SOLARTECH DEVELOPS PIONEERING PHOTOVOLTAIC CAR PORT SYSTEM FOR WALTHAM FOREST COUNCIL

SolarTech Ltd, one the UK’s leading renewable energy specialists, has designed and installed an innovative new photovoltaic (PV) carport system for Waltham Forest Council, thought to be one of the first of its kind to be used to generate electricity by a Borough Council.

The bespoke system of mono and dual wing cantilever solar carports was specially designed for the Council staff car park adjacent to Juniper House in Walthamstow, as there was insufficient space to accommodate a conventional PV system on the roof of the building.

Not only do the solar carports provide cover for 17 vehicles, without any reduction of the existing car parking space, but the 27kWp PV arrays can also generate approximately 21,600 kWh worth of solar energy per year. This can be used to provide free electricity for the Council office buildings, whilst generating a significant income from the Government’s “Feed-in tariff” scheme that pays an enhanced rate for this electricity (even if it is used by the Council).

There is also the option of integrated electric car chargers, which could help encourage the use of electric vehicles in the future.

As principal contractor, SolarTech was responsible for the delivery of the bespoke designs, including structural calculations and planning applications, through to fabrication, supply and installation of the arrays, all of which were completed within a limited five week time frame. The company is also providing a maintenance contract.

“This is a highly innovative and cost effective solution, which has made the most of our available space to produce renewable energy on-site, whilst helping reduce CO2 emissions, and demonstrating the Council’s ongoing commitment to a greener future through investment in renewable technologies,” said Trevor Brown, Project Coordinator for Waltham Forest Council.

SolarTech has also delivered a number of conventional solar PV arrays for the rooftops of the surrounding civic buildings in support of the Council’s ongoing strategy to provide energy from renewable sources across the Borough.

“Our ‘Sola-Port’ solar car ports are an excellent investment for local Councils, or anywhere that offers extensive car parking facilities, as they supply free solar electricity, as well as earning additional income from the Government’s feed in tariff scheme, which can then be reinvested into projects for the benefit of the community,” said Shaun Taylor, managing director of SolarTech.

SolarTech has extensive experience of working with both public and private sector organisations. The company offers a wide choice of renewable technology solutions from photovoltaic (PV) electricity, including solar car port options, solar hot water, through to biomass, ground and air source heat pumps and wind power, which can be fully integrated and tailored to meet the specific needs of clients and individual projects.

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Insulslab SFRC Launches Approved Installer Network

Following the rapid adoption of Insulslab SFRC by a series of national housebuilders, an Approved Installer Network has been launched that will provide access to a team of fully trained, highly efficient and extremely competitive ground engineers who are qualified to work with the Insulslab system.

Insulslab SFRC is a fully integrated and super insulated foundation system that has been proven to deliver time and cost savings on-site whilst achieving superior levels of thermal insulation. Constructed of interlocking expanded polystyrene (EPS) pods, Insulslab SFRC is simply laid in place to form a rigid waffle shaped slab, with steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC) then poured on top to deliver the foundation up to ground floor slab level.

Since its UK launch, BBA-approved Insulslab SFRC has grown in popularity with developers as it significantly increases speed of build, supports the thermal performance of buildings and has significant savings over traditional, deep trench and pile foundations. In response to this demand, Insulslab SFRC has developed the national Approved Network to further increase the efficiency of build for developers.

Andrew Orriss, Insulslab SFRC, explains: “Whilst an Insulslab SFRC technical engineer attends the start of all new developments where the system is used, we recognised that by having a pre-approved network of ground engineers nationwide, we will remove the vulnerability of on-site training at the start of each project. Instead, there will now be fully trained ground engineers able to hit the ground running.”

As a new programme, the Insulslab SFRC Approved Network represents an opportunity for established ground engineers to diversify their service offering and achieve competitive advantage. As a fast-track method of construction which supports sustainable insulation targets, Insulslab SFRC is set to triple in volume in the next three years.

Andrew Orriss continues: “Ground engineers who achieve accreditation early on will be at a distinct advantage over those that continue to only offer traditional groundwork services. Becoming an Approved Insulslab SFRC Installer will essentially set them apart from the competition and potentially open up new routes to work with some of the UK’s major housebuilders.”

To achieve Approval, ground engineers will need to undertake a comprehensive induction with Insulslab and SFRC manufacturer, Arcelormittal. Following on from this theory based workshop, a series of on-site inspections must be completed with Approval reviewed annually. As a nationwide network, Insulslab SFRC will provide approved ground engineers with opportunities to tender for local Insulslab SFRC projects direct with the developer or main contractor.

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FAST & iase EXHIBITIONS OCTOBER 2012

Bolt it or bond it? Rivet it or clinch it? Drill it or self-pierce it? Assemble it for subsequent disassembly or put it together forever? When it comes to fastening and bonding in engineering or industrial applications there is only one exhibition dedicated exclusively to the subject – the FAST & IASE events being held at the National Motorcycle Museum on October 18th this year. The Fastening & Assembly Solutions and Technology exhibition focuses on ‘mechanical’ fastening and assembly, and the Industrial Adhesives and Sealants Exhibition does likewise in the field of adhesives.

Here, visitors can discover and discuss all the latest new products, processes and methods to have emerged recently in the field of fastening, bonding and assembly for manufacturing applications. From electronics and electrical equipment manufacture to aerospace and automotive and everything in between, this is the event that helps the UK’s leading engineers and brightest manufacturers continue to innovate, improve quality and drive down costs. Got a fastening or assembly related problem? Bring your drawings and/or parts and discuss the variety of options with some of the UK most experienced application experts!

