MIDDLE EAST NEWS UPDATE | 04 BIG PICTURE | 07 COMMENT | 14 ANALYSIS | 18 PRODUCTS | 46 THE LAST WORD | 48 An ITP Business Publication | April 2011 Vol. 6 Issue 4 Essential information for mechanical, electrical, plumbing and HVAC professionals An ITP Business Publication | May 2013 Vol. 8 Issue 05 MEP Middle East meets the team at ALEMCO and finds a young, vibrant contracting company marching to its own tune ALSO: MEP QATAR CONFERENCE PREVIEW Al Tamouh’s C1 Tower on Abu Dhabi’s Reem Island CITY OF LIGHTS SITE VISIT HVAC UPDATE 21 3$*(
Transcript
MIDDLE EAST NEWS UPDATE | 04BIG PICTURE | 07
COMMENT | 14ANALYSIS | 18
PRODUCTS | 46THE LAST WORD | 48
An ITP Business Publication | April 2011 Vol. 6 Issue 4Essential information for mechanical, electrical, plumbing and HVAC professionals An ITP Business Publication | May 2013 Vol. 8 Issue 05
MEP Middle East meets the team at ALEMCO and finds a young, vibrant contracting company marching to its own tune
ALSO: MEP QATAR CONFERENCE PREVIEW
Al Tamouh’s C1 Tower on Abu Dhabi’s Reem Island
CITY OF
LIGHTS
SITE VISIT
HVACUPDATE
www.constructionweekonline.com May 2013 | MEP Middle East 1
MAY 2013 VOLUME 8 ISSUE 05
CONTENTS04 NEWS
Arabian MEP Contracting wins Pearl Gateway deal
08 NEWS UPDATE CCG hails completion of Umm Al Quwain vacuum sewerage project
14 COMMENT Arvin Daeizadeth on the GCC’s sustainability leaders
18 ANALYSIS MEP Middle East looks at the growth of LED lighting
46 PRODUCT FOCUS Check out the latest MEP related products in the market 48 THE LAST WORD Nitin Amin from Infinova on advances in video security
PROJECT QATAR PREVIEWWhat can the industry look forward to at this year’s event?
MEP CONFERENCE PREVIEWSome of the speakers at the upcoming forum tell us what to expect.
20 28
30
BIG INTERVIEW The men from ALEMCO explain what they bring to a contracting team that has become a serious industry player.
SITE VISITMEP Middle East visits the C1 Tower at the City of Lights project on Abu Dhabi’s Al Reem Island .
22
40
36
EDITOR’S NOTE
www.constructionweekonline.com 2 MEP Middle East | May 2013
Develop this!My experience of putting togeth-
er this month’s issue has been largely defined by a particular-
ly difficult developer – an experience to which, I’m sure, a lot of our readers will relate. We had agreed to work together on giving their project some positve coverage in the magazine, but due to their unwillingness to cooperate in a constructive manner, I chose to pursue
other editorial avenues for this issue’s content. The experience has given me a considerable insight into the
difficulties faced by MEP contractors. They, of course, not only have to deal with nitpicking clients, but are also answerable to the main contractors who have awarded them the project.
While both clients and main contractors are entitled to insist upon getting exactly what was agreed upon in the contract, it is all too common for both parties to try to get more than that. Once an MEP project is underway and payment is still yet to be made, sub-contractors can find themselves pushed into difficult corners by the greater legal muscle of those higher in the chain and the fear of jeopardising prospective income from the project.
Developers, in particular, have a reputation for being a liti-gious bunch, quick to withhold payment or threaten legal ac-tion at the slightest excuse. It is worth noting that, perhaps the world’s most famous property developer, Donald Trump, is known in American business circles as a litigation bully, while his companies have always had a penchant for bankruptcy fil-ings in order to avoid debt payments. That this man is supposed-ly a billionaire is a sad indictment of the American legal system, but it is not hard to imagine that he may be somewhat idolised in developer circles.
The war of attrition that often plays out between developers and contractors may simply stem from the fact that they are of a different breed with diverging core motivations. More often than not, developers are money-men rather than engineers. Their appreciation of the realities of the construction process is often flimsy, while their expectations of what construction teams can deliver for the money they are willing to pay is often overinflated and misguided. When these children of the con-struction world don’t get exactly what they want, they tend to throw their toys out of the pram at the first opportunity.
While I appreciate that not all developers are of the ilk that I have just described, and their behaviour at times can be seen as a simple attempt to protect an investment, my own experi-ence has left a particularly unfavourable impression. If my ex-perience is common, they are pedantic, unreasonable, precious and none too bright. I have earned my stripes this month in the trenches of a developer war – and I salute myself.
Chairman Andrew NeilManaging Director Robert Serafin
Finance Director Toby Jay Spencer-DaviesBoard of Directors K.M. Jamieson, Mike Bayman, Walid Akawi, Neil Davies, Rob Corder, Mary Serafin
Circulation Customer Service Tel: +971 4 444 3459Subscribe online at www.itp.com/subscriptions
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The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication which is provided for general use and may not be
appropriate for the reader’s particular circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review.
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Arabian MEP Contract-ing has won a contract for the MEP works on the 200m-tall Pearl Gateway Tower No.1 overlooking Doha’s West Bay area.
The Qatar-based firm was appointed by the project’s main contrac-tor for an unspecified sum in a deal which will see Arabian MEP’s scope of work carried out over a 24-month pe-riod.
Pearl Gateway Tower No. 1 will be a high-rise office tower with a built-up area of 76,000m² consisting of ground and mezzanine levels, with 43 upper floors in-cluding an eight-level podium.
HVAC cooling re-quirements for the tower will be connected through the district cooling network and the
the first MEP contractor to handover a batch of towers in Portarabia and later one more tower in Vivabahriya. I believe this reputation has brought us this Gateway Tower No. 1 win which is truly a most prestigious one.”
Following the award the company also announced
that it is to play a major role in the construction of its new headquarters build-ing in Doha.
The contractor will take on a design-and-build proj-ect for the MEP works on an 18-month completion program. With a built-up area of 10,750m², the project will consist of a six-storey office building along with two levels of un-derground parking with a capacity of 120 cars.
Qatari consultancy Arab Engineering Bureau has taken on responsibility for the design of the building and will oversee its con-struction. Arabian MEP Contracting’s parent com-
Qatari contractor signs contract for undisclosed fee for MEP works on Tower No.1 of Doha project and announces that it is play a key construction role in the building of its new HQ
The company will complete works on Pearl Gateway over 24 months.
pany, Al Malki Group, is making what is said to be a heavy investment in the development in order to cater to its MEP arm’s ambitious expan-sion plans.
Vasanth Kumar, CEO of Al Malki Group, said that the facility will be the first of its kind in Qa-tar: “It will be based on a “one-stop-shop” concept and anything under me-chanical and electrical building services can be availed of under one roof such as showroom sales for imported M & E equipment and systems from various interna-tional manufacturers..”
Arabian MEP Contracting wins deal for Doha’s Pearl Gateway
-18%:Q1 drop in
net profits
FAIR SHAREPROFIT AND PAYOUT
DAR AL ARKAN: LAST 12 MONTHS TRADING (Source: Bloomberg)
DAR AL ARKAN2013 Q1 results
$222.9M:
Q1 revenue -3.8%:Q1 drop in revenue
$63.4M:
Q1 profit
rest of the MEP building services will be based on the core and shell concept.
Commenting on the win, Arabian MEP Con-tracting’s CEO, Vasanth Kumar, said: “We have an excellent trackrecord of successful completion and delivery of projects, espe-cially in Pearl. We were
We have an excellent track- record of successful completion and delivery of projects, especially in Pearl.“
www.constructionweekonline.com
NEWS UPDATE
May 2013 | MEP Middle East 5
The company will supply SEC with low and medium voltage cables. The deals will see work to improve the region’s electricity grid.
CONTRACT
CONTRACT
Bahra Cables Co. has won a fresh $29.3m supply con-tract with the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) for the supply of low and medium voltage cables for the util-ity’s 2013 projects.
Eng. Talal Idriss, CEO of Bahra Cables, expressed his satisfaction with the confidence bestowed to the company by Saudi Electricity Company as one of the major national utility companies.
He stressed the thorough accreditation of his firm’s products such as KEMA, IPH, SASO, LPCB, CSA, BA-SEC, as well as the company’s ISO 9001: 2008 certifi-cation for its cables up to 132 kV.
Bahra Cables is also the first Saudi cable manufacturer to receive ISO 14001: 2004 and OHSAS 18001:2007.
The contract brings the total value of cables to be supplied by the company within a timetable set out by SEC for 2013 to $136m, after the firms signed a $107m contract with SEC in December.
Idriss added that national companies meet about 90% of the Kingdom’s demand, and local production, which meets international standards, is also partially exported to neighbouring markets.
Drake & Scull International has won a $49m contract to deliver mechanical, electri-cal and plumbing works for a housing development in Qatar.
The project was not named, but the company’s chief corporate affairs officer, Zeina Tabari, said further details of the contract will be released shortly. It added that a start on site was due to take place immediately and that work will be complete during the fourth quarter of 2014.
Drake & Scull declared a 48% drop in net profits for 2012 to $31.3m, while rev-enues for the year climbed by 6.5% to $898.5m.
Last month, the company announced three new project wins in Saudi Arabia and the UAE worth more than $100m.
CONTRACT
Prince Saud Bin Abdullah Bin Thunayyan, president of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, has signed three contracts worth a total of $258m for the implemen-tion of power projects in Ras Al-Khair Industrial City and the design of power and communication systems in the Jubail 2 industrial city.
According to the Saudi Gazette, Ibn Thunayyan pre-dicted the award of more projects to the private sector in Ras Al-Khair in the near future. He said: “So far, more than $1.33bn in investments has been pumped into this industrial city to boost its basic industries, including aluminum and minerals.”
The first two contracts were signed with Saudi Ser-vices for Electro-Mechanical Works Company and Al-Babtain Contracting Company for the setting up of two 1,500MW electricity power plants in Ras Al-Khair. The contracts will both be implemented in 38 months..
The third contract was awarded to Ali Kodair Al Har-bi & Ahmed Radi Consultancy Engineering Company in conjunction with Engineering International Ltd. Co to design high tension electricity power plants, under-ground cable works and electricity distribution net-works for Jubail 2.
Drake & Scull wins $49m Qatar deal
Bahra Cables secures $29.3m SEC contract
Firms ink $258m in east KSA power deals
COPPER
NICKEL
STEEL
METALS PRICES
Source: London MetalExchange
$6,97519 April
$7,55018 March
$14019 April
$20518 March
$15,22519 April
$16,55018 March
NEWS UPDATE
6 MEP Middle East | May 2013 www.constructionweekonline.com
NESMA ELECTRIC SECURES $21.3M EPC DEAL FOR KSA’S KAUST SUBSTATION
Saudi Arabia’s Nesma Electric has been awarded a $21.3m engineer-ing, procurement and construction (EPC) substation contract by Saudi Electricity Company (SEC).The deal will see the firm build
a 110/13.8kV substation at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).
