracts and Quantity Surveying.

Red Engineering Middle East designs low-carbon MEP systems for some of the best buildings of their kind in the world, including super-luxury hotels, ‘green’ supermarkets and data centres, and AAA class offi ces. It operates internationally, co-ordinating global teams to provide exceptional quality, speed and value, together with an innovative approach that regularly cuts energy use by over 50%. It is not a satellite or subsidiary of any overseas com-pany. It is Dubai-registered and based, owned and staffed by people with a long-term commit-ment to the region as a whole.

CURRENT PROJECTYASMEEN ROTANA HOTEL, DAMASCUS, SYRIARed has been appointed to undertake the full MEP design, vertical transportation and audio visual elements for the 55 000 m² fi ve-star 350-bed Yasmeen Rotana Hotel in the Mazzeh area of Damascus, Syria. The design was produced in six months from April 2009. A key factor was the site selection. Located on one of the ma-jor interchanges within the city, integration of the MEP plant requirements to minimise the impact on the architectural solution was criti-cal. This project is the fi rst in Syria to have six basement levels.

CURRENT PROJECTLUSAIL, QATARKEO International Consultants has been ap-pointed by Diyar Al-Kuwait to design and manage the construction work on a mixed-use development project at Lusail in Qatar. The 70 000 m² waterfront site will provide 130 000 m² of offi ce space, 30 000 m² of retail space and 640 residential units. Three offi ce towers are situated along the northern portion of the site with their address along the Main Street and step from 25 storeys at the northeastern cor-ner to 29 storeys at the northwestern corner of the site. Elevated sky gardens are located in strategic locations of each tower to offer ten-ants a connection to nature and break up the mass of the building.+++++++++++++

KEO INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANTS

HYDER CONSULTING WSP RED ENGINEERING

Yas Island

DEERNS MIDDLE EASTIn the fi eld of electrical, mechanical and en-ergy engineering solutions and building phys-ics, Deerns is one of the largest independent

consultancy fi rms in the Netherlands. It has offi ces in the Netherlands, Germany, Dubai, China, Spain, France and the US.

ACOUSTICS


coustic comfort is arguably the most important require-ment of an educational facil-ity. Being able to understand what a teacher is saying is essential to student learn-ing. Education projects are designed to utilise a variety of different environments, invariably with different acoustic demands. Quite

often only 50% of the plan area needs acoustic treatment – it is all about specifying the right product without inhibiting design aesthetics and ensuring product durability, says Lianne Peters of SAS International.

In the Middle East, the air-conditioning equipment that is essential for providing a com-fortable internal climate for pupils in schools can also have a massive effect on the acous-tic comfort, unless carefully selected.

Sound design

Acoustic comfort is arguably the most important requirement of an educational facility

Both external noise and classroom ‘babble’ can affect the performance of students un-dertaking verbal and non-verbal tasks in the classroom. The introduction of a school grad-ing system by Dubai’s Knowledge and Hu-man Development Authority (KHDA) has in-creased the focus on such pupil performance, with the KHDA’s inspection report becoming key to many parents’ choice of school. This, in turn, may have a large fi nancial impact on certain schools within the region’s primarily paid-for education system.

The problem of noise in schools has in-creased steadily, with contributing factors including changes in teaching practices, the use of electrical equipment and increasing

class sizes. School premises comprise a range of demanding acoustic environments, each with different acoustic challenges. Circula-tion spaces such as corridors and stairwells can be a source of increased sound rever-beration, creating high levels of noise during busy periods. These areas require treatment with sound-absorbent material, which helps reduce acoustic reverberation.

Acoustic baffl es and cross-talk attenuators can be designed and installed between class-rooms and corridors. Both solutions provide natural cross-fl ow ventilation, while minimis-ing sound travelling from room to room, thus controlling regenerated noise. In classrooms, durable surface fi nishes are hard and there-


ACOUSTICS

fore refl ect sound easily. Refl ected sound in-creases the reverberation time of the space, making speech less intelligible and learning diffi cult.

ACOUSTIC LIGHTING RAFTSAcoustic lighting rafts can be used to meet specifi c illuminance levels and acoustic re-quirements. Sound passes through the per-forated face of the raft before being absorbed by an acoustic pad. Any sound not absorbed by travelling through the face of the raft but refl ected on the structural soffi t is absorbed by an additional pad. When used in conjunc-tion with an open soffi t, rafts also enable the thermal mass of the structure to be exploited for thermal mass heating and cooling.

Music rooms in schools present an acous-tic challenge due to longer reverberation times. Sound levels created by musicians must not be allowed to interfere with sur-rounding rooms. For recital or performance rooms, the UK Building Bulletin 93 (BB93) suggests a reverberation range of between 1.0 and 1.5 seconds, with an outdoor ambient noise level of no more than 30 dB. The per-formance for sound insulation between such rooms must have a sound reduction index (Rw) of not less than 45 dB.

Room-to-room attenuation can be achieved using a metal ceiling manufactured to 49 dB. The durable perforated metal ceiling can contain backing pads, acoustic fl eece and backing board to meet acoustic require-ments. Aesthetic demands need not be sac-rifi ced when specifying acoustic solutions to meet important acoustic legislation. The fl exibility of acoustic products allows archi-tects increased design fl exibility and durabil-ity when considering acoustic settings within the education sector.

For further information visit www.sasint.co.uk

The science of acoustics, and its application within buildings, can often be a confusing experience, with a seemingly endless array of different criteria and rating methods. Here we will look at the acoustic issues affecting suspended ceilings. There are two acoustic properties relevant to suspended ceilings, namely sound absorption and sound attenuation.

Sound absorption is a measure of the ability of a surface to absorb sound, minimising the refl ection of sound energy back into a space. This is important as a predominance of acoustically refl ective surfaces in enclosed spaces, such as a classroom, can lead to an overly reverberant environment; the sound of a single voice can be less intelligible due to the many refl ections of sound from the room surfaces. These refl ections occur with a time delay compared to the sound energy that reaches a listener’s ear directly, and cause the sound to become less clear.

The room characteristic that defi nes this feature is ‘reverberation time’ – the length of time (in seconds) that it takes for a sound source to decay by 60 dB. Different environments have differing demands, depending upon the use of the space, and there are differing subjective terms used to describe the different characteristics. Two extreme examples are a radio broadcast studio, where a reverberation time of around 0.2 seconds is required, and the sound is described as ‘dry’ or ‘dead’, or a swimming pool with a reverberation time that could be as long as 3.0 seconds, with a ‘bright’, ‘live’ or ‘reverberant’ sound.

Sound absorption is defi ned as a co-effi cient, ranging from 0.0 for total refl ection, to 1.0 for total absorption. The sound-absorptive properties of a material are defi ned in BS EN ISO 11654:1997, which gives three relevant properties:• Sound absorption coeffi cient (as): Individual sound absorption fi gures quoted in third octave frequency bands;• Practical sound absorption coeffi cient (ap): Sound absorption fi gures quoted in single octave frequency bands; and• Sound absorption rating (aw): A single fi gure rating based upon the values of ap, compared to a reference weighting curve.

Of these values, the most convenient term is the single fi gure sound absorption rating, aw, as this allows straightforward comparison between two different products. For most environments, specifi cation in terms of the

value of aw will be suffi cient. The fi rst two parameters are used by acousticians in the detailed modelling of a space to accurately determine its acoustic characteristics.