Positioned just outside the NEC the National Motorcycle Museum will again play host to FAST & IASE with abundant free parking, and the organisers have also arranged for a free bacon roll and brew to be waiting for all pre-registered visitors on arrival, as well as a free museum pass otherwise priced at £8.95.

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Sheehan’s opens new construction & demolition recycling plant plus holds open days

Sheehan’s opens new construction & demolition recycling plant plus holds open days : 11th to Friday 14th September 2012

Oxford based Sheehan Haulage & Plant Hire, in conjunction with CDE Global, is holding a series of open days from the 11th to 14th September 2012, to showcase its newly commissioned construction & demolition waste recycling plant.

With sustainability and recycling high on the agenda of Government and Local Authorities across the UK, Oxford based public works and civil engineering contractors, Sheehan Haulage & Plant Hire, recently installed a new construction & demolition waste recycling plant.

The new multi-million pound facility, which was more than five years in the planning, was manufactured, installed and commissioned in June 2012 by CDE Global, the world leading supplier of washing equipment for quarries and mines, at Sheehan’s 150 hectare ‘Dix Pit’ recycling site on the outskirts of Stanton Harcourt in Oxfordshire.

As a result of the investment, 100,000 tonnes per year of construction & demolition waste from Oxford and the surrounding areas will be diverted from landfill and turned into high value construction aggregates, recycled sands and sub soil. The facility will be used to process construction, demolition and excavation waste from Sheehan’s own projects with additional waste being accepted from as far afield as Greater London. The output is turned into re-useable materials for future construction projects – 50% of which Sheehan’s currently uses on its own projects.

The new CDE Global waste recycling plant is able to process general building rubble, excavation and demolition material into a range of clean aggregates and shingles. These include 3.3mm, 6mm, 10mm, and 40mm grades, which primarily can be used for pipe bedding, with ranges of washed general building sand, fine grade soil and vibro piling material also being produced. In addition, the plant is able to remove other erroneous matter, including wood, plastics and metals which are then sent on for further recycling, while extracted water is reused and re-cycled as part of the washing process.

“Sheehan’s is striving to be better environmental stewards, and we endeavour to sustain natural resources wherever possible,” states Tara Sheehan, Financial Director of Sheehan Haulage & Plant Hire. “By processing all of our own construction & demolition waste and increasing the volume of local third party waste, we are already able to produce and supply recycled sand and sustainable aggregates to many local companies, in addition to meeting much of our own requirements for construction materials in the region.”

The construction & demolition waste is initially loaded into a feed hopper of the CDE Global solution and ferrous material is removed by an overband magnet and pre-screened to remove other erroneous material. Following an initial rinsing through an Aggmax™ unit to liberate sand particles, these are then sent to an Evowash™ unit for the first washing phase. Larger pre-screened material is then sent to the Rotomax™ logwasher for scrubbing and material is discharged to a dewatering screen, with further liberated sand particles recovered for final aggregate rinsing.

The screened and washed aggregate is then discharged to the triple deck Prograde™ that grades aggregates into 5-10mm / 10-20mm / 20-40mm / +40mm material. Waste water is re-cycled and filtered through the Aquacycle™ thickener with silt particles being removed and the waste sludge sent to a concrete buffer tank. Further filtering that creates a filter cake of approximately 90% dry solids content and all residual water is recycled back to the washing plant.

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Kier welcomes students to help expand environmental initiatives

Repairs and maintenance provider Kier welcomed two university students to further extend the work its team does to be environmentally conscious, while carrying out work for social housing tenants across Lincolnshire.

The new recruits, Freddie Bell and William Green, both aged 20 and from the Boston area, are working with the Kier team to help develop a strategy of environmentally friendly work practices and cultural change while gaining invaluable on-site experience.

By carrying out home visits alongside Kier employees, meeting with work schedulers and analysing data including fuel costs, mileage and productivity, Freddie and William have begun to understand the nature and implications of working within such a large team. Both have been working with Kier management to develop strategies to enhance the behaviour of team members, for example how to plan the most efficient routes between jobs in order to reduce fuel consumption.

Freddie, who is currently studying at Brunel University London, commented: “With the job market being in its current state, it has never been more important for students to enhance our understanding of the work environment and to gather valuable experience. This placement allows me to put into practice the analytical skills my degree has taught me, and to apply what I’m learning into a busy work environment.”

William, who studies at the University of Birmingham, expressed: “I wanted to do the work placement as it gave me the opportunity to work on a live project with Kier. This has allowed me to not only develop my project management skills, but has taught me how to collate and learn new information quickly."

Kier senior operations manager in Boston, Heidi Thompson, said: “At Kier we strive to provide valuable work experience placements for young people to help them find a way in to what is currently a very competitive job market. The ideas and initiatives William and Freddie have already devised are really strong and we feel their fresh outlook on the challenges our business faces and will support our drive to reduce carbon and be a more environmentally friendly business.”

In the first year of the five-plus-five-year contract in Boston, Kier carried out more than 15,000 repairs on local homes, over 2,000 of which were emergencies. The company, which employs 80 staff from within the Boston, Lincoln, Grimsby and Nottingham areas, is also providing benefits to the local community.

Earlier this year, four Kier employees in Boston embarked on a 33-mile sponsored cycle ride from Lincoln to Boston for the company’s nominated charity, The Butterfly Hospice, to help raise enough money for the hospice to achieve its goal of opening to patients by September 2012.