The substation will be known as Kaust-2 as it is the second such one the education complex’s site.Salah Al-Sunaid, Nesma Electric’s
deputy general manager, said: “We are committed and honoured to de-liver the best services to our presti-gious clients.”The new substation is reportedly
on a fast-track construction schedule and the project is being financed by Saudi Aramco and supervised by SEC.Nesma Electric’s parent, Nesma
& Partners Contracting Company, has been involved in some of Saudi’s biggest projects, including the Jabal Omar development in Makkah.
CONTRACT
Honeywell has won an $11.8m contract from Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity and Water that will see the firm work on a proj-ect to modernise the country’s water dis-tribution network.
The firm reported that its Honeywell Process Solutions’ Experion Process Knowledge System (PKS) is set to be de-ployed throughout the Az Zour water dis-tribution system, so that operators at a cen-tral location can control a network of six different treatment plants. The network supplies over 280 million imperial gallons of fresh water each day.
“We have set long-term goals for sus-tainability in Kuwait. Revamping our water distribution network to improve efficiency and reduce costs is a key part of meeting our development plans. Honeywell’s ex-perience in control systems and support capabilities in a number of industrial proj-ects in Kuwait helped us pick them as one of our trusted vendors,” said Ministry of Electricity and Water assistant under sec-retary, Hamoud Bader Alrodan.
Honeywell says that that the new con-trol system is based around its Distributed Server Architecture (DSA), which helps to integrate and manage multiple control sys-tems, and control rooms throughout the water system. The benefits, the firm says, are simplified operations, lower engineer-ing costs and improving system integrity.
Honeywell wins Kuwait water deal worth $11.8m
Dubai’s first LEED Gold medical building opens
GREEN BUILDING
The first green hospital or medical centre building in Dubai emirate with a LEED Gold rating has been officially opened in the Jafza South area of the city.
MedHealth Medical Centre was inaugurated by HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai Civil Avia-tion Authority and chairman of Dubai World.
Through the use of innovative technologies which collect air conditioning water, as well as rainwater and the use of re-cycled water for irrigation, the building manages to save more than 50% of an average building’s water consumption. The taps at the centre are also designed to prevent leakage and loss while the building’s special chilling systems diminish CO² emissions.
HE Salma Hareb, CEO of Economic Zones World and Jafza (EZWJ), said: “This centre is in tune with the directive of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum issued in 2008 on the implementation of green building specifications and stan-dards in the emirate of Dubai. It is a matter of pride that this world-class green building is located in Jafza and we are opti-mistic about its role, especially since this is the first phase of a world-class hospital.”
The building’s green status was targeted from the shoring stage of construction right through to finishing which has seen features such as air-pollution filtration systems installed, as well as insulating glass which controls the building’s tempera-ture and reduces the usage of lighting.
Ahmed A. Hussain, CEO of MedHealth Medical Centre, said: “We regard this medical centre as part of Dubai’s relent-less efforts to emerge as a city that adopts stringent measures when it comes to sustainability. We think this centre will open the doors wide for more hospitals and medical centres to go green. I am proud to announce that we are the first medical centre to implement His Highness’s directive, thus contribut-ing to the relentless efforts to turn Dubai into a health-oriented city driven by global best practices and benchmarks of pollu-tion-free sustainable development,” Hussain added.
Museum design aimed at creating an energy efficient microclimate
HE Salma Hareb, CEO of EZWJ.
It is a matter of pride that this world-class green building is located in Jafza and we are optimistic about its role, especially since this is the first phase of a world-class hospital.“
www.constructionweekonline.com
NEWS UPDATE
May 2013 | MEP Middle East 7
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PROJECT: Msheireb Downtown Doha Development, Phase 1bLOCATION: Doha, QatarMAIN CONTRACTOR: Carillion/Qatar Building CompanyMEP CONTRACTOR: ETA StarCLIENT: Msheireb Properties
The Msheireb Downtown Doha Development is a $5.5bn (QAR 20bn) mixed-use project in the heart of old Doha. Construction is being completed in various phases with phase 1a approaching completion and phase 1b and 1c well underway. Structural works on phase 1b are being completed on the first floor stage of 15 superstructure buildings, while MEP works are at the first fix stage. The project aims to marry traditional Qatari architecture with modern sustainable design.
BIGPICTURE
NEWS UPDATE
8 MEP Middle East | May 2013 www.constructionweekonline.com
“It is very diffi-cult to make that leap from 60 to 80 LEED points without doing something a little unusual.” THOM BOHLEN, chief technical officer, MECSD
ething leual.”
HLEN, chief fficer,
“EFECO requires funds to increase its capital base and improve mate-rial integration so that it can compete with larger play-ers.” HASAN ISMAIK, CEO, Arabtec
p
er -
MAIK,ec
PROJECT
The Concorde – Corodex Group (CCG) has announced the completion of a project to install a fully automatic and monitored vacuum sewerage collection system for the Umm Al Quwain Marina Development project.
Completed in a total of six months (with two months for the design and engineering phase and four months for the construction, testing and commissioning), the group has won praise from Emaar, the Marina project’s developer, which has described it as a “pioneer and leader in the Middle East for the application of this technology” and commending its “100% effort” on the job.
According to CCG senior executives, the newly installed system will take the lead in collecting waste water from 277 luxury residential villas, leisure and recreational facilities from Community 16 of the Marina-based development.
The new vacuum sewer system consists of 41 short gravity collection networks; flood proof vacuum collection chambers; 51 inspection pipes; six gate valves; vacuum tank with the capacity of 16m³ and two submersible sewerage pumps; a vacuum station and an Odour Control Unit (OCU) with activated carbon filter and capacity of 1,200 m³/h.
Commenting on the project, Mahmood Awad, managing director of CCG, said: “We are very pleased at the initial performance results that we have received for the vacuum sewerage collection system of the Umm Al Quwain Marina Development project.
Vacuum sewerage collection system installed at Emaar’s Umm Al Quwain site
CCG wraps up sewerage project
TENDER
Majis Industrial Services SAOC is seeking expressions of interest from consultants to advise on the provision of water utility services to the Sohar Industrial Port area in Oman.
Firms will have to show a proven track record of industrial wastewater management when submitting their pre-qualification forms.
Majis would like to see particular emphasis given to the following: process design audit on the conceptual design of an industrial effluent monitoring, collection and treatment scheme. Reviewing and approving contractor’s process and detailed design of a central effluent treatment and recycling facility. Supervision of rehabilitation and process up-gradutaion of an effluent treatment plant.
Consultants are required to register themselves with Majis at the time of submission of the pre-qualification documents. The deadline is 6 April, 2013. Pre-qualified consultants will be invited to buy tender documents by 13 April, 2013.
The forms should be delivered in sealed envelopes, adressed to: The Internal Tender Committee, Majis Industrial Service SAOC, opposite Sohar Aluminium Power Plant and Sohar Power Company at Sohar Industrial Port Area.Umm Al Quwain Marina Development.
Majis announces tender for Sohar wastewater job
“Property devel-opments around metro stations is where a lot of wealth is gener-ated.” IAN METCALFE, managing direc-tor of strategy and development, Faithful + Gould
“The Middle East can become the biggest re-newable energy exporters in the world.” ADNAN AMIN, Director general, Interna-tional Renewable Energy Agency
rld. AMIN,
tor , Interna-enewable Agency
ALFE, direc-egy opment, Gould
2013 CALENDAR
EVENTS
AWARDS
MAYProject QatarDate: 9-12 MarchPlace: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre
NOVEMBERMEP AwardsDate: 20 NovemberFairmont, The Palm
DECEMBERConstruction Week Awards KSADate: 3 December
DECEMBERConstruction Week AwardsDate: 11 December
HVAC NEWS
10 MEP Middle East | May 2013 www.constructionweekonline.com
GEOTHERMAL
MENA Geothermal Jordan has signed an agreement to install a geothermal sys-tem for three villas in Al Humar area in Fuheis, Jordan.
The geothermal heating and cooling systems company will be responsible for installing a system for the adjacent villas by creating a joint closed-loop pipe serving each of the properties, with a cooling capac-ity of 66 tonnes and a heating capacity of 70 tonnes.
The agreement was signed by a company representative in Jordan and the three villa owners in the company office in Amman.
Commenting on the award, Khaled Al Sabawi, founder and president of MENA Geothermal, said: “Signing this agreement is considered a crucial accomplishment in Jordan on both environmental and economic levels. This falls under the company’s main strategic goal to implement geothermal technology, not only in Jordan, but in all
other countries in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA).”
He added that with Jordan suffering from a deficiency in energy supply and energy prices remaining high, geothermal is a more environmentally-friendly and economically feasible alternative to imported fossil fuels. Consequently, MENA Geothermal is expect-ing larger demand for geothermal energy in the near future.
“This geothermal system which will be installed in three villas in Jordan, will de-crease carbon dioxide emissions by 166,807 kg per year, compared to conventional systems. Additionally, this system does not require maintenance, and decreases heating
and cooling expenses by up to 70%,” said Al Sabawi.
MENA Geothermal established its branch in Jordan in late 2012, where it recently completed the design and installation of a geothermal system in the American Uni-versity in Madaba – the largest of its kind in the entire MENA region, according to the company. It has also signed an agreement to repair and complete the installation of a geo-thermal system for a large villa in Dabouk, Amman.
The company has completed projects in Palestine and has signed an agreement to provide consultancy services for two large geothermal projects in India.
MENA Geothermal signs Jordanian villas dealAgreement reached to install system for three villas in Al Humar area of Fuheis which will have cooling capacity of 66 tonnes and heating capacity of 70 tonnes MENA Geothermal will install a system that it says will decrease the villa’s carbon emissions by 166,807 kg per year.
This falls under the company’s main strategic goal to implement geothermal technology, not only in Jordan, but in all other countries in the Middle East and North Africa.“
CONTRACT
Abu Dhabi General Services Co., Musanada, has signed two deals worth $9.4m with Al-Futtaim Engineering and Al-Dhafra Engineering for the supply of new air conditioning units.
Under the contract terms, the two organisations will supply and install air conditioning units for various govern-ment organisations and entitities across Abu Dhabi.
Al Dhafra Engineering’s contract is the
slightly larger of the two, worth $5.3m, while Al-Futtaim Engineering’s prize was worth $4m.
The deal was signed by Musanada CEO HE Mohamed Khalifa Al-Fahed Al-Mehairi, Al-Dhafra Engineering’s general manager, Eng Moayad Hassoun, and the managing director of Al-Futtaim Group’s electronics, engineering and technologies division, Dawood Bin Ozair.
At the signing, Eng. Hassoun, said; “In
light of our experience spanning over 20 years in the field, we will spare no effort in implementing the highest quality of work in the air conditioning of govern-ment buildings located in Abu Dhabi in a timely manner.”
Bin Ozair added: “This major proj-ect demonstrates strong confidence in Al-Futtaim Engineering’s reputation for quality products and excellent project management capabilities.”
Musanada signs air con supply deals worth $9.4m
www.constructionweekonline.com
HVAC NEWS
May 2013 | MEP Middle East 11
Empower cooling plant plans get royal inspection
Ahmed Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower, said his company’s cooling plants are committed to maximising energy efficiency.
H.H Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum views design for new facility at Dubai’s WETEX event
DISTRICT COOLING
H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum has exam-ined the plans for Empower’s new district cooling plant in Business Bay during his tour of DEWA’s 15th annual Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibi-tion (WETEX).