BS EN ISO 11654:1997 also introduced the concept of a sound absorption class, with fi ve categories of sound absorption, ranging from Class A to Class E, with Class A offering the higher level of sound absorption. Sound absorption class is roughly equivalent to the value of aw. However, it is more properly assessed by plotting the values of ap against a series of reference curves between 250 Hz to 4 000 Hz.

An alternative and more traditional method of defi ning sound absorption is noise reduction coeffi cient (NRC), which is an arithmetic average of octave band absorption over a limited frequency range. This is no longer the preferred unit of choice, as it has been superseded by aw.

Sound attenuationSound attenuation is used to describe the reduction in sound between two spaces separated by a dividing element, with two basic sound transmission paths that will affect the eventual perceived sound level difference. Direct sound transmission is the level of sound passing through the dividing element, while fl anking sound transmission is the level of sound passing through surrounding structures.

Sound attenuation is measured in accordance with procedures set out in BS EN ISO 140, and defi ned in BS EN ISO 717. Performance is assessed in terms of third octave band values, with weighted single fi gure ratings provided to allow ease of comparison. For suspended ceilings, the relevant single fi gure characteristics are:

DnfwDefi nes the sound insulation value from room to room, where a dividing partition abuts the underside of the ceiling with a plenum (void) above. The laboratory test procedure involves use of a massive partition wall, such that the derived performance is that of the ceiling alone, with no fl anking paths.

RwThis rating defi nes the level of sound insulation directly through a single layer of material. Whereas Dnfw is a ‘double-pass’ value, Rw can be considered a ‘single-pass’ value, although suspended ceilings are rarely tested to determine this parameter.

Acoustic comfort: Sound absorption BB93 requirements under Regulation E4 of the Building Regulations for speech intelligibility;Design aesthetics: Acoustic lighting rafts enable sustainability and natural mass cooling. Modular clip-in or lay-in systems;Accessibility/maintenance: Secure voids using security clips. Durable, hygienic, wipe-clean polyester powder coated fi nish. Easy-to-access services;Durability/sustainability: Durability providing a sustainable solution in terms of the entire cost lifecycle. Recyclable at end of life.

THE SCIENCE OF ACOUSTICS

SPECS FOR SCHOOLS

OIL SAMPLING


icture the following scene: a sample is taken, carefully la-belled and put into a special-ised transport container. It is shipped to a state-of-the-art

laboratory almost 4 000 miles away, where it is unpacked and

analysed. A report is produced, giving a breakdown of compounds found in the sample and a suggested course of

treatment.You would be forgiven for thinking that this

Although oil-testing programmes are often seen as an expensive cost to a company, in reality, a well-run oil-testing programme can save a company time, money and a lot of unnecessary effort.

The benefits of oil sampling

Aggreko is a global leader in the supply of temporary power and temperature control solutions

scenario might end with a patient sitting with his doctor, being given a thorough overview of his medical health. Yet the patient in this case is not a human being at all. The patient is in fact a 1 250 kVA generator operating in a remote loca-tion, and the doctor is an operations technician, reading the results of the generator’s latest oil test and determining what actions to take.

Engine oil has many functions, but the most important are reducing friction between mov-ing parts, providing essential cooling for com-ponents and carrying away or containing the

debris or by-products of combustion, includ-ing normally generated wear metals. Basic oil from the refi nery is fortifi ed with many addi-tives, which are designed to handle this debris, contamination and degradation – up to a point. Much in the same way as a human body can only tolerate a certain level of toxins, fortifi ed oil can only handle so much contamination be-fore it starts to fail.

It is here that regular oil sampling plays its part in allowing companies to monitor the generation rate of the contaminants and wear


OIL SAMPLING

Given that a 1 250 kVA generator engine can cost hundreds of

thousands of dollars, there is an enormous benefi t in

ensuring that the machine remains operational.“

the secondary diagnosis or mechanical inter-vention. As in the case of a doctor verifying test results, knowing whether a diagnosis was correct or not will help reinforce or modify the assumptions made the next time.

One of the most obvious benefi ts of regular oil testing is avoiding catastrophic equipment failure. Taking the example of the 1 250 kVA generator, oil sampling is conducted after eve-ry 400 hours of service.

With an approximate cost of US$13 a sample and an average life of 25 000 hours, the cost for regular oil sampling will be approximately US$850 during the overall life for a generator. Given that a 1 250 kVA generator engine can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, there is an enormous benefi t in ensuring that the ma-chine remains operational.

However, there are other less obvious ben-efi ts to oil sampling. Sampling does not only detect potentially catastrophic failures; it also gives technicians a warning of less drastic potential problems, enabling a more effi cient system of preventative maintenance.

WARRANTY CLAIMSIn addition, a properly-structured oil-sampling programme is invaluable when it comes to making warranty claims on the engine suppli-er. Being able to prove that the equipment has been well maintained and that the problem is, indeed, a mechanical issue, which should be covered by the warranty, can save companies, and ultimately their customers, hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Another benefi t of oil sampling is that, by providing companies with a way of keeping on top of service issues at various sites, improper practices can more easily be discovered. In one recent case, test results revealed that the generators operating on a site had a higher than normal level of fuel mixed into the lubri-cating oil.

While this would not have raised a concern if the results had come from a single genera-tor, the fact that virtually all the generators on-

site were showing the same result prompted the site supervisor to investigate. He quickly ascertained that one of the technicians had been careless when replacing a set of injectors as evidenced by an inspection of the injector O-ring seals, which had been poorly fi tted. With-out the oil-sampling programme, the problem may have gone undetected for some time, and could potentially have led to early life failure of the generators.

Although the benefi ts of oil sampling to a company are numerous, oil sampling is often viewed as a chore by technicians working on-site. There can be a temptation to take short cuts in order to reduce the amount of effort ex-pended on oil sampling, and these short-cuts can have a serious impact on the effectiveness of oil-sampling programmes.

For this reason, it is important for companies to educate their staff about the benefi ts that a well-run oil-sampling programme can bring to the company. Just as blood tests help doc-tors to determine the health of their patients, a good oil-sampling programme will help tech-nicians keep equipment operating at optimal levels, and will ultimately impact positively on the company’s bottom line.

AVAILABILITYAggreko plc is a global leader in the supply of temporary power and temperature control so-lutions. It provides 24/7 availability and service support with about 3 500 employees operating from over 133 locations, including the Middle East. Aggreko provides power and tempera-ture control solutions to customers who need them either very quickly, or for a short or inde-terminate length of time.

Examples would be the supply of power to an industrial site which needs to service its permanent power supply, supplying a whole city in times of power shortage, or providing a major sporting event with power and cooling systems. It serves customers either through its 120 service centres, which it calls the Lo-cal Business, or globally through its Interna-tional Power Projects business. In the Local business, which accounts for about 60% of the company’s revenues, it hires equipment to customers, who then operate it for themselves, although it retains responsibility for servicing and maintaining it.

In the International Power Projects business, which accounts for about 40% of revenues, it operates as a power producer. It installs and operates power plants, and charges custom-ers both for providing the generating capacity and for the electricity produces. It designs and manufactures equipment specifi cally for these requirements in its factory in Dumbarton, Scotland.

metals in order to assess if there is an unto-ward situation developing. Through regular oil sampling, the technicians can determine if an engine is showing signs of abnormal wear, oil degradation or contamination of the oil by water or fuel. By using sophisticated analyti-cal instruments, the laboratory can detect and report, in parts per million, on all the metallic elements found in the engine.