Despite the bad weather, the team (joiner Pete Booth, team leader Dean Brookes, customer services team leader Trisha Sweeney, and operations manager Bob McMath) raised an impressive total of £770 for the charity.

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Benchmark Building Supplies becomes latest NIA Affiliate Member

Benchmark Building Supplies, based in Greater Manchester, has become the latest company to take up Affiliate Membership of the National Insulation Association (NIA).

Bev Coombe, Membership and Communications Manager commented: “we introduced the new Affiliate Membership category last October in order to accommodate the growing number of applications from organisations who were not directly involved in the installation or manufacture of insulation products. With the introduction of Green Deal/Energy Company Obligation next year Affiliate Membership is proving extremely popular and costs only 70p per day!”

The benefits of becoming an Affiliate Member include the following:

-Company details listed on the NIA public website
-Access to the members only area of the website
-Regular e-briefs on policy, industry news and events
-Monthly E-News
-Use of Affiliate logo

Affiliate Membership is open to organisations such as:

-Charities
-Trade Associations
-Component Suppliers
-Membership Service Providers
-Suppliers to the Industry
-Companies involved in the construction industry but are not installers or manufactures of insulation products
-Companies involved in Environment Services

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Timber Expo 2012 to focus on importance of correct specification, installation and maintenance of passive fire protection products within timber frame construction

Chiltern International Fire (CIF) will be exhibiting at Timber Expo 2012 as an official show partner, this year highlighting the importance of passive fire protection.

Visitors to CIF’s stand will get an overview of the range of services the company offers, including its redeveloped fire resistance testing facilities and training opportunities. The particular focus this year will be on the importance of correct specification, installation and maintenance of passive fire protection products within timber frame construction and how CIF can help companies ensure they meet the required standards.

In addition, Peter Barker will be presenting on Passive Fire Protection during the afternoon of the 25 September in Theatre 2. This will be based on one of the company’s popular training days.

Mark Cummings, Deputy Technical Manager, said: “Timber Expo is an excellent platform to demonstrate our expertise on fire-related issues, to meet clients – established ones as well as potential new ones – and to really be part of the exhibition by presenting topical seminars.”

Other activity CIF is undertaking at the exhibition is:

‘Fire Protection Measures – Understanding Your Responsibilities’ – a half day seminar on the morning of the 25 September, in the Aylesford Lounge, Floor 2 of the Ricoh Arena. This is being run in association with ASFP, FPA, BM TRADA Certification and legal firm Browne Jacobson. It will be a free event and delegates will also be able to visit Timber Expo in the afternoon.

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Geotechnical solutions can help reduce carbon emissions of the construction and civil engineering industries

The continuing battle by the British Aggregates Association (BAA) to protect its members’ interests against the UK’s Aggregate Levy, which it has termed a ‘stealth tax’, may have recently received a favourable recommendation from the European Court of Justice, but the so-called victory is not endorsed by all interested parties, points out Tensar International.

“The construction and civil engineering industries are trying to establish a much greener image,” commented Ian Fraser, Tensar’s UK Sales Director. “This could represent a backward step at a time when environmental campaigners are questioning the carbon emissions involved in conventional construction techniques, as well as the extraction of natural resources.

“Perhaps the BAA will also help develop ways to engineer roads, embankments and rail ballast, which are all traditionally high users of quality aggregates, more sustainably to help offset any negative aspects of their actions.

“Geotechnical solutions, such as the geogrids we introduced to the industry and have recently revolutionised with TriAx™, are an established method of reducing carbon emissions,” Fraser continues. “This can be demonstrated with civils applications where aggregate use can be reduced by up to 40% or more, cutting down vehicle journeys and plant use; whether the aggregate attracts a levy or not.

“Substitution of lower grade or recycled aggregates, or even site spoil, crushed concrete and pit slag has been very successfully used for road sub-bases such as at Glasshoughton, Wakefield, Yorkshire. Carbon emission calculations show that up to 50% of carbon emissions can be saved by use of TriAx™ geogrids.”

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£40 Million Scheme At No.1 Kingsway completed by ISG

A challenging £40 million mixed-use project for developer, UK & European Developments, at the prestigious No.1 Kingsway address in London’s West End, has been successfully completed by ISG . The technically complex programme saw the demolition of much of the existing building with the retention of just the Aldwych and Drury Lane elevations and the addition of two new floors of accommodation – achieved without an increase in the building’s overall height.


The original eight-storey building, in a conservation area close to Holborn, was actually two structures grafted together creating accommodation with inconsistent floor levels throughout. ISG’s brief was to increase the overall gross internal area of the building, without extending upwards, to deliver high specification retail, commercial office and residential accommodation.

Retaining the two façades of the imposing building and carefully demolishing the remaining structure, ISG employed a post tensioned internal concrete frame structure, resulting in slender floor slabs that achieved greater spans than other methods and enabling the creation of the additional two-storeys of accommodation. The existing basement was rebuilt and reconfigured to form a residents’ car park, complete with a car lift to ground floor level. The remainder of the basement has also been transformed into back of house and kitchen facilities for Delaunay, a European style brasserie on the ground floor of the building, a sister restaurant to the iconic Wolseley restaurant in Piccadilly, covering more than 13,000 sq ft.