As the first district cooling plant to abide by the Dubai Executive Council’s recent environmental sustainability guidelines, Empower’s new plant is in line with Sheikh Mohammed’s directives to utilise the most energy envi-ronmentally friendly technologies available.
The plant, which will utilise treated wastewater sourced from Dubai Muncipality, will only require 0.9 kilowatts (KW) to produce one refrigeration tonne
(RT) of cooling. Traditional non-district cooling systems consume up to double that amount – 1.8 KW of energy every hour – to produce one RT of cooling.
Ahmed Bin Shafar, Empower’s CEO, spoke at the unveiling to emphasise Empower’s committment
to contributing to Sheikh Moham-med’s green vision for Dubai: “Today, we are very pleased to unveil the design of this new plant that will provide Business Bay with efficient cooling services while reflecting the UAE’s commitment to environmental sustainability.”
NEWS UPDATE
12 MEP Middle East | May 2013 www.constructionweekonline.com
WATER EFFICIENCY
Yas Waterworld Abu Dha-bi has revealed that its efforts to conserve water through reducing water wastage and boosting energy efficiency enables it to use 30% less water than other waterparks of a comparable size.
“When it came to op-erating a waterpark in a water-scarce region, we needed to put a lot of thought into making sure the project was as water and energy efficient as it possibly could be,” said Tim Mow, park manager.
“The water park was designed utilising crite-ria outlined by Estidama. Yas Waterworld Abu Dha-bi is the first water park in the Middle East to be certified with a “green” sustainability rating of Estidama One Pearl,” he added.
The park uses intelli-gent water conservation, filtration and mechanical systems to prevent water wastage and reduce high evaporation rates. Auto-matic water level control units, with floats and me-chanical valves, are used to maintain the water lev-el of the pools, providing fresh water and prevent-ing overflow and excess water usage.
Shades, high rock-work and grottos have been installed to mi-nimise evaporation rates by shading areas from direct sunlight.
Abu Dhabi’s Yas Waterworld has employed a variety of measures beyond its water systems design to ensure minimum water usage.
mary School on an educational tour of the conservation system.
Mow said: “Our in-tention is to continue to work with students to develop awareness on water conservation from an early age, as well with other entities interested in replicating the intelli-gent water conservation systems that are opera-tional at Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi.”
The students who went on the tour were the top five fund-raisers in the Cycle for Water event organised by Al-dar Academy to raise funds to buy two water tanks for a school in Mekele, Ethiopia.
Yas Waterworld using 30% less water than similar parksAbu Dhabi theme park claims that its water systems design has enabled it to make significant savings and is encouraging similar water parks to learn from its conservation techniques
The largest reduction in water use is provided through the use of re-generative media filter systems, instead of sand filters for the pools. The backwash cycle of the filters use an average of 90% less water as com-pared to traditional sand filtration systems.
All water pumps and piping systems are stra-tegically placed through-out Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi to eliminate long
When it came to operating a water park in a water-scarce region, we needed to put a lot of thought into making sure the project was as water and energy efficient as it possibly could be . “
pipe runs and boost hydraulic efficiency.
The entire water park is also equipped with energy-efficient sys-tems such as permanent magnet motors, pumps optimised to save en-ergy and LED instead of incandescent lighting.
The park also uses non-hazardous, green UV sterilisation systems as an additional means of pool disinfection, eliminating the need for
further chemicals to be added to the water.
“Our goal was to make the systems as lean as possible in terms of wa-ter wastage and we have been able to accomplish a significant reduction in water usage, as com-pared to other water-parks of a similar size,” Mow added.
To mark World Wa-ter Day, the park took students from Aldar Academy’s Pearl Pri-
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14 MEP Middle East | May 2013 www.constructionweekonline.com
COMMENT
Arvin Daeizadeth looks at the challengers seeking to define sustainability for the region
Leadership in sustainability can only be seen in two countries, the UAE (Abu Dhabi) and Qatar. These are the only two states that have mandated sustainability ratings for new buildings - Estidama and QSAS.
One of Alpin’s current projects is the Msherieb Downtown Doha project, a massive redevelopment project set in the heart of Doha. Comprised of more than 90 buildings, most are set to be LEED Gold certified.
The overall LEED masterplan (neighborhood development) is valued at between $4-5 billion and is slated to become the largest single cluster of LEED certified buildings in the world, once complete. This is being developed in a country which doesn’t yet have a national programme for recycling and has to import most of its construction materials. An acute lack of sustainability infrastructure and knowledge regarding LEED, or sustainability in general, among contractors, subcontractors and vendors makes the situation even more remarkable.
While this makes it challenging to build to LEED standards today, the government, through its firm backing of the project, is setting the stage for industry education and awareness, so the next phases of private development will be easier to build sustainably. This is a familiar pattern seen globally, as the seeds of LEED have taken root in increasingly diverse locations over the past decade.
A bit further to the East in the Gulf, rests Masdar City, Abu Dhabi. Masdar City, home to Alpin’s office and more than 80 other commercial entities, is a hybrid sustainable mega-project, testing facility and cleantech university, which allows for the practical integration of technology, capital and consultancy. This project was, and for the most part, is still considered the world’s most ambitious attempt at building the most sustain-able development possible: most of its buildings target zero net energy.
Until now, both the UAE and Qatar have been doing their re-spective parts to lead the industry in sustainable developments, but there is one area where they have diverged.
In the late 2000s both states started developing their own green building rating systems. The Qatar Sustainability Assess-ment System (QSAS) was first introduced in 2009, nearly a year before the Pearl Rating System created by Estidama in Abu
Dhab, was implemented. QSAS has since fallen behind in the number of buildings reg-istered and certified.
Abu Dhabi made it compulsory for all new private and public projects to comply with the minimum rating certification levels in or-der to make a serious commitment to the cit-ies’ sustainability goals. QSAS has remained mandatory only for government projects, but this is due to be expanded to commercial projects in the near future.
In addition, Abu Dhabi continues to ratchet up the minimum certification re-quirements for all new government build-ings and, in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) has led to higher sustainability requirement for government funded schools.
Despite such progress, both systems cur-rently trail global standards, such as LEED, in the lack of a system for operations and maintenance. We have heard however, that the team at Estidama is busy working on the development of the Estidama phase for Operations.
Looking at the milestones and the various developments taking place within the region, on balance it seems that there are two re-gional leaders in sustainability, Abu Dhabi and Qatar, with Abu Dhabi currently coming out on top as the leader.
Qatar’s heavy investment in technology, developments and QSAS should be felt over the coming years, and it will pay to keep up-to-date and informed as both entities are rac-ing to become world leaders in the sustain-able space.
Arvin Daeizadeth is a senior sustainability consultant for Alpin Limited Masdar City.
Two states’ solution
DISCOVER
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16 MEP Middle East | May 2013 www.constructionweekonline.com
COMMENT
Oscar Wendel considers how morals can distort our ability to reason logically
Meeting up with the speakers the night before our annual conference in Doha, I enjoyed a candid dis-cussion with men who together look after literally tens of billions of dollars in various projects that
will decide how one of the fastest-growing cities in the world will ultimately take shape. Half way through the evening one of the guys quipped that he hoped that I was not recording our conversation. It struck me that this was one of these moments where we could look back years from now and, without a sound recording, no one would be able to recall and much less admit even to ourselves, if any of our assumptions about the future would prove to be flawed.
It is fascinating that our minds are almost incapable of allow-ing us to remember any instances when we were wrong. At best, we may be able to admit to having been misinformed and been led astray in our thinking. It’s a self-defence mechanism that even has us making up completely false memories to reframe our mistakes so that they make sense and serve a purpose.
No one, not even the best and brightest, are immune from false memories. Hillary Clinton claimed on numerous occa-sions, with apparent sincerity, that she remembered landing in Bosnia under sniper fire and running with head down to a wait-ing car for cover. When footage was found of her very relaxed and peaceful arrival that day, she claimed to have misspoken.
Even worse than altering memories from our past, we suffer from similar handicaps in our failure to correctly interpret our present reality. Every day we are often unable to see plain facts, causal links or lack thereof, to anything that runs counter to our beliefs.
The TV in my office is constantly turned to CNN where Piers Morgan frequently speaks on the US gun problem. For perspec-tive: there are an estimated 300 million guns in America that won’t just disappear. Statistically, if all guns are considered equally likely to cause deaths, to reduce just one fatality you would have to retrieve 10,000 guns. Secondly, more than half of all gun fatalities are constrained to minority groups in circum-stances involving illegal drugs affecting a minuscule proportion of the US population as a whole.
Yet, these uncomfortable observations, along with the groups that are suffering the most, are simply ignored and excluded from the discussion altogether! Instead, the problem is present-
ed as impacting everyone equally. Consider that swimming pools in back yards kill more children than guns do. There you have a di-rect problem with an obvious solution that would see immediate and clearly measur-able results. Yet, I’ve never seen a campaign against private swimming pools.
While it is beside the point, I still want to clarify that I support all possible restrictions on guns. However, my reason for using this sensitive subject is to demonstrate how what we deem as morally right is often inextrica-ble from what we perceive as being factually correct and relevant. By the same token, our concept of “wrong” can distort our thinking, as our minds often fail to distinguish between being factually and logically incorrect with something that is morally wrong or unjust.
Despite living in an information age where the average person has attended college and consumes hours of news each day, we are more incapable than ever to apply rational and critical analysis. Therefore, an idea that is presented as morally normative in the eyes of the public can be sold off on that basis alone as scientific truth. The scariest part is that studying how blind spots function doesn’t help a person that much in trying to avoid them in his or her own thinking. My guess, and safest bet, is that if you instinctively feel that something is right and the people around you generally share in this feeling with you, suspect that you are suffering from some form of delu-sion or another! Clearly, Oscar Wilde was onto something when he said: “Whenever people agree with me I always feel I must be wrong”.
Oscar Wendel is the Conference Manager of Construction Week.
Matter of Fact
Come visit us atProject Qatar ‘ 13
We’re in:The German Pavilion,Hall4, Stand W 96
NEWS ANALYSIS
18 MEP Middle East | May 2013 www.constructionweekonline.com
With plans for a $35.7m LED factory in Qatar announced,
MEP Middle East examines what the implications for the
future of lighting in the region
grow rapidly ahead of the 2022 World Cup. The ministry added that the joint venture will also allow the country access to other Middle Eastern countries as the Qatar-based company plans to begin exporting LED products to other countries in 2015.
The move signifies an ongoing change in the lighting industry’s landscape. Such a substantial outlay is undoubtedly based on an expectation of healthy demand and subsequent profits, which market analysis supports. Research by independent con-sultants CSIL estimates that the market for LED lighting fixtures in the Middle East is set to reach $257m by 2015, making up 15% of the lighting industry’s income and rep-resenting a more than 300% increase from 2010 figures.
Michael Nuyttens, CEO of lighting com-pany ETAP, says that LEDs have the po-tential to revolutionise lighting as they are increasingly offering greater energy effi-ciency and longer life-spans. “LED lighting is an industry changer. There will be new technology and new companies coming into this region because of it. LED is the fast-est growing market for us in the GCC. The plans for an LED lighting manufacturing plant in Qatar show the dynamic developing in the lighting industry.”