CONTAMINATIONThey also determine what the oil chemistry looks like and report on contamination such as sulphur, sodium and carbon (soot) oxidation, among others. The results allow a diagnosti-cian at the lab to make a diagnosis on the well-being of the oil and the engine. In the same way that a blood sample can warn a doctor of a patient’s elevated cholesterol levels, the oil sample result can alert the company to me-chanical situations which have the potential to damage or destroy expensive equipment.

On average, 80% of samples will be given a ‘normal’ diagnosis, but the remaining 20% of samples will be rated as either ‘borderline’, ‘urgent’ or ‘critical’. For samples falling into one of these three categories, there will be an advised course of action to take, ranging from observation in the case of a borderline sample, to a ‘stop engine’ in the case of an urgent or critical sample.

Upon receiving this information, it is then up to the engineers on-site to perform an investi-gation to fi nd the cause of the problem before catastrophe strikes. It is at this point that the need for a ‘secondary diagnosis’, wherein the technician evaluates all aspects of the genera-tor’s service history, becomes evident. To give a real-world example of why this is important, we can take the case of a generator operating in a remote location, which is fl agged by the laboratory analysis as an ‘urgent’ case.

The report from the laboratory reads that extremely high levels of copper have been found in the engine oil, and it is suspected that this could be coming from the bearings. However, upon receiving the report, a second-ary diagnosis is performed and the technician, upon inspection of the generator’s mainte-nance history, realises that the generator has recently had the oil cooler replaced, which has naturally caused leaching of copper due to oxi-dation. This example shows the importance of the secondary diagnosis – without it, the gen-erator would have been taken off-line in order to examine the bearings.

DIAGNOSISOne other aspect of the diagnostic process, which is often forgotten by companies, is re-porting back to the sampling laboratory after

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SITE VISIT

BEACHOn the Drake & Scull International Abu

Dhabi PJSC (DSI) is main MEP contractor at Aldar’s Al Muneera, part of Al Raha Beach. MEP Middle East paid a visit to site catch up on progress on this mega project.

ubbed the ‘great Arabian water city of the twenty-fi rst cen-tury’, this is a fl agship project for DSI Abu Dhabi, which falls under the auspices of DSI PJSC. “It is a high-profi le Aldar development that will constitute a new gateway to

the Emirate and form a new regional hub,” says DSI area GM: Abu Dhabi Ahmad Al Naser.

Al Muneera is part of Khor Al Raha, one of 11 precincts within the larger Al Raha Beach

development, which is being constructed alongside 5.2 million square metres of natural beachfront. The development will ultimately combine residential, commercial, cultural, entertainment and public facilities, and will accommodate up to 120 000 residents. It is lo-cated on the beach side of the main highway leading into Abu Dhabi from Dubai.

ISLAND, CANAL“The project is made up of two distinct areas, island and mainland, divided by a canal. The two sections have an approximate 50/50 split

with respect to built area/cost, though the island is marginally larger in size,” explains DSI senior project manager Martin Lewis. The site area is 146 000 m² (about 50 acres), with a total built-up area of 594 000 m². This is divided into 254 500 m² residential as well as 106 000 m² basement car parking. Lewis lists the project elements as follows:

• 1 286 apartments;• 11 sea-facing villas (fi ve bedrooms);• 148 canal-facing townhouses (four bed-rooms);

SITE VISIT


1. Al Zeina2. Khor Al Raha (comprising Al Muneera and Al Khubeera)3. Al Bandar4. Al Seef5. Al Wateed6. Al Rumaila7. Al Nakhel8. Al Lissaily9. Al Shaleela10. Al Razeen11. Al Thurayya

Aldar Properties has achieved signifi cant progress in terms of key infrastructure at its Al Raha Beach development. Interchanges 4, 4A and 5 on the main Abu Dhabi-Dubai Highway (E10) will soon open to traffi c in-bound to Al Raha Beach and Al Raha Gardens. The interchanges, which were completed structur-ally ahead of the Grand Prix last November, are now being readied for fi nal delivery. Pending fi nal testing and clearances by the relevant authorities, the interchanges will be opened up to traffi c in phases to allow access to areas of Al Raha Beach as they are completed.

Starting from 20 April, Interchange 4 began to accept traffi c in-bound to the HQ building from both Abu Dhabi and Dubai directions through a security gate, while by late August 2010 there will be inbound and outbound traffi c to HQ via Interchange 4. The partial opening of Inter-change 5 has allowed Al Raha Gardens traffi c to access E10. In June 2010 it opened fully to allow access to inbound and outbound traffi c to the new Al Bandar Development from both Abu Dhabi and Dubai directions.

Aldar has also fi nalised the redesign of Inter-change 6 in close co-ordination with the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, Department of Transport and Abu Dhabi Municipality to ensure it will be better able to handle the increase in traffi c from the surrounding developments and improve the fl ow of traffi c to and from the airport. Work on the ground commenced in early June 2010.

Utilities installation is progressing well in the Eastern Precinct of Al Raha Beach, which

covers the area from the Yas Island tunnel to the iconic HQ building adjacent to the Al Raha Beach Hotel. Micro-tunnelling and directional drilling techniques have been employed to connect all Al Raha Beach utilities to the main utility corridors on the south side of, and paral-lel to, the E10 highway. The co-ordination of the design and construction works is a demanding task for which Aldar has selected experienced teams of project managers, consultants and contractors.

The utilities have been planned to allow the current developments of HQ, Al Bandar, Al Zeina and Al Muneera to be connected to the Abu Dhabi main networks before their commit-ted occupation dates. Gas supply to the devel-opment is at an advanced stage, with Al Bandar the fi rst residential development in Abu Dhabi to be supplied from the natural gas network as from May 2010.

The utilities provided at Al Raha Beach include automated vacuum waste collection systems and a district cooling chilled water network supplying all developments from a number of plants distributed along the length of the project. “We are delighted at the signifi cant construction progress at Al Raha Beach, which will benefi t both future residents and those already living and working in the surround-ing area,” said planning and infrastructure director Talal Al Dhiyebi. “Aldar is committed to providing world-class infrastructure for all of its developments from the outset, playing a central role in the development of the Emirate in line with Plan Abu Dhabi 2030.”

AL RAHA PRECINCTS

INFRASTRUCTURE ON TRACK AT AL RAHA BEACH

• 16 residential towers (12-14 storeys); and• Offi ce tower.

DSI Abu Dhabi’s contract is valued at AED420 million, and includes the full scope of MEP services, including fi refi ghting and access control. There are ten fi refi ghting pumpsets, each comprising electric, diesel and jockey pumps, and 256 CCTV cameras together with a security control room. The fi re-alarm system comprises 20 MFAPs (Main Fire Alarm Panels), with two fi re com-mand centres.

3 500 WORKERSThe construction programme is 21 months, and kicked off in August 2009. There will be 3 500 workers on-site at the project’s peak. Given the sheer scale of the project, this pos-es immense challenges in terms of logistics. “Meal breaks have to be co-ordinated and appropriate facilities made available so that productivity is not unduly hampered. With a project of this size, the devil is defi nitely in the details,” says Lewis.

In terms of the electrical component of the project, Lewis says the total electrical load is 36 414 kW and 30 814 kW for the island and

DSI senior project manager Martin Lewis, Construction Week senior group editor Stuart Matthews, project manager Abdel Naser Hassan El Sayed and area GM: Abu Dhabi Ahmad Al Naser


SITE VISIT

Client: Aldar Properties PJSCProject manager: Turner InternationalLead consultant: Waterman EmiratesMain contractor: Al Futtaim CarillionMEP contractor: Drake & Scull International PJSCArchitect: Kann Finch

AL MUNEERA TEAM

The bulk of our effort lies in careful planning ... The actual work is relatively straightforward.“Martin Lewis

mainland respectively. “We have four substa-tions with 24 nos. of LV switchgear, 9 000 m of busbar ducts in different runs and ratings, 2 105 km of LV cables of different sizes, and 5 722 sub main distribution boards, motor con-trol centres and fi nal distribution boards.” In addition, there are four generators of 1 500 kVA each, and a total of 425 000 m of cable trays, trunking and ladders.