A key element of the project was enhancing the sustainable credentials of the building and No.1 Kingsway has recently been awarded a BREEAM excellent environmental performance rating. The use of high performance building materials, allied to a state-of-the-art building management system and highly efficient mechanical and electrical services have all contributed to this excellent environmental standard.

ISG has delivered 105,000 sq ft of open plan office accommodation over eight floors, fitted out to a Cat A standard and with a grand reception area at ground floor level. At the eighth floor slab level, a two-storey Portland stone rotunda that was previously dismantled, repaired off site and stored, has been reintroduced to the building and now forms a three bedroom luxury apartment. A further six apartments have been created around a landscaped central courtyard area – all affording breath-taking panoramic views of London.


ISG’s Stuart Deverill, managing director - London, said: “The successful delivery of this project is testament to the skill and expertise of our experienced project team, especially given the technical complexities, tightly constrained and busy nature of the site. The building is an outstanding success and we are justifiably proud of our hard work bringing this development to fruition alongside all our project partners.”

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‘O’ RINGS SWEETEN SOUR GAS PROCESSING

The Dupont™ Kalrez® Spectrum™ 6380 is a non-black sealing product, that has been specifically developed for chemical processing applications involving hot and aggressive amines. Amine plants are operated throughout the world, typically in oil refineries and gas plants for the removal of H2S (hydrogen sulphide) from a product stream such as natural gas. New sources of oil and natural gas fields in the Middle East can incorporate up to 30% of H2S which is known as ‘sour gas’. However, the new, stricter environmental standards require ever decreasing contents of H2S, and the process of removing this contaminant from natural gas is commonly referred to as sweetening.

H2S is highly toxic and needs to be handled with care as it can cause embrittlement in metal equipment. Together with the harsh chemical environments and high temperatures that amine processes operate under, destructive swelling can occur with conventional elastomeric sealing components including fluoroelastomers (FKM) and perfluoroelastomers (FFKM). Loss of mechanical properties and extrusion of O-ring seals can result, leading to leakage and increased valve operating torques where seal face deformation has also occurred.

These problems have led to the development of the Kalrez® Spectrum™ 6380 range by Dupont™, designed to provide extended seal performance and operating life for applications in chemical and hydrocarbon processes involving hot, aggressive amines, strong acids and oxidising media. The extension to MTBR (Mean Time Between Repairs) of valves and pump mechanical seals, together with process leakage reduction helps to reduce maintenance costs while also lowering emissions. Typically the tripling of seal service life to one full year of trouble-free operation has been achieved for current users.

Identified by their cream colour, these products are suitable for both static and dynamic sealing, and together with other specialised sealing products in the Kalrez® Spectrum™ range, are all available in the UK from Dichtomatik Ltd, an authorised Dupont™ distributor.

In test results the Kalrez® Spectrum™ 6380 perfluoroelastomer products exhibit outstanding resistance to amines and strong oxidisers, exhibiting 10 – 15 times lower swell compared to FKM and four times lower swell over general purpose FFKM sealing items. The products are also suitable for continuous use at temperatures up to 225°C, with occasional excursions at even higher temperatures for short durations. They can be supplied in standard AS568 and metric sizes, with custom O-ring sizes and other shapes also available.

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What are the IS codes used for Clay and Stabilized Soil products for Construction?

Following are the IS codes which are used for Clay and Stabilized Soil products for Construction. It includes standardization in the field of burnt, unburnt clay and stabilized soil products for construction.

IS 654:1992 Clay roofing tiles, mangalore pattern – Specification.

IS 1077:1992 Common burnt clay building bricks – Specification

IS 1464:1992 Clay ridge and ceiling tiles – Specification

IS 1478:1992 Clay flooring tile – Specification

IS 1725:1982 Specification for soil based blocks used in general building construction

IS 2117:1991 Guide for manufacture of hand-made common burnt clay building bricks

IS 2180:1988 Specification for heavy duty burnt clay building bricks

IS 2222:1991 Specification for burnt clay perforated building bricks

IS 2248:1992 Glossary of terms relating to clay products for buildings

IS 2690(Part 1):1993 Burnt clay flat terracing tiles- Specification : Part 1 Machine made

IS 2690(Part 2):1992 Burnt clay flat terracing tiles – Specification : Part 2 Hand made

IS 2691:1988 Specification for burnt clay facing bricks

IS 3367:1993 Burnt clay tiles for use in lining irrigation and drainage works – Specification

IS 3495(Part 1-4):1992 Methods of tests of burnt clay building bricks:
Part 1 Determination of compressive strength
Part 2 Determination of water absorption
Part 3 Determination of efflorescence
Part 4 Determination of warpage

IS 3583:1988 Specification for burnt clay paving bricks

IS 3951(Part 1):2009 Specification for hollow clay tiles for floors and roofs Part 1 Filler type

IS 3951(Part 2):2009 Hollow clay tiles for floors and roofs-Specification: Part 2 Structural type

IS 3952:1988 Specification for burnt clay hollow bricks for walls and partitions

IS 3978:1993 Manufacture of burnt clay Mangalore pattern roofing tiles – Code of practice

IS 4885:1988 Specification for sewer bricks

IS 5454:1978 Methods of sampling of clay building bricks

IS 5779:1986 Specification for burnt clay soling bricks

IS 6165:1992 Dimensions for special shapes of clay bricks

IS 7556:1988 Specification for burnt clay jallies

IS 8920:1978 Methods for sampling of burnt clay tiles

IS 11650:1991 Guide for manufacture of common burnt clay building bricks by semi-mechanized process

IS 13317:1992 Clay roofing country tiles, half round and flat tiles – Specification

IS 13757:1993 Burnt clay fly ash building bricks – Specification

This Indian Standard Code list for Clay and Stabilized Soil products for Construction is updated as on January 31, 2012 on engineeringcivil.com. We have tried to list all Indian Standard Codes for Clay and Stabilized Soil products for Construction, but might have missed a few. If you know any code which we have missed, just comment below and help us add it in this list.