Nuyttens also sees in the Qatari plans an acknowledgment that the LED lighting mar-ket is one which requires a local presence if it is to be fully exploited. “If you want to do a proper job with LED lighting, you need to be local,” he says. “LED lighting is more expensive than a standard lighting installa-tion, so there are more demands from cus-tomers for personal care, more follow-up, more customisation. These all require a local presence.”
Early April saw a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Seoul between a South Korean firm and a Qatari sponsor to es-
tablish the Qatar Korea LED Consortium. The joint venture will now initiate construc-tion planning for a $35.7m an LED lighting systems manufacturing facility in the Gulf state. The Qatari government will provide fi-nancial backing to the project and it is hoped that the factory will be operational by 2014.
Qatar currently imports all of its LED lighting systems due to its lack of a produc-tion facility, according to the South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The country imported $1.55m worth of LED systems in 2011 and demand is expected to
The LED enlightenment will also require electrical engineers to adapt to a new design and installation process, says Nuyttens. “At the design stage, there is a huge impact. It’s a new product so it has new challenges, new definitions and new terminology. For the installation, we like to be onsite to guide the installation team through the use of the technology. In our manuals, you will see that there are new steps to be taken in installa-tion compared to fluorescent – precaution-ary steps. It’s a challenge to make a robust design, so it has to be installed properly or you can have a critical failure.”
Contractors and consultants can there-fore expect greater interaction with a pro-ject’s lighting supplier if they choose to go down the LED route.
While it would also appear that a regional manufacturer should give the entire region more ready access to LED lighting technol-ogy, and avoid the costly lead-times which see many projects delayed as they wait for
Led by the lights
LED LIGHTING IS INCREASINGLY
OFFERING A MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT ALTERNATIVE TO
TRADITIONAL METHODS
Estimated size of the LED lighting market in the Middle East by 2015
Estimated market share of LED lighting in the Middle East by 2015
Estimated growth in market share of LED lighting systems in Middle East
from 2010 to 2015
$257m:
15%:
300%:
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NEWS ANALYSIS
May 2013 | MEP Middle East 19
European, American or Asian imports, Nuyt-tens says that such problems are not neces-sarily the norm with LED projects.
“Lead-times are dependent on the compa-ny. If you have production in hand, like we do at our company, you have a clear definition on the lead-time. But if you have to source mate-rial from different parts of the world, then it is a logistical challenge.”
As to whether the Qatari plant may herald the beginning of a widespread LED manu-facturing industry in the region, Nuyttens says that it may be some time before this is required.
“It depends on the volumes. With fluores-cent lighting, the moment it got commod-itised, manufacturing plants opened up all around the world. But, at this stage, LED is not yet commoditised. It is still in the develop-ment phase. Though having a factory here is not a disadvantage as the GCC is becoming a very important marjet and there are super-projects here to create demand.”
Lamp lumen maintenance factor for LED lighting compared to fluorescent
Burning hours (hx 1000)
Rel
ati
ve il
lum
ina
nce
(%)
0 10
100
95
90
85
80
75
70
65
6020 30 40 50 60
U7 luminaire with L97 @ 60.000h ( ETAP)
LED luminaire with L70 @ 50.000h
T5 fluorescent lamp
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THE BIG INTERVIEW
22 MEP Middle East | May 2013 www.constructionweekonline.com
MENon the
May 2013 | MEP Middle East 23www.constructionweekonline.com
THE BIG INTERVIEW
MEP Middle East meets the team at ALEMCO and finds a young and vibrant contracting company marching to its own tune
Move
Robert McDonnell is ALEMCO’s senior estimating and procurement manager and has been with company for almost five years. During that time he has seen estimating practices transformed by market conditions and is frustrated by the way some players in the MEP industry have reacted to the situation.
“The MEP market in the UAE is still very tough,” he says. “This is compounded by some reckless tendering practices by some of our competitors. These contractors get appointed on projects with prices which are way below the net value of the works and ultimately they can’t perform and can’t deliver. The client doesn’t get the quality they expected and the main contractor has to deal with major disruptions to their programme. It is a false economy as the money saved in the initial appointment gets spent on finishing and fixing the project anyway. In the last ten months we have been appointed by two major clients to intervene in three large projects to “bail out” the existing non-performing MEP contractor. These undercutting MEP companies have to understand that they are the only factor preventing the MEP market from correcting itself.”
McDonnell adds that despite this challenging market, ALEMCO will stick to its approach of quality and delivery at a fair price. “Our management style and company ethos is very different. Instead of the normal fragmented approach, our more open and realistic “can do” attitude towards our clients and main contactors actively promotes collaboration and trust throughout the project team. By cooperating with the main contractor and the project design team, we ensure that the success of the project becomes a common goal for all.”
THE PRICE IS RIGHT
24 MEP Middle East | May 2013 www.constructionweekonline.com
THE BIG INTERVIEW
Nurturing this culture of inclusivity at ALEM-CO is general manager of six years, Nathan Hanns. “In our business we have a very open approach,” he says. “We’re very technical in the decision-making process that occurs. It’s not authoritarian – the decisions are made by either board or by panel. The decisions that steer where the company is going are found-ed on fact and are the result of good decision-making based on multiple inputs.”
Hanns adds that this philosophy is not just reserved to the operations management team
n an industry where it is common to find strong, independent leaders aim-ing to provide vision and direction to their companies, it is refreshing to come across a contractor that seems to place greater emphasis on the col-lective rather than the individual. Meeting the management team at ALEMCO leaves the impression that
a group approach to MEP contracting might not just be possible, but preferable. There is a strong sense that the members of the team, while knowing that they each bring some-thing specific to the table, realise that they can only move themselves and the company forward if everyone is pulling their weight in the same direction.
We’re very technical in the decision-making process that occurs. It’s not authoritarian.“
Nathan Hanns, general manager of ALEMCO, says that the contractor works on the same principles as its parent company ALEC.
ALEMCO completed the MEP works on their Marina Plaza HQ.
Approaching his fifth anniversary at the company, Bjorn Viedge’s role as ALEMCO’s commercial manager sees him ensure that the company’s activities maximise its profitability in every way possible. While Viedge says his approach to his job is straightforward, it must be thorough and requires a keen appreciation for both opportunity and risk.
“We follow the simple approach of reducing cost, maximising revenue, managing our cash and protecting the company from unwanted risk,” he says. “This is done by ensuring that all commercial personnel on projects have an extended understanding of the MEP construction industry and have a passion for it.”
Viedge, along with the rest of ALEMCO’s management team, also promote a costing philosophy of individual responsibility, entrusting middle management with control of their team budgets.
“As management we ensure that the project teams take full ownership of the commercial management and final account margins of each project,” he says. “This is done by in-depth reviews and project dissection at tender handover stage, followed by senior management approval of the allowed expenditure in order to target the agreed margins. The project teams then work to maintain this target, as an incentive based approach.”
He adds that this tight control of costs starts with careful selection of projects based on the potential profitability of the relationships involved. “We try our utmost to ensure that the projects remain cash positive at all times by carefully selecting the right clients and the right projects with professional construction teams,” he says.
ON THE MONEY
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THE BIG INTERVIEW
April 2012 | MEP Middle East 25
at head office, but runs throughout the en-tire company. “The guys have a very open method of communication and that goes right down the line. Our contracts managers and project managers have the same open com-munication. They can pick up the phone, talk to us and ask questions. I think that’s one of the reasons the company can operate efficiently because we’re there to listen and get involved.”
This approach to contracting is said to stem from ALEMCO’s parent company, ALEC. “I’ve worked for ALEC in the past and there it was very open as well,” says Hanns. “You al-ways had direct communication with people. It didn’t matter what level they were at in the business, they were always freely available. You could go up to a director and chat, ask
him questions and he’d help you out. We’ve always had that as a business culture.”
ALEC forged what would become ALEM-CO in the fires of the construction boom, when both MEP contractors and business were in abundance. With a large design and construct project on its hands, ALEC was struggling to find an MEP contractor in the market who could provide the quick reaction
2006Year ALEC MEP was founded
I’ve worked for ALEC in the past and there it was very open as well. You always had direct communication with people. It didn’t matter what level they were at in the business.“
ALEMCO’s MEP works at Qasr Al Sarab (above) and its solar panel installation at Park Hyatt Hotel on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi.
Sean Hanns occupies the role of operations manager at ALEMCO which he describes as “focusing on the key deliverables and overall business efficiencies.” With almost six years at the company behind him, a big part of his job has been to challenge the industry’s attitude to labour and apply this to the building of ALEMCO’s workforce.
“After joining ALEC MEP (ALEMCO) in 2007, I was appalled at the amount of manpower and staff required to manage and operate a contract,” he says. “I was informed by my peers that this was the norm and that projects were delivered utilising high labour loading ratios for gross impact in lieu of a skilled ‘quality’ labour force delivering ‘on time’ and within the budgeted allowable.
“I have spent the last 6 years trying to reverse this thinking within our business and get the best from all levels of our multinational workforce. We have offered our labour some methods of bettering themselves through level-based training and allowing our staff to grow in an unhindered environment and open-minded culture.”
Hanns adds that this investment in its workforce can only further enhance the company’s growing reputation for quality and prompt delivery. “We have an excellent history of delivering difficult projects on time and in budget, and have grown popular with like-minded clients that require projects completed within specified parameters. Our strength in the industry is delivering turnkey managed projects.”
On the industry’s future, he says: “We need to embrace sustainable and efficient building practices and designs today. If not, not, the word iconic will be associated with gross negligence.”
MAN POWER
50%Turnover generated by ALEC projects
26 MEP Middle East | May 2013 www.constructionweekonline.com
time needed to deliver the project. A decision was made to carry out a lot of the project’s MEP work in-house and, from that, the com-pany’s MEP division was born.
“From that process,” says Hanns “once the resources and the availability was there, it became more of a self-performing criterion, rather more of a business because it needed to be operated and controlled as far as the cost of running it was concerned. In the 2006 to 2007 period, ALEC MEP was born for that process and the majority of the work between 2006 and 2008 was wholly within ALEC’s con-trol – self-performing on ALEC contracts to
ensure that the company delivered. The 2008 to 2009 downturn meant that we had to look elsewhere for more work, so it was agreed that ALEC MEP had operated and can oper-ate efficiently and the company was pushed into a fully-fledged standalone business.” Since then the company has grown rap-idly and is now standing firmly on its own two feet. Around 50% of ALEMCO’s busi-ness is sourced outside of ALEC, which constitutes around 30% of ALEC’s work in terms of the main contractor’s number of ongoing projects.
Hanns says that while the relationship be-tween ALEMCO and ALEC is “mutually ben-eficial”, it is important that both parties pur-sue a healthy level of business with the rest
Hanns says that his management style is far from authoritarian and that his door is always open to everyone in the company.
For ALEC’s own benefit they need to have open-share market conditions. They can’t be reliant on us, nor can we be reliant on them.“
Mohamed Al Saud is ALEMCO’s business development manager responsible for overseeing the progression of the company’s presence in Qatar. He has been with the company since July 2012 following its decision to pursue the growing opportunities which the Qatari market presents.