Lewis says DSI Abi Dhabi fi ne-tuned a single residential tower to use as a working template for the large number of buildings re-quired. This speeded up the work schedule as well as improving the overall build quality.

The offi ce tower, in particular, posed a spe-cifi c challenge for the contractor as it has a circular shape, which the MEP design and

quired careful co-ordination and planning. A lot of the equipment has been imported – the AHUs were sourced from Italy, for example – so varying lead times also had to be factored in. As if this did not pose enough of a chal-lenge, limited storage space on-site – some-thing of an irony given the size of the project – meant material-supply scheduling had to be monitored closely in order to allow the MEP contractor to adhere to the extremely tight schedule.

“The bulk of our effort lies in the careful planning and scheduling. The actual work it-self is relatively straightforward,” says Lewis. The contract type employed at Al Muneera is NEC3, which means close co-operation with the main contractor, Al Futtaim Carillion. Safety and security management is also a critical factor, especially with such a large workforce.

“While controlling such a large labour force obviously entails its own unique chal-lenges, another aspect is the availability of skilled labour as and when needed, espe-cially as the project progresses. This means that we as the main MEP contractor have to be fl exible enough to be able to cater to the specifi c needs of our entire scope of works,” says Lewis.

installation had to take into account.In terms of the cooling component of the

project, the total cooling load is 3 650 TR and 3 350 TR for the island and mainland respec-tively. Lewis says the total project encom-passes a staggering 120 km of chilled water piping. There are 12 chilled water pumps, 76 air-handling units (AHUs) and 5 547 fan-coil units of varying sizes.

1 757 FANSIn addition, there are 1 757 fans for applica-tions ranging from toilet-air extraction to stair and lift pressurisation, car-park ventila-tion and smoke extraction. The project also required 352 sets of hydraulic pumps for do-mestic water transfer, for example.

Such large quantities of equipment re-

LEGAL


Dennis Brand from Traprain Consultants concludes his look at ‘confi rmation or contract’ in letters of intent.

any forms of non binding letters of intent are avail-able, but the risk is that, if not prepared properly and stated clearly as be-ing non-binding, they can all be binding! When pre-paring a binding letter of

intent, careful consideration should be given to the following:

INTENTION TO ENTER INTO A FORMAL CONTRACTGiven that the purpose of a letter of intent is to commence the work prior to the execution of a fi nal contract, it should state that the intention of the parties is to enter into a formal contract, and that the parties will endeavour their best to execute the formal contract as soon as reason-ably possible.

Consideration should be given as to whether the letter of intent, either in whole or in part, is intended to form a contract. If all the elements required for a contract are included and are clear, then a court could interpret the letter of intent as being a complete contract. If it is not intended that it should be considered a com-plete contract, then the letter of intent should list the matters to be resolved in order for the main contract to be entered into.

RETROSPECTIVE EFFECT OF THE CON-TRACTThe letter of intent should also provide for the retrospective effect of the fi nal contract when completed. A suggested provision being: “If and when the contract is signed, the terms and conditions of the contract will govern retro-spectively the work carried out by the contrac-tor pursuant to this letter of intent. Any monies paid to you in respect of the work performed or materials supplied pursuant to this letter shall form part of the contract sum under the contract.”

The importance of this provision is that any payments made under the letter of intent will be treated as payment on account in respect of obligations in the main contract, once this comes into force. Such a provision will help prevent a double payment to the contractor and the likely disputes which will occur. It is also important that a similar provision be in-cluded in the fi nal contract.

SCOPE OF WORKA vital element is the scope of work and the standard of performance required of the contractor. In this regard, the letter of intent should include the following:•Identify as precisely as possible the scope of the work;• Include provision for the employer’s right to vary the scope;• Where possible include a completion date for the work; and• Include a statement of the contractor’s stand-ard of care to be adopted in performing the work.

PAYMENT OF THE WORKSAs with the scope of work, payment in respect of the work is also a vital element of the letter of intent and should cover the following:• The basis upon with the contractor is to be paid (e.g. remeasure, cost plus, lump sum etc);• The timing and mechanics for the submis-sion of the contractors invoices;• Set a limit or cap on the amount to be paid to the contractor and, if appropriate, allow provi-sion for this to be increased at the discretion of the employer; and• Include a right of set off for the employer.

CESSATION OF WORKThe letter of intent should include a provision for termination at the employer’s convenience by incorporating a procedure whereby the

employer can instruct the contractor to cease work and vacate the site. It should also state that the contractor’s entitlement to further pay-ment following termination is limited to any amounts outstanding for work performed up to and including the date of termination.

OTHER TERMS• Consider appending a draft of the formal con-tract terms to the letter of intent, especially if all the terms have been agreed. However, if not fully agreed and it is appended, then there is a danger that the letter of intent will be consid-ered a contract;• Include a statement that neither party will be bound by the letter of intent until it is signed by both of them;• Include an expiry date of the letter of intent so that both parties are clear as to its period of validity;• Include provision for the method of commu-nication between the parties and for the giving of instructions;• Include the provision that the contractor is not entitled to any further payment by way of quantum meruit (‘fair remuneration’ – Article 888 The Civil Code) in addition to the amounts payable under the letter of intent; and•The letter of intent should be issued by the employer and not by anyone else;

CONCLUSIONAlthough a letter of intent can never replace a complete contract, a binding letter of intent, properly prepared and covering all the relevant issues, can signifi cantly reduce the risk of com-mencing works of construction in the absence of complete signed contract.

Having said this, however, when faced with a letter of intent, either being asked to draft one or accept one, legal advice should always be sought. [email protected]

INTENTLetters of

BUSINESS LEADS

For the latest Middle East MEP project information, visit

PROJECTS IN THE UAEMEP Middle East and Ventures Middle have teamed up to provide you with essential project information.

Client: Sorouh Real EstateConsultant: Ewan Arch. Engg./WSP GroupMain contractor: Not appointedMEP contractor: Not appointedValue: US$251-500mStatus: Under designType: Mixed-useContact: Sorouh Real Estate PJSC, 02 4440006/02 6978888

WATANI RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT - 600 VILLAS AND 48 BUILDINGS

Sorouh Real Estate PJSC, an Abu Dhabi-based real-estate developer, in conjunction with the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC), the agency responsible for the urban environment of Abu Dhabi Emirate, will develop Watani. On the edge of

Emiratis over the next fi ve years, making substantial inroads into the demand of about 60 000 homes re-quired for national families.

Watani will comprise 1 370 four- and fi ve-bedroom villas that will come in a variety of designs to suit Emirati families. The commu-nity will be served by three local mosques and one Grand Mosque, a community centre, Olympic-stan-dard sporting facilities and an Inter-national British School.

There will also be 40 mid-to-low-rise apartment buildings housing units of varying sizes. The entire development will be completed by the end of 2012.