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Shotcrete Mix Designs

Following are two typical mix designs for shotcrete, one for dry process and one for wet process.As a fact concrete, shotcrete production is a “local” business, the admixture product range may differ from one country to another. And this especially due to the type and quality of cement.

Dry process

Quantities in bulk as dry process
Cement 350 kg.
Sand and Aggregate: 1650 kg (58% Water: to be added at the nozzle with at leas 2 bars more pressure than delivery pressure but not less than 5 bars
Accelerator:
Powder type Sigunit D 54 AF (3 to 6%) to be added while mixing dry component at the BP as long as moisture of plain mix is < 5%. Mix to be used within the 2 hours. Or direct dosage by hand in the hopper Liquid type: Sigunit L 54 AF or Sigunit L 553MY (as well non caustic accelerator). L 54 AF or L 53 MY as alternative of L14AF as show a higher Specfic Gravity then L14AF)

Wet process

 (typically 5 MPa after 8 hours, > 30 MPa at 28 days = underground preliminary support concept)
Cement: 470 kg/m3 (min if PCB = blended cement is considered)
W/C < 0,45
Sikament 163EX: 1,0 to 1,2%
Sand & Aggregate: 1650 – 1700 kg/m3 (58% < S/A < 65%)
Only Liquid type: Sigunit L 54 AF or Sigunit L 553MY (as well non caustic accelerator)
Liquid dosing unit eg Aliva AL 403 required as accelerator added at the nozzle or 3 m back from nozzle.

Note: depending on equipment use, required slump when discharging should be about 180 mm for rotor machine and about 150 for pump. Therefore the dosage of SM 163 EX in combination with a W/C < 0,45 and suitable grading curve should be adjust to obtain this slump.

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Resolution of Construction Contract Disputes

Once a construction contract is reached, a variety of problems may emerge during the course of work. Disputes may arise over quality of work, over responsibility for delays, over appropriate payments due to changed conditions, or a multitude of other considerations. Resolution of contract disputes is an important task for project managers. The mechanism for contract dispute resolution can be specified in the original contract or, less desireably, decided when a dispute arises.

The most prominent mechanism for dispute resolution is adjudication in a court of law. This process tends to be expensive and time consuming since it involves legal representation and waiting in queues of cases for available court times. Any party to a contract can bring a suit. In adjudication, the dispute is decided by a neutral, third party with no necessary specialized expertise in the disputed subject. After all, it is not a prerequisite for judges to be familiar with construction procedures! Legal procedures are highly structured with rigid, formal rules for presentations and fact finding. On the positive side, legal adjudication strives for consistency and predictability of results. The results of previous cases are published and can be used as precedents for resolution of new disputes.

Negotiation among the contract parties is a second important dispute resolution mechanism. These negotiations can involve the same sorts of concerns and issues as with the original contracts. Negotiation typically does not involve third parties such as judges. The negotiation process is usually informal, unstructured and relatively inexpensive. If an agreement is not reached between the parties, then adjudication is a possible remedy.

A third dispute resolution mechanism is the resort to arbitration or mediation and conciliation. In these procedures, a third party serves a central role in the resolution. These outside parties are usually chosen by mutually agreement of the parties involved and will have specialized knowledge of the dispute subject. In arbitration, the third party may make a decision which is binding on the participants. In mediation and conciliation, the third party serves only as a facilitator to help the participants reach a mutually acceptable resolution. Like negotiation, these procedures can be informal and unstructured.

Finally, the high cost of adjudication has inspired a series of non-traditional dispute resolution mechanisms that have some of the characteristics of judicial proceedings. These mechanisms include:

* Private judging in which the participants hire a third party judge to make a decision,
* Neutral expert fact-finding in which a third party with specialized knowledge makes a recommendation, and
* Mini-trial in which legal summaries of the participants’ positions are presented to a jury comprised of principals of the affected parties.

Some of these procedures may be court sponsored or required for particular types of disputes.

While these various disputes resolution mechanisms involve varying costs, it is important to note that the most important mechanism for reducing costs and problems in dispute resolution is the reasonableness of the initial contract among the parties as well as the competence of the project manager.

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Health and Safety in Concrete Construction

While there are many things important to concrete construction, such as quality work and making a profit, health and safety must always be the No. 1 priority. For that reason, we are starting with safety to emphasize its importance as critical to a successful project.

Most accidents are preventable. Accidents are often due to carelessness and not thinking through what you are doing. You MUST plan for safety and health. The following list of things to watch out for on a concrete construction jobsite is not intended to be comprehensive. It does, however, serve to alert you to some of the more common health and safety in concrete construction:

* Fresh concrete can cause eye injuries and skin burns. When working with fresh concrete, wear protective clothing (a long-sleeved shirt, rubber boots, and rubber gloves) and eye protection to avoid getting fresh concrete on your skin or in your eyes. If you do get fresh concrete on your skin, wash it off with clean water. And remember that the tool clean-off bucket is not clean water.

* Finishers should wear long pants, work boots, knee pads (and use knee boards), and gloves. Immediately remove clothing that has become saturated with wet concrete.