Al Saud says that Qatar’s current profile means that ALEMCO should be able to establish a strong base there in the coming years. “Qatar has promised to deliver a phenomenal World Cup in 2022, requiring the gulf country to invest heavily in infrastructure, culture, human rights, education and healthcare in order to shift toward a more knowledge-based economy. The scale of the 2022 World Cup will have a major positive impact on Qatar and in particular its construction industry. Now is exactly the right time for ALEMCO to be making inroads into the Qatari market,” Al Saud says.
While the Qatari market may be becoming increasingly crowded with MEP contractors all looking for a slice of the nation’s riches, Al Saud reckons that ALEMCO’s distinctive brand and solid reputation should guarantee it some healthy business in the years to come.
“As business development manager it is my job to promote ALEMCO’s vision and build relationships with select clients, developers, engineers, main contractors, suppliers and other MEP contractors in Qatar,” says Al Saud. “Although we will continue to maintain our competitiveness in the market, we will also always continue to produce high-end, quality installations for our clients. We look forward to being part of the transformation of Qatar into one of the world’s most ultramodern sporting venues and destinations,” he adds.
THE QATAR CONNECTION
May 2013 | MEP Middle East 27www.constructionweekonline.com
THE BIG INTERVIEW
of the market. “For ALEC’s own benefit they need to have open-share market conditions. They can’t be totally reliant on us, nor can we be totally reliant on them. The moment that happens, we’re no longer operating in the market.”
This mixed-economy approach has served ALEMCO well, with the company winning sufficient business in the last two to three years to solidly establish itself as an $80m (AED 300m) to $110m (AED 400m)turnover contractor. Since its inception as an independ-ent MEP contractor, it has maintained an in-ternal labour structure in the region of 1000 to 1500 internal artisans and around 200 staff.
This workforce has been maintained through a steady stream of work and Hanns says that around 70% of the company’s re-source is now assigned to its two major on-going projects. The first, the Al Falah villa project in Abu Dhabi, has been running since 2010 and comprises around 2,700 homes in total, while the other is the Dubai Air Show relocation to Dubai World Central.
While always on the lookout for new busi-ness, Hanns reluctance to trumpet growth
The team at ALEMCO say that they work as a tight-knit group which helps them deliver projects like Park Hyatt (above) efficiently.
$110mALEMCO’s peak turnover in 2010
We have a strategy in place for growth, but one thing we don’t want is to be the biggest in the market. I think that has proven to be an unsuccessful strategy for companies.“
Leading ALEMCO’s charge in Oman is MEP Manager, Steven Little. ALEMCO’s decision to start a business unit in Oman in May 2012 saw the South African-born engineer take on the challenge of winning new business in unchartered territory for the company. Little says that ALEMCO saw a hole in the market that it believed it could fill.
“ALEMCO started the process of establishing a business unit in Oman as we noticed a gap in the market for a reliable, professional, quality and results-orientated MEP contractor,” he says. “I was tasked with this and relished the challenge that lay ahead. The first year was spent establishing a reliable, competitive estimation team. Although this has seen a slower initial growth, I believe it to be fundamental in establishing trust with key suppliers and clients, which should ensure a stronger foundation and relationship with our target clients and suppliers.”
With any new arrival in a unfamiliar country, there are unexpected challenges which have to be faced. One such came in the form of the country’s current drive for Omanisation. ALEMCO and Little’s response to this has been to turn it to their advantage, rather than resist it, with the company taking measures to recruit Omani nationals in the short time it has been there.
Little says that it was important to react positively. “We have embraced the Sultanates drive for vocational training and the country’s values,” he says. “Recently we have signed up and are currently interviewing candidates for our apprenticeship scheme whereby we look to place Omani Nationals within our work force. We are confident with the training, motivation and structure we have in place that this will be a successful training plan.”
OUR MAN IN OMAN
THE BIG INTERVIEW
28 MEP Middle East | May 2013 www.constructionweekonline.com
aspirations is notable and, perhaps unusu-ally for this part of the world, he expresses a prudence that finds value in stability and a studied aversion to risk. “We have a strategy in place for growth, but one of the things that we don’t want is to be the biggest in the mar-ket,” he says. “I think that has proven to be an unsuccessful strategy for companies, not just in this market, but elsewhere. I’d say we’re happy to stay at our current level. We’re more fixed on achieving what we target, rather than achieving a turnover.”
Nevertheless, ALEMCO has recently made incursions into both Qatar and Oman. Having just entered the Qatari market in the last year, the company is in the process of establishing reliable relationships there before it takes on any major business. As for Oman, projects have already been secured, but just small enough to announce its presence without over-committing itself. Beyond this geograph-
ical net-casting, the company is also pursuing interests in sustainable energy, and is confi-dent that one such investment is on the cusp of reaping considerable dividends.
Similar rewards are hoped for once the local UAE MEP market rectifies itself after the recent ugly bout of undercutting. “The market at the moment is not sustainable as it is and it needs to right-size and rectify it-self in order to move forward. I see a change as far of the volumes of works that are be-ing announced – not necessarily in the next three to six months, but in the next year. After conversations with consultants and clients we can see some projects coming to fruition in the tendering process. Growth has started to come back into the UAE market. It’s now for MEP contractors to size back into that position.”
The market at the moment is not sustainable as it is and needs to right-size and rectify itself in order to move forward.“
70%Resource assigned to two major projects
ALEMCO positions itself as a contractor focused on delivering quality work, on time, on budget and at a reasonable price.
SITE VISITSITE VISIT
30 MEP Middle East | May 2013 www.constructionweekonline.com
May 2013 | MEP Middle East 31www.constructionweekonline.com
SITE VISIT
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SITE VISIT
CITY OFLights
One of the biggest buildings within Al Tamouh’s City of Lights complex at Abu
Dhabi’s Al Reem Island is set to complete by the end of the year. Michael Fahy pays a visit.
Abu Dhabi’s Reem Is-land is a location where plenty of eye-catching buildings have com-pleted over the past 12 months, not least the impressive-looking Gate Tower project
The area remains a hive of activity – particularly over at the City of Lights project, where several contractors are in the midst of completing a complex of 13 buildings set to be delivered within the next 18 months or so.
The tallest of these will shortly reach its topping-out stage. The C1 tower, which is linked via a podium to the C12 building earmarked for future hotel use, has already had its central core completed and the final two floor slabs are set to be finished by the middle of 2013.
The complex is being built under a design and construct contract by Brookfield Multiplex’s Middle East arm – the company which built the recently-completed JW Marriott Marquis (the world’s tallest hotel tower) as well as the tower raft for the Burj Khalifa, Emirates
May 2013 | MEP Middle East 31
SITE VISIT
32 MEP Middle East | May 2013 www.constructionweekonline.com
SITE VISIT
32 MEP Middle East | May 2013 www.constructionweekonline.com
May 2013 | MEP Middle East 33www.constructionweekonline.com
SITE VISIT
Towers and The Gate building at Dubai International Financial Centre.
The South African has spent five of his 15 years as a project manager in the Middle East, and the past two of these overseeing a team of around 1,500 people responsible for delivering this project, which has cost almost $260m (AED944m).
“The number of people we had on site probably changed at various stages but we probably peaked at around 2,000,” he said. “On average, we’ve had around 1,500 people but there was more with the structure, and we were basically working 24/7.
“The fit-out and interior works is really just on a normal weekly basis.”
The project initially started on site in 2009. Although there was a pause in its development during the financial crisis, work on the site is once again at full pace as the contractor and its project team look to deliver the site to owner Al Tamouh Investments by the end of the year.
Site manager Jose Thomas “has been with the project since day one”, says Linde, and was in charge of overseeing a substantial raft pour which has been one of its unique features.
“When we poured the tower raft, it was 11,250m³,” says Thomas. “At that time, it was the largest single pour on a raft in Abu Dhabi.”
The pour was a continuous process and
took two and-a-half days to complete. It also took place in September, so the temperature needed to be constantly monitored throughout the process.
“We had to control that both before and after the pour,” he explained.
Similarly, the raft pour for the C12 building earmarked for future hotel use involved 7,000m³ of concrete and a 23-hour pour.
The basement levels – and part of the tower podium – are dedicated for building parking. In total, project manager Mohammed Atik says there is more than 67,000m² of parking - amounting to 977
1,500Size of team on project
$260mTotal cost of project
We have a good relationship with all of the contractors that are working around us and it is quite a positive atmosphere.“
The MEP works on the City of Lights project are being installed by contractor James L Williams Middle East. Louis Linde, project manager for Brookfield Multiplex.
SITE VISIT
34 MEP Middle East | May 2013 www.constructionweekonline.com
spaces. Above that, the tower stretches to 62 floors – or around 280m.
The office tower features a grand, double height entrance with feature spider glazing. Both the office and the future hotel buildings are accessed from the same ground floor level and there is a direct link between them.
Above the feature entrance levels, there are some show areas where fittings have already been added but the bulk of the tower will be finished to shell and core.
“The interior fit-out will come at a later stage after the developer has signed up all of the
system provided by Australian firm Fabquip. It was used to create the building’s central core, which contains the lift shafts plus building amenities such as store rooms, toilets and MEP rooms.
He said that the building core has an area of 40m x 15m on each floor, which has involved a concrete pour of 400m³. Once the core is complete, slabs area cast from either side of the core – for which Brookfield Multiplex used its own table form system.
In total, some 136,700 m³ of concrete has been used, and 22,000 m³ of reinforcement.
“We poured one half and then went on to the next section, and while one half is cast we start with the columns, the formwork and all of the materials in the other half,” says Linde. “When we had a good run at it and there were no external constraints we peaked at five days per cycle,” he explains.
“Obviously, sometimes you finish on a Thursday afternoon and you can't pour that evening - you have to wait until the next workday for the municipality and the authorities to come and sign off. And then maybe there's a wind day.”
Client: Al Tamouh InvestmentsMain contractor: Brookfield Multiplex Middle EastArchitect: BSBGMEP contractor: James L WilliamsMEP consultant: Waterman
CITY OF LIGHTS C1 & C12 PROJECT TEAM
Brookfield Multiplex site managers (L-R): Louis Linde, Jose Thomas, Ireneo Santiano and Mohammed Atik
The use of BIM systems has proved invaluable - not only in terms of construction, but also as a safety tool.“
The office tower features a grand, double height entrance with feature spider glazing which is currently being installed.
The MEP contractor on the project, James L Williams Middle East, is working alongside MEP consultants, Waterman.
people that have bought into the building and they decide what how they want to finish it.
“But in terms of the structure and all of the MEP and the current works, we're making allowances for a future hotel.”
The tower has an area of 146,850m² and plot C12 earmarked for the future hotel has 92,852m².
Thomas, who spent 15 years working for the Indian government’s housing department before joining Multiplex in 2006, explains that the C1 tower has been built using the Jumpform automatic climbing
May 2013 | MEP Middle East 35www.constructionweekonline.com
SITE VISIT
Indeed, the impact of the wind on a high-rise tower which is next to a canal basin site meant the wind was something of an issue for Brookfield Multiplex – particularly as the close proximity of other buildings on the complex created a funneling effect.
“We have to co-ordinate when things happen and we have to allow for time to catch up in the later stages - or to try and get so far ahead in various elements so that if wind days do occur, it doesn't affect the whole program.”