Project Title Client Consultant Main Contractor MEPContractor

Value(US$. Mn)

ProjectStatus

Type ofProject

Royal City Seasons Hotel in Abu Dhabi

City Seasons Group James Cubitt & Partners

Tae Young Contracting Not Appointed

101 - 250 project under construction Hotel

Layia Hospitality in Dubai Gulf General Investment Co. National Engineering Bureau

Not Appointed Not Appointed 31 - 100 bidding underway for the main contract

Hotel

Mixed Use Complex in Electra Street

Hamed Center AI Engineering Not Appointed Not Appointed 101 - 250 project under design Mixed Use

Commercial Building in Muroor Road

Mr. Ahmed Shadeep Al Masoudi Consultant Engineer

Korea China Jilin Building Contracting

Not Appointed 16 - 30 project under construction Commercial Buildings

Refurbishment of Oasis Hospital in Al Ain

Oasis Hospital Peddle Thorp Architects Not Appointed Not Appointed 31 - 100 bidding underway for the main contract

Hospital

Al Gurm Complex in West Abu Dhabi - Banyan Tree Hotel

ALDAR Properties Dar Al Handasah Not Appointed Not Appointed 101 - 250 project under design Hotel

Medical Complex in Arzanah Capitala HDP Overseas Al Habtoor Leighton Group

Not Appointed 31 - 100 project under construction Hospital

145 Villas in Ain Al Fayda Al Qudra Real Estate Pace Consultants Tafseer Contracting Not Appointed 16 - 30 project under construction Residential Development

Julphar Residences in the City of Lights on Reem Island

RAK Properties Arkonsult Abu Dhabi Not Appointed Not Appointed 109 project under design Residential Buildings

Hotel and Offi ce Building in Al Barsha First

Awtad Bel Yoahah Architecture & Engg.

Not Appointed Not Appointed 38 project under design Mixed Use

Amaya Towers in Shams on Reem Island

Dhafi r Development & Contracting

Architectural Consulting Group


Not Appointed 31 - 100 project under construction Residential Buildings

Two Mosques in Mohammed Bin Zayed City

Abu Dhabi General Services PJSC

Al Arabi International Engineering Bureau

Not Appointed Not Appointed 2.5 - 15 project under design Others

Al Manar Mall Expansion Al Manar Mall RK Group Architectural & Engg.

Not Appointed Not Appointed 130 project under design Shopping Center

TRA Headquarters in Dubai Telecommunications Regulatory Board

Kling Consult Parkway International Not Appointed 16 - 30 project under construction Commercial Buildings

Qasr Al Muwaiji Fort Museum Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage

Buro Four (UK) Not Appointed Not Appointed 46 project under design Recreational Facilities

500 Villas in Yas Island ALDAR Properties Professional Arabian Consulting Engineers

Pal Technology Services/Mammut Contracting LLC

Not Appointed 31 - 100 project under construction Residential Development

White Bay in Umm Al Quwain - 450 Villas

Enshaa Emirates Sunland China Harbour Engineering Company

Not Appointed 31 - 100 project under construction Residential Development

Amaya Towers in Shams on Reem Island


Architectural Consulting Group


Not Appointed 31 - 100 project under construction Residential Buildings

Commercial Building in Khalifa - Najda Street

Mr. Adel Al Hussaini Al Dhaya Engineering Consultants

Al Ruban Contracting Not Appointed 16 - 30 project under construction Commercial Buildings

Note : The above information is the sole property of Ventures Middle East LLC and cannot be published without the expressed permission of Ventures Middle East LLC, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Shamkha, a larger master-planned community for UAE families. Wa-tani and Shamkha will combine the traditional elements of Emirati cul-ture with all the benefi ts of modern community living, and will contrib-ute nearly 9 000 quality homes for

A rendering of Shamkha in Abu Dhabi

the new Capital District, Watani will deliver 1 370 quality homes for Emi-rati nationals.

The total contract value is AED5.4 billion, and the fi rst phase of construction has already started. Sorouh will also be developing


REGION IN FOCUS


We take a closer look at some of the major MEP projects underway in the UAE, courtesy of Ventures Middle East.

Top MEP projects in the UAE

City of Lights

Dubai Sports CityEmirates City

CITY OF LIGHTS - C10, C10A AND C11Client: Tamouh InvestmentsConsultant: Palm & Turner ArchitectsMain contractor: China State Construction & Engineering CorporationMEP contractor: In-houseValue: US$101–250mStatus: Under constructionType: Mixed-use

RITAJ MIXED-USE COMPLEX IN DIPClient: Dubai Investments Real Estate Co.Consultant: Al Jabal ConsultantsMain contractor: Robust ContractingMEP contractor: Al PhanoorValue: US$155mStatus: Under constructionType: Mixed-use

AL FALAH DEVELOPMENT IN ABU DHABI – 2000 VILLASClient: ALDAR PropertiesConsultant: Al Torath Engineering ConsultantsMain contractor: El Seif Engineering & Contracting Co.MEP contractor: Elemech/ALECValue: US$251–500mStatus: Under constructionType: Residential development

UNION CO-OPERATIVE HYPERMARKET IN AL BARSHAClient: Union Co-operativeConsultant: Archdome Consulting EngineersMain contractor: Bu Haleeba ContractingMEP contractor: Alko Airconditioning & Mechanical WorksValue: US$33mStatus: Under construction

Type: Shopping centre

ARJAAN HOTEL APARTMENTS IN ADNECClient: Bin Hamoodah PropertiesConsultant: GA Architects & EngineersMain contractor: United Engineering Construction (UNEC)MEP contractor: Drake & ScullValue: US$31–100mStatus: Under constructionType: Residential buildings

BAFCO HEADQUARTES IN DICClient: Bafco Trading, DubaiConsultant: Model Engineering ConsultantsMain contractor: Evan Lim Penta ConstructionMEP contractor: PowermechValue: US$2.5–15mStatus: Under constructionType: Commercial buildings

FRANKFURT SPORTS TOWER 1 IN DSCClient: Memon InvestmentsConsultant: Al Hatmy Design & Engg. Cons.Main contractor: OST Constructional ProjectsMEP contractor: Anwar Al Aqsa Co.Value: US$92mStatus: Under constructionType: Residential buildings

THE VILLA IN DUBAILAND – PHASE 3Client: Dubai PropertiesConsultant: Shadeed EngineeringMain contractor: Al Shafar General ContractingMEP contractor: Al Shafar United Electro

Mechanical Eng.Value: US$91mStatus: Under constructionType: Residential development

LILIES TOWER IN EMIRATES CITYClient: R HoldingsConsultant: Adnan SaffariniMain contractor: Abou Seif Building Contracting CoMEP contractor: Mep TechValue: US$87mStatus: Under constructionType: Residential buildings

CHAMPIONS TOWER II IN DUBAI SPORTS CITYClient: Memon InvestmentsConsultant: Adnan SaffariniMain contractor: Al Sarh ContractingMEP contractor: Anwar Al Aqsa Co.Value: US$30mStatus: Under constructionType: Residential buildings

CHAMPIONS TOWER III IN DUBAI SPORTS CITYClient: Memon InvestmentsConsultant: Adnan SaffariniMain contractor: Al Sarh ContractingMEP contractor: Anwar Al Aqsa Co.Value: US$40mStatus: Under constructionType: Residential buildings

SANDOVAL TOWNHOUSES & RESIDENCES IN JUMEIRAH VILLAGEClient: Bavaria GulfConsultant: Diar ConsultMain contractor: Al Sayegh ContractingMEP contractor: In-house


REGION IN FOCUS

Dubailand

Kingdom of Sheba

Value: US$31–100mStatus: Under constructionType: Residential development

32 VILLAS IN AL BARSHAClient: Mr. Mohammed Al NasserConsultant: City Space Engineering Consult.Main contractor: Moal ContractingMEP contractor: In-houseValue: US$31–100Status: Under constructionType: Residential development