* The simple use of personal protection equipment (PPEs–hard hats, gloves, boots, eye protection, fall protection, respirators, and so forth.) can save workers from the short-term and long-term effects of construction site conditions.

* Ear plugs must be used when the noise level gets to the point where you have to raise your voice to speak to the person working next to you. It doesn’t take much exposure to noise to permanently damage your hearing.

* Dust masks or respirators must be worn whenever there’s a chance of inhaling dirt, dust, chips, or mist; when you are cutting, grinding, or chipping hardened concrete; or when you are mixing epoxy or grout. Be sure to ask for training in the selection and use of a proper respirator. Another solution to this problem is to use wet methods or “dustless” vacuum tools.

* Ladders and stairways are major sources of injuries and fatalities among construction workers. Employers should ensure that employees are trained by a competent person in the nature of fall hazards; the correct procedure for erecting, maintaining, and disassembling fall protection systems; proper construction, use, placement, and care in handling stairways and ladders; and the maximum intended load-carrying capacity of ladders.

* Scaffolding should be solidly constructed, even if it is to be used only for a short time. Be sure uprights are uniformly spaced, plumb, and set on a good solid foundation. Use horizontal or diagonal bracing for stability. Planking should overlap the support by a minimum of 12 inches. Scaffolding should be tied to walls, buildings, or other structures. A competent person should inspect the scaffolding daily.

* The most hazardous moment when working at heights is when you are moving from place to place. That’s why you always need to be tied off to somethine substantial–something that can support a dead weight of 5000 pounds. Any time you go over a guardrail to perform work, you must be tied off. Fall protection should also be worn when working at ground level around open excavations 6 feet or more in depth. Be sure to place guardrails around all openings in decks.

* Use ground-fault circuit interruption devices at all times when using vibrators and other electrical tools. Wet concrete and water are excellent conductors. GFCI devices will prevent electrocution.

* Make sure that all wire, rope, slings, shackles, and other lifting devices are sized correctly and inspected thoroughly before using. If something breaks under a lifting load, a lot of energy can be released. A flying cable can remove an arm or leg in an instant.

Remember, accidents don’t just happen. They are more often than not the results of poor planning, improper training, or not thinking through each of your work activities. Health Safety in Concrete Construction always the first priority, keep it in mind.

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DEUTZ engines increasingly specified by generating set manufacturers

Diesel engines from DEUTZ are increasingly being specified by generating set manufacturers. All engines within the DEUTZ generator sets range are space-saving, powerful and low weight units, extending from 9kVA to 558kVA, and with few service points they set new standards in quality, performance, reliability, compactness and environmental efficiency.

The DEUTZ genset engines range starts with the 2009 Series water cooled models. These three and four cylinder engines have power outputs from 12 to 35kVA, covering frequencies of 50Hz and 60Hz.

The 2011 Series range of oil cooled engines includes two, three and four cylinder versions, with a four cylinder turbocharged model completing the line up. Power outputs extend from 12 to 50kVA, with both 50Hz and 60Hz versions available.

The DEUTZ 91 Series includes the 912, 913 and 914 air cooled engines, available in three, four and six cylinder in-line versions. They have power outputs from 29 to 145kVA (at cos phi 0.8) and cover mains power frequencies from 50 to 60Hz.

The DEUTZ genset engines range also includes the 2012 and 1013 water cooled versions. These four and six cylinder models have power outputs from 54kVA to 236kVA, with mains power frequencies from 50 to 60Hz.

The range is completed by the DEUTZ 1015 Series of compact V configuration six and eight cylinder turbocharged and charge air cooled engines, with power outputs from 211kVA to 558kVA.

All DEUTZ genset engines feature an advanced injection and combustion systems and, according to power output, full electronic control.

In addition to gensets, DEUTZ engines are widely used in excavators, wheeled loaders, access platforms, compactors, cranes, crushers, screeners, compressors, lift trucks, tractors, ride-on mowers, chippers, shredders and other off-highway mobile plant.

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Another Sustainable Urban Development for Tengbom

Together with ÅF and IMEK, Tengbom, have been commissioned by Swedehouse International to master plan the Yuhua Ecological Demonstration Area in Xi’an capital of Shaanxi province in China. The district is the eighth such commission for Tengbom in sustainable planning within China. The vision is to create a district with an exceptionally high environmental profile with no carbon emission. Parallel to Xi’an and several other projects in China, Tengbom is working on a scheme for Härmälänranta in Tampere, one of the first environmentally profiled districts in Finland.

Together with ÅF, and IMEK, Tengbom will plan the 2.4 square kilometre area in Xi’an. The Swedish team, which consists of experts in sustainability and environmental engineering, will develop a new model adapted specifically for Xi’an. The model is based on Tengbom experience from design at Hammarby Sjöstad and Sino Swedish Eco City in Wuxi, the latter won the internationally prestigious MIPIM Future Projects Award 2011 for the major urban planning category. Xi’an is now a nationally recognized pioneer in the area of sustainability, the new district will have an exceptionally high environmental profile with minimal carbon emissions.

Sweden has been focusing on holistic city planning for around 50 years and Tengbom fully engaged within that time but now more specifically within sustainable urban master planning, spreading the vision and experience at home and abroad. Over the past six years we have developed successful and award winning models for China and most recently in Russia, says Magnus Meyer CEO Tengbom.