One way around this has been to complete the core as quickly as possible and to commission the building’s 20 lifts early so that they are on standby to ferry people and materials if high winds rule out the use of external hoists.
The tight footprint of the site has caused other constraints. Until around a year ago, the firm could use the empty canal basin to bring (and store) goods close to the
The project's HVAC is powered by a system with a cooling load of 14.645 MW producing 4.165 refrigeration tonnes.
The project has seven LV panels serving its electrical needs.
14.645Project's cooling load in MW
4,165Project's cooling load in tonnes
However, this needed to be done before the canal was flooded. Moreover, since the generator is sat in the basement, it needed to be up and running before it was enclosed by the car park’s ramps.
The MEP facilities include seven LV panels serving the tower. Commissioning work is currently ongoing for the MV switchgear and for seven transformers - four x 2000kVA and three x 1500kVA.
The building has a cooling load of 14.645MW (4,165 tonnes) and there are eight recovery air handling units and three air handling units serving the building. District cooling is supplied by PAL Technology.
Some of this plant is housed in transfer rooms on levels 31 and 58, and level 31 also serves as a refuge floor designed to evacuate people above those floors in the event of a fire in the tower.
The other main constraint that the project team has had to contend with has been the fact that several of the neighbouring City of Lights sites are all being developed at the same time, alongside the area’s infrastructure works.
“It all needs to be co-ordinated in detail so that we don't fall over each other's feet and start bunching each other up,” Linde says. “We've got a good relationship with all of the contractors that are working around us and it is quite a positive atmosphere.”
MEP works and the installation of a unitised façade system envelope have been following on from the completion of the slabs and at lower levels many of the common areas and sample floors have started to be finished in stainless steel and stone, with ceramic bathroom areas.
“On the lower levels we've started to snag and de-snag and get some of the sample floors ready,” Linde said.
As work on the project’s structure draws to a conclusion, Linde said that the use of Building Information Modelling systems had proved invaluable – not only in terms of construction, but also as a safety tool. Each shift has started with a presentation to workers about the schedule that was due to take place that week, with dangers associated with taking short cuts or not wearing proper safety equipment was made clear.
“To understand what they’re doing they need to know where they’re going. So we have a meeting and we show the guys from step one what the various elements are.
“If someone doesn’t understand what the end product looks like, how can they understand what needs to be done?”
building. However, once that was flooded to form the canal the firm has had to work within greater confines. On the site itself, the hotel podium and an area looking out onto the canal have been used for storing materials and for an onsite pre-fabricating yard used to pre-cast columns, which were then lifted straight into place by the tower crane.
Ireneo Santiano, who is the site manager in charge of MEP works, explained that the tight site meant that the generator units needed to be placed in the basement.
MEP CONFERENCE PREVIEW
36 MEP Middle East | May 2013 www.constructionweekonline.com
As Doha’s Marriott Renaissance Hotel prepares to host the MEP Middle East: Qatar Conference 2013 on Wednesday 15 May, some of the speakers give us an idea of what we can expect to hear
TALKTime to
May 2013 | MEP Middle East 37www.constructionweekonline.com
MEP CONFERENCE PREVIEW
Kirk Rosenbaum, senior commissioning manager at KEO International Consultants, and conference chair on what the programme has to offer
Samsung M&E Korea and Qatar’s Arabian MEP Contracting team up to take us on a journey through metro MEP systems
The MEP Middle East: Qatar Conference 2013 will be an important event for the industry in the State of Qatar and the region. This year’s conference has a general theme that covers renewable energy and energy efficiency, and these topics will both be addressed through informative case studies and lively panel discussions. In addition, the conference will include very timely topics such as the unique challenges posed for MEP design and
This technical presentation will be made jointly by a team from Samsung M&E Korea and Qatari construction firm Arabian MEP Contracting, who have formed an integrated JV exclusively for rail project opportunities in Qatar.
Samsung C&T have 30 years of international experience in underground metro projects including Downtown Line-3 of Singapore Underground Metro, Seoul Metro, New Delhi Metro ( Phase-1 & Phase-2 ), rail depot projects in Seoul, South Korea and in Yokohama in Japan, and several underground road and tunnel projects.
Since Doha Metro projects will be on a
construction by city metro systems, the role of MEP design and engineering in project fire and life safety, as well as solutions for the design of outdoor cooling systems. These topics are directly applicable to major upcoming projects in Qatar and should provide very valuable information to all conference participants.
The conference will offer everyone a great venue for networking, and with considerable time reserved for Q&A, all participants will have
KEO's Kirk Rosenbaum will chair the conference.
M. Vasanth Kumar, CEO of Al Malki Group Qatar.
SEAT In the hot an opportunity to obtain knowledge specifically
useful for themselves and for their firms. For example, the delivery of complete, fully tested, and properly operational fire life safety systems acceptable to Qatar Civil Defence has become a major challenge in the turnover of building projects. Or, the general lack of good quality integrated design is adversely affecting construction phase progress and project turnover. The Qatar MEP Conference 2013 has panels of experts that can specifically address both of these matters and many more.
The conference speakers and panel members truly are significant to the MEP industry in the region. To name just a few of those that will take to the stage at the event, we have Fuad Habayeb, vice president of Samsung C&T’s Middle East Global Division; Vasanth Kumar, CEO, Arabian MEP Contracting; Murat Aydemir, Viessmann’s general manager for MENA; and Stephen Humphrey, Doha director at Davis Langdon.
Architecture may give a project its soul, but MEP systems give these projects their heartbeat and their breath. One facet of a project does not work without the other and it is good to see the MEP industry getting the exposure it deserves in high profile events like the MEP Middle East: Qatar Conference 2013.
“Design and Build” basis, this presentation from the above JV team will focus on challenges which an MEP contractor or consultant is likely to encounter during design or construction phase.
Samsung Korea’s MEP design expertise from international rail projects together with Arabian MEP’s local knowledge in Qatar MEP construction and logistics will form the basis of this presentation and panel discussion.
The team consists of Foud Habayeb, vice president of Samsung M&E, which is part of Samsung C&T Corporation, Korea. Fuad is a chartered mechanical engineer with over 27 years of experience in the MEP industry and a specialisation in mechanical design. He has previously worked with several global consultancy firms including Atkins, WSP, and Capita Symonds. Fuad also worked on the Makkah Metro project in KSA and on Dubai Metro project also.
He is joined by his colleague Bochan Shin who is a chartered mechanical engineer and currently deputy general manager of Samsung M&E Korea. Bochan has over 16 years of experience in the MEP construction industry. He has worked as technical and design manager on the Delhi Metro project as well as several other metro projects including Singapore Metro and South Korea Metro.
Representing Arabian MEP Contracting’s contribution to the presentation is M. Vasanth Kumar, a mechanical engineer by profession and co-founder and CEO of Al Malki Group Qatar, Arabian MEP’s parent company. He has over 25 years of experience in the MEP construction industry, 16 of which have been spent in Qatar. He has also worked in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and India.
THOUGHTTrain of
MEP CONFERENCE PREVIEW
38 MEP Middle East | May 2013 www.constructionweekonline.com
Salah Nezar, sustainability director at Qatar Project Management, explains how the Sun can shine a light on a sustainable answer to outdoor coolingThe intent of the groundbreaking scalable solution is to rebrand the outdoor environment in Qatar during the hot season so it is cool and more appealing to experience an open air activity, rather than staying inside a confined environment.
Promoting outdoor activities by providing a comfortable open air environment during the hot season will bring a healthy lifestyle to the local community and reduces some of the acute public health issues affecting the community
(particularly future generations) such as obesity, vitamin-D deficiency and asthma.
The proposed engineering approach is trying to set the path towards a zero-energy outdoor cooling solution using an environmentally-friendly refrigeration system thermally driven by solar energy. The proposed solution aligns itself with the aspiration of using a scalable, affordable and sustainable solution to ensure optimal outdoor human comfort.
In conjunction with the applicability for outdoor activity areas within public parks
Salah Nezar, sustainability director at QPM.
SUN The Cooling
and fan zones, the proposed solution has a wide spectrum of applications in the retail business such as restaurants, coffee shops and esplanades with outdoor seating or dining areas. The paramount demand for a scalable, affordable and low-operating cost solution from retailers in Souk Waqif, The Pearl and Katara is another area of application for the proposed outdoor solar-cooling solution. The request is motivated by a need to improve the business income seriously affected by the harsh climate during the hot season.
The proposed sustainable solution consists of three main components: air delivery system, refrigeration compartment and solar field. The refrigeration and solar systems will have thermal storage capacities to ensure longevity and optimal reliability.
The main challenges facing the commercialisation of the solution are as follows: relatively large size solar for installation going above 5 refrigeration tonnes; low efficiency of the refrigeration system using absorption or absorption machines; systems integration; and the most critical element which is finding engineered means to contain cool airstreams with the target zone and minimise the invasion of outdoor hot airstreams.
Husam Mohammed, senior mechanical engineer at CH2M Hill, sets out strategies towards energy-efficient ventilationMy presentation will debate a case study for a retail application where energy modelling was applied to investigate the energy consumption of the ventilation system under different design scenarios, and use of different technologies typically employed for the mechanical ventilation systems in the region.
The model shows that under its most efficient scenario the thermal peak load is reduced by 27.8% and the overall electrical consumption is reduced by 10.4%. This happens when using energy recovery ventilators along with demand-controlled ventilation and day lighting control. The presentation will show these results and break down the energy share for
each of the equipments/scenarios studied to show individual contribution. The presentation will quickly review some of the design methodologies that are recommended based on the results, and will highlight some design misconceptions. The presentation concludes
CONFIDENCEDesign with an air of
with a road map of easy to remember thumb rules to strategise any design intent.
While energy efficiency in buildings is being addressed globally to reduce the energy consumption and the emission of CO2 gases, it is critical for Qatar to carefully set the rules and building regulations, spread awareness, and complete the gap between designers in the private sector and decision makers. It is equally important to reach an holistic and comprehensive plan that ensures efficiency and sustainability is being addressed pre and post construction and throughout the building life cycle.
The purpose of this presentation is to address the importance of energy efficiency and how that can be done through one of the systems – that being the ventilation system. A collective measure of sustainable design that includes the ventilation system, chilled water production system, air conditioning system design and control, proper commissioning, operation and maintenance of the building will have a larger impact on the building’s energy use.
The presentation will show that some design approaches will yield to the improper operation of the system. It will also highlight that the indoor air quality is not compromised and accords to ASHRAE 62.1. It will also show the impact on the building’s energy consumption when the ASHRAE 62.1 design values are exceeded.
Husam Mohammed, senior mechanical engineer.
May 2013 | MEP Middle East 39www.constructionweekonline.com
Raphael Khlat, CEO of Faisal Jassim Trading, paves the way for his colleague Didier Audinot of Euroclima to speak on energy efficiency and hygiene in air-handling equipment.In the past two decades, the GCC experienced a stage of economic, financial and construction-related development that has grabbed international attention. In particular, the significant construction boom in this region and the extreme climatic desert conditions have made the GCC countries one of the largest markets for HVAC equipment in the world.