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING IN MUROOR ROADClient: Mr. Khalifa Sayed Javed Al QubaisiConsultant: Al Aman Engineering ConsultancyMain contractor: Venus Contracting Transporting General MaintenanceMEP contractor: Abdul Rahim Est./ Al KhorasaniValue: US$16–30mStatus: Under constructionType: Residential buildings

SORBONNE UNIVERSITY ON REEM ISLANDClient: Mubadala Development CompanyConsultant: Obermeyer Middle EastMain contractor: Murray & Roberts/Al Habtoor LeightonMEP contractor: Al Habtoor Specon LLCValue: US$327mStatus: Under constructionType: Educational facilities

BRITISH BUSINESS GROUP BUILDING IN BUR DUBAIClient: British Business GroupConsultant: Emirates Engineering ConsultantMain contractor: Jasaf Building TechnologyMEP contractor: In-houseValue: US$16–30mStatus: Under constructionType: Commercial buildings

KINGDOM OF SHEBA, PALM JUMEIRAHClient: International Financial AdvisorsConsultant: Wimberley Allison Tong & GooMain contractor: Dubai Contracting Co (DCC)

MEP contractor: Drake & ScullValue: US$251–500mStatus: Under constructionType: Mixed-use

NEW BUILDING FOR SHARJAH MUNICIPALITYClient: Sharjah MunicipalityConsultant: Art & Design EngineeringMain contractor: Globe ConstructorsMEP contractor: Geco Mechanical & Electrical LtdValue: US$41mStatus: Under constructionType: Commercial buildings

55 VILLAS IN MOHAMMED BIN ZAYED CITYClient: Burooj PropertiesConsultant: Al Ramahi Engineering ConsultantsMain contractor: Tiger ContractingMEP contractor: In-houseValue: US$19mStatus: Under constructionType: Residential development

3 COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS IN MUROOR ROADClient: Abu Dhabi Commercial PropertiesConsultant: SyrconsultMain contractor: Al Nasr Middle East General ContractingMEP contractor: In-houseValue: US$31–100Status: Under designType: Commercial buildings

AL WAHDA MALL 2Client: Al Wahda Sports ClubConsultant: Khatib & AlamiMain contractor: Ali & Sons ContractingMEP contractor: Juma Al MajidValue: US$218mStatus: Under constructionType: Shopping centre

GURU NANAK DARBAR IN DUBAIClient: Al DobowiConsultant: Holfords AssociatesMain contractor: Condor Building ContractingMEP contractor: In-house

Value: US$15mStatus: Under constructionType: Other

CENTRO ROTANA HOTEL ON AIRPORT ROADClient: Al Badie Trading & InvestmentConsultant: LW DesignMain contractor: Polensky & ZoellnerMEP contractor: In-houseValue: US$31–100mStatus: Under constructionType: Hotel

ST. REGIS HOTEL & RESIDENCES ON SAADIYAT ISLANDClient: Tourism Development & InvestmentConsultant: Woods BagotMain contractor: Al Habtoor Engineering/Murray & RobertsMEP contractor: BK GulfValue: US$545mStatus: Under constructionType: Mixed-use

TRAFALGAR CENTRAL IN INTERNATIONAL CITYClient: Fakhruddin PropertiesConsultant: Hadi Architectural EngineeringMain contractor: Derby ContractingMEP contractor: In-houseValue: US$20mStatus: Under constructionType: Residential buildings

ROSEWOOD HOTEL ON SOWWAH ISLANDClient: Mubadala Dev.Co/John Buck Int’lConsultant: Serex InternationalMain contractor: ACCMEP contractor: Drake & ScullValue: US$200mStatus: Under construction

33 RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS AT THE GOLF GARDENSClient: Sorouh/TDICConsultant: OtakMain contractor: Pivot Engineering & Contracting CompanyMEP contractor: In-houseValue: US$101–250mStatus: Under constructionType: Residential buildings

ROYAL MIRAGE HOTEL STAFF ACCOMMODATION IN AL QUOZClient: Royal Mirage HotelConsultant: Design Werkz InternationalMain contractor: Al Mazrouei Bowyer BuildingMEP contractor: In-houseValue: US$2.5–15mStatus: Under constructionType: Residential buildings

METAL MONITOR


Neither the LME nor any of its directors, officers or employees shall, except in the case of fraud or wilful neglect, be under any liability whatsoever either in contract or in tort in respect of any act or omission (including negligence) in

relation to the preparation or publication of the data contained in the report.

Settlement ConversionCopper Cash Seller & Settlement: £4,669.96 Exchange Rates Copper 3-months Seller: £4,694.89 Stg/$ 1.4641 Lead Cash Seller & Settlement: £1,284.81 $/JY 92.06 Lead 3-months Seller: £1,306.98 Euro 1.2546

THE FOLLOWING STERLING EQUIVALENTS HAVE BEEN CALCULATED, ON THE BASIS OF DAILY CONVERSIONS:

MAY 2010THE LONDON METAL EXCHANGE LIMITED AVERAGE OFFICIAL AND SETTLEMENT PRICES US$/TONNE

LME AVERAGE SETTLEMENT PRICES IN EURO

PrimaryAluminium(dollars)

AluminiumAlloy(dollars)

Copper

(dollars)

Lead

(dollars)

Nickel

(dollars)

NASAAC

(dollars)

Cash Buyer 2,039.76 1,909.00 6,836.71 1,881.68 21,995.26 1,962.58Cash Seller & Settlement 2,040.53 1,916.00 6,837.68 1,882.68 22,008.16 1,974.21

Cash Mean 2,040.14 1,912.50 6,837.20 1,882.18 22,001.71 1,968.39

3-months Buyer 2,068.87 1,930.79 6,872.05 1,912.61 22,063.16 1,981.84

3-months Seller 2,069.71 1,942.63 6,874.08 1,915.05 22,089.21 1,994.47

3-months Mean 2,069.29 1,936.71 6,873.07 1,913.83 22,076.18 1,988.16

15-months Buyer 2,168.37 1,996.32 6,901.58 1,952.95 21,713.16 2,080.79

15-months Seller 2,173.37 2,006.32 6,911.58 1,957.95 21,813.16 2,090.79

15-months Mean 2,170.87 2,001.32 6,906.58 1,955.45 21,763.16 2,085.79

27-months Buyer 2,244.05 2,056.32 6,781.32 1,929.05 20,653.95 2,153.16

27-months Seller 2,249.05 2,066.32 6,791.32 1,934.05 20,753.95 2,163.16

27-months Mean 2,246.55 2,061.32 6,786.32 1,931.55 20,703.95 2,158.16

Metal Euro Settlement Conversion Rate

Primary Aluminium 1626.41

Aluminium Alloy 1527.17

Copper 5450.33

Lead 1499.45

Nickel 17535.89

Tin 14005.79

SHG Zinc 1568.08

Nasaac 1573.47

$6771Copper 3-months seller

NON-FERROUS METAL PRICESThe London Metal Exchange (LME) is the world’s premier non-ferrous metals market. The LME offers futures and options contracts for aluminium, copper, lead, nickel and NASAAC, among others. Many of these materials are indispensable in the MEP sector. The latest historical data from the LME is presented to give readers insight into this dynamic trading market. For further information visit www.lme.co.uk.