Tengbom expertise in sustainable urban development is highly sought after both in Sweden and abroad. In Finland, for example, Tengbom is working with Skanska Kodit to transform Cargotec’s former industrial area in Härmälänranta, Tampere. The ambition is to create Finland’s foremost environmental neighbourhood characterized by a varied plan structure that is human in scale. The team draws from Tengbom different design specialists working from a holistic and humanistic perspective. The project is characterized by high aspirations for architecture together with user-focused and innovative solutions in a neighbourhood that combines existing features with new design innovation. The complexity of the project has led to an innovative and integrated process with a focus on economic, social, and ecological sustainability. The area of just over 1.5 square kilometres, will accommodate 1500 homes and is expected to be completed in 2020.

Among other projects in Sweden Tengbom is actively engaged in the design work at Stockholm Royal Seaport district, the district that will become a new international model for sustainable urban planning. Parallel to the new area in Xi’an Tengbom is also working with Changsha City Xiangjiang district, Tangshan Bay Eco City in Hebei Province, and on the tropical island of Hainan in Southern China.

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Connecticut Company uses self-directed work teams to improve on-time delivery and quality

For one Connecticut manufacturer of close tolerance precision metal parts, a nearly 20-year commitment to lean manufacturing has naturally evolved into using self-directed work teams (SDWT) to achieve such ambitious objectives as 100% on-time delivery and 100% quality.

With the help of a committed management team, a zealous companywide SDWT champion, dedicated team leaders/cheerleaders, and most importantly, participation of everyone on the shop floor, Farmington, CT-based Connecticut Spring & Stamping (CSS), is well on its way to meeting its ambitious goals, just two years after launching the initiative. They’ve used several tools to get them to their objectives, including following steps laid out in what some consider the SDWT “Bible,” establishing an achievable, yet challenging reward system, and instituting a new way of visualizing work that synchronizes front end scheduling with actual shop floor execution.

What began as an experiment with one pilot work team, has now been expanded to twenty-one teams that include both shop floor and office processes.

Lean manufacturing sets the stage for SDWT
CSS embarked on its long lean manufacturing journey in 1994. Continually looking for a way to embrace a cultural change that would help them reduce waste and increase production, in 2006 they sequestered 34 of their key management and production personnel to brainstorm on ways to implement lean manufacturing at the plant. Since then, CSS has looked at a variety of different approaches (both top-down and bottom-up) to help implement their lean philosophy; management readily admits that some succeeded and some did not.

In 2010, the company began seeking a new approach or increased level of commitment to help them provide 100% on-time delivery of product to their customers, with 100% quality, and at the same time reduce internal wastes and costs. They opted for the use of self-directed work teams (SDWTs), one of a long line of ideas that had been floated over the years as possible lean initiatives. A SDWT is defined as a group of employees who combine different skills and talents to work, essentially without managerial supervision, toward a common purpose or goal.

And that’s where it got personal for Gaston Pelletier, who was delegated the task of implementing the approach as part of the firm’s 2010-2011 business plan. Gaston, who serves as VP of Continuous Improvement for CSS, began to educate himself on the SDWT philosophy, and figure out how it might work at CSS.

Gaston discussed the approach with CBIA (Connecticut Business and Industry Association) to learn if there was any training that he could participate in, and to find out if anyone was using the approach locally. Then, he and a small group visited Dur-A-Flex, Inc., an East Hartford, CT manufacturer of seamless commercial and industrial flooring systems, which had adopted the approach a few years ago.

Gaston really liked what he saw and began getting excited. He really “saw the light” after reading Leading Self-Directed Work Teams: A Guide to Developing New Team Leadership Skills, by Kimball Fisher. The book is widely cited as the SDWT “Bible,” and provided a much-needed road map that would break down the approach into steps and guide their efforts.
After reading the book (and insisting that others on the management team also read it), he began working with a pilot group selected to try out the approach. The group selected was the 11-member automatic loop and torsion (Auto Loop) team, which makes extension springs and complicated wire forms. When this part comes off a machine, it is usually a finished product and does not require many other processes. As one of the more self-contained of the work groups, auto loop does not rely on many of the other shop departments, making it easier to effect change by their own efforts.

Pilot self-directed work team takes off
With a SDWT, management’s job is to set the initial objectives and then provide all the resources the team requests to accomplish them. The team is also free to develop its own sub-tier objectives; basically steps it wants to take to get to the overall objective (100% on-time delivery of product to their customers, with 100% quality). The team meets frequently, decides on achievable goals, and keeps working toward continuous improvement to accomplish them.

Management is responsible for giving the SDWT the necessary authority to do whatever it takes to improve the process and reach new heights in terms of delivery performance – and then they step aside. “This is definitely the biggest step we have taken on our lean journey,” said Gaston. “We involve all the shop floor people to the ultimate level, and remove management from the picture.” Giving the team the levers to pull led to a gradual taking on of more and more responsibility and ownership.
Gaston himself served as a coach, initially guiding the team but ceding more and more latitude as the auto loop pilot team got rolling. He notes that the team immediately embraced the idea that they could make their own decisions and are in charge of their own destiny.

Once they got going, they held numerous brainstorming sessions and the ideas began to flow. The shop floor workers had always found that there was not an effective feedback mechanism between the shop and the front office. This led to a variety of problems and issues, resulting in reduced performance. For example, detail on jobs was often lacking, there was incomplete understanding of which jobs should be run on which machines, and teams would frequently use different machines for particular jobs but not communicate that back to the front office. Jobs that required the same tools were scheduled to be set up on the same day on different machines. There were days-long gaps between finishing one job and setting up the next job on particular machines. Sometimes, three jobs with the same start date would be scheduled for one setup person, but no time set aside for set up on the previous week.