Recent years have seen the HVAC standards
in the UAE brought up to a higher level due to an increased commitment to sustainable and environment-friendly practices in the UAE's construction sector. In fact, the UAE has taken pole position in having the highest number of developments certified by LEED, with Saudi Arabia and Qatar not far behind.
We, at Faisal Jassim Trading Company (FJ) have closely followed this development. Sustainability is no longer a buzzword, but a necessity in the current business landscape. FJ is aiming to be among the pioneers not only in the UAE, but also in the rest of the GCC providing a total solution for environmental friendly HVAC systems. Focusing on being green has been one of our major tasks in the past few years and today, as we celebrate our 25 year jubilee, we are more than ever before committed to this path.
At the MEP Conference in Doha we are partnering with one of our most prestigious principals, Euroclima, who in turn celebrate 50 years history in 2013. Euroclima is one of the leading manufacturers of air handling and fan coil units in the world since 1963. The company’s slogan “Care for Better Air” can now surely be exchanged with “Care for Better and Sustainable Air” after a major research and
PLACESTrading THE SPONSORS
MEP CONFERENCE
PROJECT QATAR
40 MEP Middle East | May 2013 www.constructionweekonline.com
With this year’s instalment of Project Qatar approaching, MEP Middle East finds out what the industry can expect from its organisers, a newcomer and
a regular at the event
PROJECT QATAR
IN TOWNThe Only Show
May 2013 | MEP Middle East 41www.constructionweekonline.com
PROJECT QATAR
P roject Qatar returns to Doha Exhibition Centre on 6-9 May for what will be its tenth anniversary. That dec-ade has seen the exhibition, as well as Qatar, trans-formed into a magnet for international business. This year could well be the most
important yet for the MEP industry to make its mark at the event as the country prepares to embark on the construction of some of the major projects it has promised in the build-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. With over 2,000 exhibitors from over 50 countries set to showcase their products at this year’s event, it is sure to have much to see in the way of the latest MEP products.
Helping to organise the UAE presence at Project Qatar, Bassel Amaneddine, general
PROJECT QATAR
2,000+Number of exhibitors at 2013 event
TROX Middle East will be showcasing its products for the first time at Project Qatar and will be found at the German pavillion.
manager of event organiser IFP Emirates, says that the contribution from companies based in the UAE, will be bigger than ever. “The UAE pavilion at Project Qatar is the largest among all the international pavilions this year,” he says. “We will have around 100 exhibitors occupying a net space of 2,000m² and a gross space of 4,000m².”
He adds that, among these companies, there will be plenty for MEP professionals to attract their interest. “We will have air conditioning companies, plumbing compa-nies, and some electro-mechanical companies exhibiting there.”
Amaneddine adds that this year’s exhibi-tion is probably the most significant yet as Qatar prepares to deliver on plans for major projects throughout the country.
“The closer we get to 2022, the greater the opportunity,” he says. “Many projects have been undergoing a study process, but these processes are almost done. They are now at the activation stage and getting underway. Many companies have already received awards for some projects. 2013 will be a good year, but I think 2014 could be an even better one.”
He also agrees with the idea that Qatar represents something of a savior to UAE companies who have been struggling to re-cover lost business from the downturn. “We are hearing that when we talk to companies. Many projects were stopped in the UAE and companies struggled, so they have been look-ing at Qatar instead. But the UAE is a good base to do business from and it offers a good
infrastructure to all those companies who want to do business in Qatar.”
One such company who is establishing a presence in Qatar from its base in the UAE is TROX Middle East, which will be exhibiting in the German pavilion in what is its first visit to Project Qatar. The company, which was founded in 1951, but has had a presence in the Middle East since the mid 1970s, devel-ops components and systems for the HVAC industry. With 14 production facilities in 11 countries, and a staff of 3,650 employees in 24 countries around the globe, TROX are using the event to promote the news that it will now open its 25th subsidiary in Qatar.
Thomas Orr, managing director of TROX Middle East, says the Qatari market has much to offer his company. “TROX remain committed to the Middle East region and look forward to being part of the exciting
The UAE pavillion at Project Qatar is the largest among all the international pavillions this year.“
PROJECT QATAR
42 MEP Middle East | May 2013 www.constructionweekonline.com
Many projects were stopped in the UAE and companies struggled, so they have been looking at Qatar instead. But the UAE is a good base to do business from and it offers a good infrastructure.“
Thomas Orr, managing director of TROX Middle East, will be found with his team showcasing a range of TROX products.
opportunities that will make the 2022 World Cup and the Qatar National Vision 2030 a success.”
After reviewing the GCC and global markets, the TROX GROUP came to the con-clusion that it can add value to the industry in Qatar with its product portfolio, technical ability and precise procurement and manufac-turing strategy. The engagement of its local partner earlier in the year formally initialised their limited liability company (LLC) setup, which is on course to be complete during the second quarter of the year.
“We look forward to formally introduc-
50+Countries exhibiting at 2013 event
Bassel Amaneddine, general manager of IFP Emirates.
May 2013 | MEP Middle East 43www.constructionweekonline.com
PROJECT QATAR
Coolex will be exhibiting a range of its products at the event.
Coolex has chosen to return to Project Qatar this year because we have a new appointed authorised dealer representing our company in Qatar.“
With our global experience in successfully supplying major stadium, road and rail, hospitality, education and healthcare projects, TROX believes the timing of entering Qatar on a full-time basis and exhibiting at Project Qatar is perfect.“ing the Qatar construction industry to our innovative and diverse product portfolio, and where better to make this introduction than at Project Qatar” says Orr.
TROX will showcase items relevant to vari-ous different sectors of the industry so that each visitor to its stand can get an idea of its engineering capabilities and product quality.
Among these will be the latest in air diffu-sion products such as the AIRNAMIC and XARTO range of designer swirl diffusers that should appeal to developers, architects, interior designers and consultants. Designed with aesthetics to the fore, the diffusers aim to merge the use of innovative materials and manufacturing techniques to produce un-equalled mechanical performance in a large range of aesthetically pleasing designs that fulfil any creative or architectural concept.
TROX VAV Boxes should also be of par-ticular interest to consultants and contractors wanting to design systems with economic operation responding to the occupancy and heat load of specific zones. Orr says TROX provides numerous control and acoustic op-tions to suit specific design briefs.
The TROX Tunnel Dampers will appeal to all stakeholders in the infrastructure sec-tor – specifically the rail and metro projects, according to Orr. This damper is designed and tested to take into account the needs and
10Years Project Qatar has been running
100+UAE companies exhibiting at 2013 event
requirements of different metro and road tunnel authorities, and has been success-fully used on many road tunnel and metro projects worldwide.
Product specialists from the TROX produc-tion facilities will be available on the stand to meet customers and discuss specific products and/or projects. Orr says, “With our global experience in successfully supply-ing major stadium, road and rail, hospitality, education and healthcare projects, TROX believes the timing of entering Qatar on a full-time basis and participating in our first Project Qatar is perfect. We will be located on the German Pavilion in Hall 4 at Stand W96, and we look forward to meeting you.”
While TROX is venturing into somewhat unknown territory with its first stint to Pro-ject Qatar, refrigeration company Coolex will be taking to its stand with all the confidence of a seasoned veteran. Coolex, a technical collaboration between Kuwaiti-based Refrig-eration Industries Inc. and air conditioning manufacturer York, is an exhibition circuit regular and will be back at Project Qatar for its third visit.
Ronny Bittar, export sales manager at the company, says the company is returning to the exhibition for a special reason. “Coolex has chosen to return to Project Qatar this year because we have a new appointed au-thorised dealer representing our company in Qatar – Darwish Co.,” Bittar says.
He adds that, with Qatar’s plans in the coming decade, the country is a market that no one in the region can afford to ignore. “As the country will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, there is a huge investment programme underway as the Gulf state seeks to build the required stadiums and associated infrastructure in preparation. It is therefore a huge business opportunity for everyone in the industry.”
At the company’s stand this year, visitors will be able to find a wide array of products that cover all the Middle East markets.
Ronny Bittar, export sales manager, Coolex.
These include package air conditioning units, ducted split systems, concealed units, air-handling units and fan coils, as well Coolex’s new air conditioning package range series. Visitors can also expect a live demonstration of the company’s package unit in a special-ised booth.
Bittar says that Coolex’s products have an edge on the competition in the region. “Our products offer the latest technology imple-mented in air conditioning and refrigeration systems, with high performance, quality, functioning, as well as fast and easy instal-lation and maintenance. The products also offer electrical power saving and economy-saving,” he adds.
SUPPLIER NEWS
44 MEP Middle East | May 2013 www.constructionweekonline.com
PIPES
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
After rolling out its Energy University Hero competition across the GCC in January 2013, Schneider Electric has crowned its first winner.
The initiative seeks to award exemplary participants in the company’s virtual educa-tional programme on a quarterly basis.
Dinesh Kumar Khetani, associate main-tenance manager for Tiffany Foods, won the first Energy University Hero title. He suc-cessfully completed 36 courses over a span of three months and passed the professional energy manager (PEM) examination on January 9, 2013, with an overall score of 83%.
Khetani said: “The assessment evaluated my knowledge in the energy domain on a broad scope, covering key energy fundamen-tals including efficiency, audit, issues, sta-tistics, finance, procurement, conservation, and adopting green practices.
“I am thankful to Schneider Electric for providing a platform that enables to hone and diversify my professional skills from the comfort of my home or office and at my pace through its online Energy University.
“The portal has allowed me to pursue my passion for energy conservation and make a meaningful difference to the community I live in.”
Since its regional inception in 2011, the vir-tual university has seen registrations across the Gulf increasing by 105% with 2,057 new users. The educational platform offers more than 300 online courses in energy efficiency and data centre management focusing on in-
frastructure, industry, buildings, residential, as well as data centres and networks.
The courses are offered in Arabic and 11 other languages including English.
Turhan Turhangil, Middle East zone presi-dent for Schneider Electric, said: “Energy University is our key tool to achieving our ob-jective of empowering the community to bet-ter address the global challenges of energy and sustainability.”
Gulf Manufacturers (GM) has announced the beginning of an expansion project on its factory in 6th of October City Industrial Complex on the outskirts of Cairo. The work will add 50,000m² to
the manufacturing facility as the company responds to increasing global demand for its products from the construction sector.GM, a sister company of UAE-
based Raktherm, is also targeting a growth in market share as it aims to be the leading manufac-turer in the Middle East. Mohammed Habib, marketing
manager at Raktherm, said the expansion will complement GM’s established background in the industry as it aims to meet the market’s demands in the coming years.
GM begins Egyptian pipe factory expansion
Schneider Electric reveals first Energy University winFirst winner of energy title announced with more to be crowned later in the year
Schneider Electric’s Energy University allows students to study at their own pace in the comfort of their won home.
Energy University is our key tool to achieving our objective of empowering the community to better address the global challenges of energy and sustainability.”
“GM hopes that with its 50 years of combined experience in the plastic manufacturing indus-try, the expansion will further strengthen its position in the market. “The GM team has the unique
knowledge and experience neces-sary to meet customer’s expecta-tions a step beyond others in the field,” said Habib.
www.constructionweekonline.com
SUPPLIER NEWS
May 2013 | MEP Middle East 45
EXHIBITIONS
Two big names in the Dubai MEP in-dustry were among the hundreds of ex-hibitors at this year’s WETEX show in Dubai’s International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Al-Futtaim Engineering and Ducab both had a significant presence at the event as they sought to promote the ener-gy-efficient and sustainable side to their product portfolios.