Settlement ConversionCopper Cash Seller & Settlement: £5,051.83 Exchange Rates Copper 3-months Seller: £5,077.35 Stg/$ 1.5331 Lead Cash Seller & Settlement: £1,477.17 $/JY 93.46 Lead 3-months Seller: £1,495.59 Euro 1.3408

THE FOLLOWING STERLING EQUIVALENTS HAVE BEEN CALCULATED, ON THE BASIS OF DAILY CONVERSIONS:

APRIL 2010THE LONDON METAL EXCHANGE LIMITED AVERAGE OFFICIAL AND SETTLEMENT PRICES US$/TONNE

LME AVERAGE SETTLEMENT PRICES IN EURO

PrimaryAluminium(dollars)

AluminiumAlloy(dollars)

Copper

(dollars)

Lead

(dollars)

Nickel

(dollars)

NASAAC

(dollars)

Cash Buyer 2,316.08 2,161.13 7,743.70 2,264.10 26,014.75 2,185.75Cash Seller & Settlement 2,316.73 2,168.23 7,745.08 2,264.85 26,030.75 2,193.33

Cash Mean 2,316.40 2,164.68 7,744.39 2,264.48 26,022.75 2,189.54

3-months Buyer 2,345.50 2,185.25 7,777.85 2,290.20 26,067.50 2,216.00

3-months Seller 2,346.25 2,196.25 7,780.68 2,292.05 26,083.75 2,227.00

3-months Mean 2,345.88 2,190.75 7,779.26 2,291.13 26,075.63 2,221.50

15-months Buyer 2,448.15 2,259.75 7,779.75 2,312.45 25,653.00 2,316.75

15-months Seller 2,453.15 2,269.75 7,789.75 2,317.45 25,753.00 2,326.75

15-months Mean 2,450.65 2,264.75 7,784.75 2,314.95 25,703.00 2,321.75

27-months Buyer 2,526.85 2,325.00 7,649.00 2,279.90 24,866.00 2,387.50

27-months Seller 2,531.85 2,335.00 7,659.00 2,284.90 24,966.00 2,397.50

27-months Mean 2,529.35 2,330.00 7,654.00 2,282.40 24,916.00 2,392.50

Metal Euro Settlement Conversion Rate

Primary Aluminium 1727.54

Aluminium Alloy 1616.69

Copper 5776.09

Lead 1689.15

Nickel 19414.99

Nasaac 1635.50

$7568Copper 3-months seller


PRODUCTS

WIRELESS ENERGY MAN-AGEMENT FOR HVAC SYSTEMSWhat is being heralded as a new class of ‘drop-in’ energy management systems (EMS) for businesses with small to mid-size facilities has been made possible by recent advances in wireless technology. These affordable, feature-rich wireless EMS products offer real energy-savings that enhance profi tability and a reduced carbon footprint.

Until now, most businesses with small to mid-size commercial buildings have had no affordable option to implement an EMS of any notable scale. Ironically, a large proportion of buildings in this segment use more energy per square foot than any other commercial space. HVAC equipment on the roof is the largest energy drain for these businesses. Until recently, there have been no practical energy-management solutions to control these HVAC and other mechanical systems better, and therefore no opportunity for business owners to save money.

Similar to the way a wireless network can support multiple devices, a wireless network system can be deployed into a commercial building. These wireless networks will support multiple controls for that building’s main energy-

AquFlow has introduced a complete line of metering pumps for chemical injection for water treatment applications. The line-up includes a range of fl ow and pressure ca-pacities with the liquid ends in corrosion-resistant materials such as 316 SS, PVC, PVDF, Hastelloy C and Alloy 20.

Sodium hypochlorite, ferric chloride, sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid are some of the chemicals commonly used as disinfectants, coagulants, corrosion in-hibitors and neutralising agents in a typical water treatment plant. These chemicals could be very corrosive if the right material is not selected for the liquid end of the in-jection pumps, causing premature failures and downtime.

When a pump is matched correctly to ensure chemical compatibility and ac-curate fl ow, the water treatment process becomes more dependable. AquFlow, a leader in chemical metering pump technology for the last 38 years, is the pump of choice for tough water treatment chemicals.

AquFlow now also has a complete line of solenoid metering pumps for smaller and less heavy duty applications. While the solenoid pumps cover the lower end of fl ows and pressures, AquFlow hydraulic diaphragm pumps are used predominantly for higher pressures and fl ow capacity as high as 3 500 GPH.

Controlling AquFlow pumps is easy with manual stroke adjustment and optional automatic electronic capacity adjuster. In addition to the stroke, you can also fi ne-tune the speed for a highly accurate fl ow rate. These controls are capable of taking the 4-20 mA input signal from SCADA systems. Most water treatment plants are using these to control the capacities from their computers and/or the Internet.

AquFlow exhibited at the recent ACE10 trade show organised by AWWA in Chicago in the US. It displayed some of its pumps and the technology behind it to show why these can outperform and outlast most other comparable pumps in the market to-day. In addition to dosing pumps, AquFlow also has the capability to manufacture entire pumping systems, which include valves, storage tanks, mixers and controls to spec. The AquFlow Web site has specifi cations, data sheets, manuals and dimensions of Series 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 pumps.www.aqufl ow.com

RUGGED PUMPS FOR WATER TREATMENT

Electrical safety violations are on OSHA’s top-ten list of most frequent violations, with OSHA issuing 2 556 citations for electrical safety violations in the US in 2009. Employers can now provide their em-ployees with the required training with a revamped line of electrical safety training products from the Workplace Safety Store.

“Every year workers are injured needlessly by electricity on the job,” according to Robin Watson of the Workplace Safety Store. “We want to prevent that from happening, which is why we are making available high-quality DVDs, posters, booklets and other materials which have been proven effective in teaching employers how to keep their employees safe.”

OSHA has very specifi c regulations about

requirements for employer safety training, and all of the materials are OSHA-compliant. Employers who do not follow OSHA regulations are taking a signifi cant risk with their business and with the safety of their employees, warned Watson.

“We urge people not to underestimate the danger of injury and death from exposure to electrical hazards on the job,” said Watson. A study conducted in 1995 by the Bureau of Labour Statistics of the US found that electrocutions ac-counted for 6% of all worker deaths. The National Safety Council reported that electrocutions were the fourth-leading cause of work-related traumatic death in the years 1980-1989.http://safety.1800inet.com/electrical-safety-training

ELECTRICAL SAFETY TRAINING MATERIALS

Energy management systems are becoming increasinglysophisticated and cost-effective

using equipment, such as HVAC and lighting. The system also allows for real-time wireless monitoring of the total electrical consumption (kWh) for the entire building. More importantly, it takes the entire process straight to the Internet, enabling remote monitoring and control from a central location.

What makes these wireless EMS systems so attractive is their simplicity, effectiveness and affordability. Most HVAC contractors can install these systems in just a half-day or less by replacing the existing thermostats in the building with radio-equipped wireless thermostats. A factory accessory will allow wireless control of up to eight other circuits for lights and ventilation. Basically, any equipment that could benefi t from having an operation schedule applied can usually be joined to the network.

Next, simple current transformer clamps are slipped around the main electrical feed lines to the building, and they are joined to the network. Then a real-time graphic interface touch panel display is installed on the wall in a manager’s offi ce. This panel is actually the new local central control and monitoring point for all HVAC equipment, lighting, refrigeration and other mechanicals. Simply enable the power and Internet connection button on the back of the touch panel and the building is now saving energy and money, and is controllable remotely via the Web.

In addition, these systems offer users the opportunity to establish a remote ‘gatekeeper’ of each building upgraded with these wireless EMS products. From setting schedules through the Web interface, to being the contact that receives and responds to any over temperature alarms, to creating monthly comparative energy consumption reports, full control of a business’s energy consumption may be managed remotely.www.eco-view.com

PRODUCTS


Otis Elevator Company is the world’s largest manufacturer and maintainer of people-moving products, including elevators, escalators and moving walkways. With headquarters in Farmington, Connecticut, Otis employs 61 000 people, offers products and services in more than 200 countries and territories, and maintains 1.7 million elevators and escalators worldwide. Otis is represented directly in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. In Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Yemen, Otis operates through agents managed by its Arabian Gulf branch in Kuwait.

GREEN ELEVATOR SYSTEM

Otis’ environment-friendly Gen2 elevator system sets the standard for performance, design fl exibility and comfort

The Gen2 system becomes even more energy-effi cient when combined with energy-conserving ReGen drives. As the product of choice for green building initiatives, ReGen drives reduce energy consumption by up to 75% compared to conventional systems with non-regenerative drives. ReGen drives feed energy usually lost during elevator braking back into the building’s internal electrical grid, where it can be used by other loads or users connected to the same network such as lighting. They lower overall building operating costs, delivering signifi cant annual savings to building owners and tenants year after year over the life of the elevator.

Otis offers a variety of maintenance programmes and building support systems to fi t customers’ needs and equipment types. It offers a host of maintenance management programmes to meet customers’ needs. Ultimately, the right maintenance at the right time extends the life of the equipment and protects the owner’s investment.

Otis customers can call the OTISLINE Centre 24/7 when they have an elevator or escalator problem. Its trained service professionals are constantly on call to ensure a prompt response and effi cient repairs. Remote Elevator Monitoring (REM) optimises elevator performance and minimises elevator downtime. This is a sophisticated interconnected system of sensors, monitors, circuits, hardware and software to collect, record, analyse and communicate data about elevator operations 24/7. If the REM system detects a problem, it analyses and diagnoses the cause and location, then makes the service call and helps an Otis mechanic identify the component causing the problem. Otis customers can call the OTISLINE Centre 24/7 when they have an elevator or escalator problem. Elevators are often back in service before owners or tenants even know there is a problem.www.otisgen2.com

OTIS MIDDLE EAST KEY PROJECTS• Burj Khalifa, UAE• Yas Island, UAE• Mall of the Emirates, UAE• Mirdiff City Center, UAE• Dalma Mall, UAE• Liberation Tower, Kuwait• Kuwait Finance House, Kuwait• Amiri Dewan Projects, Kuwait• Bahrain City Centre, Bahrain• Bahrain Trade Centre, Bahrain

Otis’ environment-friendly Gen2 elevator system sets the standard for elevator performance, design fl exibility and comfort for a wide range of building applications from low-rise residential to high-rise projects. Using Otis’ patented polyurethane-coated steel belts, the Gen2 system features a compact, energy-effi cient machine that reduces energy consumption by up to 50% compared to conventional systems. In addition, the Gen2 system does not require any additional polluting lubrication, eliminating the need for storage, cleanup and disposal of hazardous waste.

THE LAST WORD


With over 17 000 people managing 0.139 billion square metres (1.5 billion square feet) of corporate real estate in 90 countries, Global Workplace Solutions has been in-cluded in the Global Outsourcing 100 by the International Associa-tion of Outsourcing Professionals.

“It is part of the Building Effi -ciency business of Johnson Con-trols, a leading service provider of mechanical equipment and sys-tems controlling heating, ventila-tion, air-con, lighting, security and fi re management in non-residen-tial buildings,” explains Beck. Ser-vices include complete mechanical and electrical maintenance.

Building Effi ciency is involved in over 500 global renewable ener-gy projects, ranging from solar to wind and geothermal energy. The division’s solutions are estimated to have reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 13.6 million tons, generating total savings of US$7.5 billion since 2000. This vast expe-rience has been brought to bear on some major corporate clients in the Middle East, says Beck.

Johnson Controls itself is a global diversifi ed technology and industrial giant represented in 150 countries, focusing on solu-tions that optimise energy and op-erational effi ciencies of buildings. The company’s commitment to sustainability dates back to 1885, with the invention of the fi rst elec-tric room thermostat.

The latest trend is tenant energy management, such as the system

that Johnson Controls is pioneer-ing at the Empire State Building refurbishment project in New York. Every fl oor will be sub-me-tered, and individual tenants can opt for their own meters and moni-tor consumption via a Web site.

But what about the workplaces themselves? This is where Global Workplace Solutions fi ts in. “We see workplaces as opportunities to make big contributions to a com-pany’s bottom line,” says Beck. Global Workplace Solutions does this by focusing on the entire real-estate lifecycle. This is critical, as real-estate costs are often the sec-ond-highest item on the balance sheet of a company. “Hence reduc-ing the amount of space needed by optimising its utilisation will have a signifi cant impact on a compa-ny’s bottom line,” says Beck.

“This is particularly relevant in Dubai, where the recent boom saw companies occupying a lot of offi ce space commensurate with their corporate status. Now with the downturn companies are seek-ing to cut costs and reduce over-heads, with energy effi ciency and workspace optimisation emerging as the two major trends in this re-gard,” says Beck.

“What we do at the outset is conduct an audit of the workplace in question in order to determine

how the space is utilised. It is criti-cal to gather this sort of informa-tion before any improvements can be suggested or properly formu-lated,” says Beck. This is often the most fraught part of the process, as it is often seen as an interroga-tion of a company’s culture.

However, Global Workplace Solutions has the latest technol-ogy at its disposal to ensure the initial, fact-gathering part of the process is rigorously scientifi c. “This goes a long way to reassur-ing companies,” says Beck. The Visible Living Lab, as it is known, is a Web-based space management and real-time occupancy tool de-veloped by Johnson Controls.

“It helps businesses see in real-time where their workspace is oc-cupied, and how it is being used. With this intelligence, companies are able to improve space utilisa-tion, increase staff productivity and gain savings from strategic property management,” explains Beck. The tool uses RF smart tags to provide real-time intelligence.

The benefi ts of adopting such an approach are obviously fi nancial, with potential occupancy savings of 20% to 30%. In addition, the accu-mulation of accurate data not only improves decision-making, but al-lows for location-based security and response in the event of any

emergency, adds Beck. Another benefi t of this process is it attunes companies to current trends and developments with regard to work-place management.

“A lot of workplace utilisation improvement is predicated on a mindshift change in culture and behaviour. It is often diffi cult for established companies to gain a comprehensive overview of their work patterns; we are able to provide such a viewpoint, which impacts directly on sustainabil-ity and profi tability,” says Beck. It also allows companies to bench-mark themselves against global competitors.

What are some of the latest workplace trends? One thing Beck is confi dent of is that the tradi-tional offi ce set-up is here to stay. “There is a lot of talk about the demise of the offi ce due to fl exi-work and the freedom allowed by advances in telecoms and the In-ternet. However, workspaces are important for companies to brand themselves and inculcate a corpo-rate culture among their employ-ees,” says Beck.

The future of the ‘smart’ work-place is being shaped by various factors and trends. Buildings are no longer sustainable by merely incorporating ‘green’ technology; sustainability is increasingly being measured by space utilisation effi -ciency. “This helps reduce vacant offi ce space, which is an important consideration in Dubai at the mo-ment,” says Beck.

WORKPLACESSmartLewis Beck, Johnson Controls Workplace Strategy Lead EMEA, on the synergy between workspace utilisation and energy effi ciency.

Sustainability is increasingly being measured by space utilisation effi ciency.“

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MEP Middle East - July 2010