The Al-Futtaim Group went all out to impress its green credentials upon visi-tors with a stand that covered several as-pects of its varying business interests, which included engineering, electronics and technology.
Taking 10% of the space at the exhibition, 4,000m² of 40,000m², was a standout pres-ence and had some interesting products on show in its engineering display that were of interest to the MEP industry.
Among these was a sensor faucet by TOTO that uses no electricity and does not require a battery. This is due to a self-sus-
taining design that stores power generated by flowing water passing through a small turbine. Another feat of MEP engineering on show was Al-Futtaim’s district cooling plant design which uses treated sewage ef-fluent as a water source.
S.S. Murali, general manager of Al-Fut-taim MEP and acting managing director, said the group aims to be at the forefront of green engineering: “The Al-Futtaim Group has always been very keen and forthcom-ing when it comes to sustainability and
energy initiatives. MEP contributes to en-ergy-saving and energy-consumption in a building, with air conditioning consuming about 60% of a building’s energy and light-ing about 20%. We have here solutions that save electricity as well as water.”
Dawood Bin Ozair, senior managing di-rector of Al-Futtaim Engineering, added: “All of the products and services we have displayed here are energy efficient and environmentally friendly. They either consume less water or less energy. As a group, we are branded ourselves as an environmentally-friendly company across the region.”
Ducab’s participation in WETEX was similarly prominent as it retained its spon-sorship of the event for yet another year. The cable manufacturer sought to em-phasise its role in contributing to the re-gion’s push towards energy-efficiency as the GCC commits to billions of dollars of electrical infrastructure projects over the next decade.
Andrew Shaw, managing director of Du-cab, said it was also a great opportunity to strengthen existing business relationships as well as potentially establish new ones. “WETEX is a very utilities-orientated exhi-bition and DEWA, which has a large pres-ence here, is a very substantial customer of ours. Siemens, which is next door to us at the event, and Qatar Electricity, are also big customers. It ’s a very good chance to meet with old and new customers alike,” Shaw said.
Dubai-based duo mop up more business at WETEX eventAl-Futtaim and Ducab take to the stand to promote sustainable products
Great Amr Ibn El As Mosque has 43 mixers and 14 faucets
S.S. Murali and Dawood Bin Ozair of Al-Futtaim.
Great Amr Ibn El As mosque in Cairo has had a Grohe refit.
WATER-EFFICIENCY
As part of its Green Mosque initia-tive and in coordination with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs in the Egyptian capital Cairo, Grohe has replaced 43 mixers and 14 faucets in the Great Amr Ibn El As Mosque.Mixers and faucets in the
mosque’s ablution rooms were replaced with Grohe products with adjustable flow limiters for the purpose of minimising water wastage during ablution. The new mixers have also been installed in
the central courtyard area.Representatives from the sani-
tary fittings firm provided training to the mosque’s technical team on how to set up and use the new mixers. Both Grohe and the mosque management will continue to monitor the water meters inside the mosque in order to track the success of the installation.This installation is part of the
Grohe Green Mosque initia-tive, launched in the Middle East in 2009.
Grohe aids water-saving in Egyptian mosque
PRODUCTS
46 MEP Middle East | May 2013 www.constructionweekonline.com
New products come on to the market at a great rate. While many shout about their innovation or competitive pricing, it can be difficult to spot the true merit of a product without the right information. MEP offers a few top tips that are always worth keeping in mind when purchase orders are on the way.
TOP TIPS
1. FOCUSKnow what you are looking for and exactly what you
need it to do
2. RESEARCH Get suppliers to provide
detailed product information based on your
specific requirements
3. PRICE VERSUS...Is price the most important
factor?
4. ...QUALITYOr will quality matter more
in the long run?
5. IS IT NEEDED?Is the product something the project really needs?
Could it be done without or bought at a later stage?
6. SUSTAINABILITYDoes this product need to
be ‘green’?
7. STANDARDSDoes the product need to conform to any specific
standards?
8. SHIPPING Will the product make it to site on time, or is there an
order backlog?
9. LIABILITYHow long will your
company be liable for the product’s performance?
10. SORTEDWill this purchasing
decision sort the job or will it come back to haunt you?
Product focusMEP Middle East reviews the latest gadgets, essential kit and serious product innovations making an impact in the GCC construction market. Let us know if there is something you would like to see on these pages.
CYCLO VAC
Over the last 45 years, Cyclo Vac’s commitment to research and development has created high-standard, quality central vacuums which have revolutionised the industry. Some of the many advantages of the Cyclo Vac central vacuum system include: indoor air quality, quietness due to its unique design, efficiency and ease of use. Distributed by Khalifa Saeed Al Gaizi General Trading, Cyclo Vac central vacuum machines can be used with a bag or, to save money in the long-run, without. Its patented carbon dust filter, unique worldwide, captures the fine black dust produced by the motor, which would normally be deposited
on surfaces surrounding the central vacuum unit. Ideally, the system is installed during the construction stage, but can also be fitted in existing buildings.
COOLEX ROOFTOP PACKAGESCOOLEX Rooftop packages are high-efficiency products designed specifically for tropical operation up to 125 °F ambient temperature without tripping and with high performance. They offer low power consumption (1.4 kW/T.R @ 118.4 °F ambient) with easy installation, advanced microprocessor controller and low noise operations. These are factory run-tested, produced in an ISO 9001-2000 listed manufacturing facility, constructed in compliance with ASHRAE 15 safety requirements and UL listed. Quality and efficiency make COOLEX units the preferred choice for cooling systems in commercial and industrial applications. COOLEX is the pioneer manufacturer of air conditioning in Kuwait since 1986, offering high standards, competitive pricing and a wide array of
products (Package A/C, Ducted split, Concealed, Chillers, AHU, Fan coil) covering all Middle East market needs.
MAGICMagiCAD is one of the leading global BIM solutions for HVAC and electrical design. More than 15,000 licenses are in use worldwide and it is growing quickly in the Middle East. MagiCAD enables MEP design using Europe’s largest product model database, featuring hundreds of thousands of actual products from leading manufacturers across the globe. Each model within the database comes complete with accurate dimensions and comprehensive technical data. MagiCAD offers localisation for different country-specific standards, and is used by major contractors and designers in a variety of projects across the world.
www.cyclovac.com
LEADING TECHNOLOGY CONTRACTOR FROM TURKEY We apply the most advanced technologies and systems in our expertise areas of Complete MEP Services for Buildings and Facilities, Building Automation & Security Systems, Turn-key Media & TV Broadcasting solutions, Turn-key IT solutions and Turn-key Hospital Equipment & Medical Devices. Since 1997 we have completed hundreds of projects succesfully to the satisfaction of our Clients in Turkey, Russia, Kazakstan, Iraq, Azerbaijan and other countries. Please ask for our Reference Contracts and Digital Catalogues for more details.
• Istanbul • Astana • Sochi • New York • Dubai • Doha • Jeddah +90.530.144.7303 +974.7726.4371 [email protected] www.akfaholding.com
THE LAST WORD
48 MEP Middle East | May 2013 www.constructionweekonline.com
Infinova ensures complete support to an integrator from design till execu-tion and continuing this relationship with prompt after sales support to our partner as well as the end user. Infinova sales and technical support team works in close coordination with its partners, right from the de-sign stage of the project, demo for the product, mapping the decision makers and ensuring to create a win-win situation with all the stakehold-ers. We have so far ensured that the products sold are backed up by our strong after sales support team, with our availability of local repair centres to minimise the down time of the sys-tem and speed up the RMA process of the equipments.
What advantages does Infinova’s video management software offer the industry?Infinova 2217 Security Management System is a high end VMS software with built-in video analytics module, being used at several medium and large size deployments all over the globe. Infinova V2217 carries fea-tures which are equivalent or better
than our competition. The design for V2217 is extremely user friendly and is targeted for simplicity in usage. Hence it has only two main modules: server software (which is integrated software with VMS, video record-ing, video streaming, video analytics modules all available together); and client software which is used on op-erator workstations for monitoring, browsing and report generation. Our VMS supports 47 languages and is integrated with 48 different camera makes/series. It provides support for ONVIF compliant video sources and our server application can run on virtual machine platforms.
How do you see video security systems changing in the next de-cade?A unified solution which would com-bine CCTV, access, fire, PIDS, public address, visitor management system and building management systems, all on a single platform. This would involve integration across different brands and proprietary solutions be-ing migrated to an open non-proprie-tary solution.
Nitin Amin, marketing manager for India, Middle East and Africa at Infinova, on the changing picture in video security system technology and how it can benefit the MEP industry
What are the major consider-ations when designing a video security system for a building?Video surveillance design is primar-ily dependent on the following fac-tors: areas of concern and the inten-tion of surveillance for the user; the selection on the type of cameras and the lenses, with selection criterion based on area of coverage, distance to be covered, illumination of the cov-erage area, height of installation and atmospheric conditions; the number of cameras to efficiently monitor the desired area of coverage, with organ-isations nowadays opting for high definition and megapixel cameras over standard-resolution cameras, which results in a related savings on the number of cameras, infrastruc-ture and labour cost; selection of a digital or an analogue based security system considering the feasibility, scalability and flexibility of the sys-tem as desired by an organisation; primary servers, redundant server and storage configuration, with stor-age selection to be varied from basic DAS to enterprise-level NAS or SAN; the VMS software which should have the capability to integrate multiple brands of cameras, support various video analytical scenarios and mul-tiple languages.
What typical challenges or dif-ficulties do electrical engineers face in the design and installa-tion processes of video security systems?The most common challenge faced during the designing of a surveillance system is the selection of cameras. One can easily select a camera based on its width or area of coverage, but also can be easily deceived by not judging the height of installation, the lux level of the coverage area dur-ing daylight and night scenario, and atmospheric conditions which the camera would have to withstand all year round. For example, selection of a camera housing with heater-blower becomes critical to protect the cam-era from dust, water or salt-water air. Secondly, improper cable selection or cable laying guidelines affects the performance, which results in blurred video. Lastly, video analyt-ics application on selective cameras can be a challenge as it can generate false alarms incase the cameras are wrongly aligned or installed.
What is Infinova’s level of involvement in the design and installation process after sales?Infinova promotes itself as an inte-grator’s manufacturer. It implies that
Infinova promotes itself as an integrator’s manufacturer.“
PLAYERVideo
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxNitin Amin, marketing manager at Infinova.
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Delivering MEP construction excellenceProviding MEP specialist construction to the building industry since 1976
Habtoor Leighton Specon has successfully delivered a number of prestigious projects throughout the UAE and Qatar.
Our team of highly quali ed engineers and key management personnel bring vast knowledge and experience in MEP Construction, Design, Supervision, Service and Maintenance.
We have successfully delivered MEP multi-disciplined projects for both the public and private sector, including hotels, airports, hospitals, universities, sports facilities and residential towers.
We pride ourselves in providing clients with timely execution, high quality, competitive-ness and excellent after-completion service.