Jobs were getting done, but slower and less efficiently. Rather than making required changes to synchronize the electronic schedule with actual shop floor realities, the group had just made them on an ad hoc basis, not communicating the issues with the master schedulers. The team’s first decision was to improve the business on the front end to make it work better on the shop floor.

One of the first things the team did was to radically alter the way the actual work flow and timing of work among teams was synchronized with the master schedule and electronic systems. They developed a brand new master schedule job tracker/work flow board system to help them clearly visualize each job, including how long each will take, which machine it will run on, how much set up time is needed, and which operator is responsible for the job. The scheduling board displays all jobs scheduled for the next 6 months. The scheduling personnel are alerted immediately when there are any conflicts or issues. The team also established a process to continually provide feedback and changes to the master scheduler. The electronic scheduling system was updated with the changes for all future work. This process helped minimize schedule juggling going forward.

Figure 1 – Auto Loop Team : Job Tracker / Work Flow Board
Figure 1 is a photo of the new job tracker/work flow board, which has seen 7 or 8 revisions since it was first set up, as team members constantly think of new information that would help improve performance. The team found the board to be a huge success – instead of having to juggle 50 out of every 100 jobs, the new process means they m

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Civil Engineering Job Openings

Jones Bros Civil Engineering urgently needs males and females workers. All applicants CV/Resume and scanned copy of passport photograph recently taken must be submitted through e-mail scanning as attachment. Open the attachment to see our Vacancy List, Monthly Salaries and Working hours.

Jones Bros Ruthin (Civil Engineering) Co Ltd – Fresh Job Openings
Denbigh Road, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 2TN, United Kingdom Phone: +44 186 560 0182 Fax: +44 183 277 0116
E-mail: personnel@jonesbros-construction.com
Working Hours: 8a.m-4p.m, 10hrs working/day, Monday -Friday
Overtime: 10a.m -3a.m, 5hrs working, Saturday-Sunday.
Allowances shall be added separately and reflected in your appointment letter i.e. Housing allowance, Transport allowance, Medical allowance and One month leave.

Job List Basic Monthly Salaries in UK Pounds

Quantity Surveyor 6,600 GBP
Land Surveyor 6,600 GBP
Project Controls Accountant 6,300 GBP
IT Project Manager 6,500 GBP
Corporate Records Administrator 4,100 GBP
Accounting Officer 4,100 GBP
Assistant Marketing Manager 6,000 GBP
Computer Network Engineer 6,600 GBP
Maintenance Team Leader-Major
Maintenance

5,500 GBP
Pipefitter 4,300 GBP
Computer Control Room Operator 3,650 GBP
Instrumentation Technician 4,000 GBP
Occupational Health Nurse 3,450 GBP
Driver 3,250 GBP
Office Assistant/Clerk 3,350 GBP
Security Guards 2,800 GBP
Launderer 2,500 GBP
Customer Service Attendant 3,650 GBP
Cook/Chef 3,200 GBP
Draughtsman 5,200 GBP
Highway Project Engineer 6,600 GBP
Batching Plant Engineer 6,600 GBP
Civil Engineers: Mife Construction 6,600 GBP
Project Engineer -Mechanical 6,600 GBP
Project Engineer-Electrical 6,600 GBP
Plumber 4,100 GBP
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Project Manager – Transmission, Distribution, & Substations
A leading utilities engineering and construction firm is seeking experienced construction project managers for permanent positions in the Northeastern U.S. and California. This long established company offers employees competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and opportunities for professional growth. These select project managers will be responsible for the oversight of multiple multi-million dollar T&D construction projects in their respective areas. The company requires prior T&D construction experience, PMP certification, and complete familiarity with PMBOK methodology. If you meet these qualifications and if such a position is of potential interest to you, please send the latest version of your resume and a brief introductory letter to dnaquin@absoluteconsulting.com
___________________________________________

Structural Engineer Required
Reference Number: CSI/SEP09/SE
Type: Permanent
Location: Chennai
Salary: Dependent on experience
Experience: 2 Years of structural design experience

Job Description: Perform product engineering development and product support for Civil/Structural Engineering Software You will be involved in all phases of product development right from inception through elabor ation, construction and transition It includes preparation of engineering specifications, software requirement specifications, engineering validation documents, testing and quality assurance You will be in charge of developing solutions and writing pro posals for key projects.

Job Specification:
Master’s Degree in Structural Engineering
Minimum 2 yrs of structural design experience
Fresher May also Apply ,
Contact – Vijay
9840816698.
hr@cadsindia.com
___________________________________________

TRC offers comprehensive engineering and Project Management services to its clients in US, ME and India. Our clientele includes, Infosys, Target Corporation and many other fortune 500 clients. To fuel our expansion growth we need following professionals:

SENIOR STRUCTURAL ENGINEER / PROJECT MANAGER
Requirements:

5-10 Years Structural Design Experience Bachelor’s / Master’s in Structural Engineering.
Experience in designing major structures with emphasis on concrete, steel, and pre-stressed concrete design.
Capable of reading and understand other disciplines’ drawings and formulate structural plans on that basis.
Strong Communication Skills

Responsibilities:
Take a lead role in helping to realize our projected growth in the USA / India / Middle East market
Focus on design of all types of building structures
Develop building structural systems, both gravity and lateral
Help to build and maintain positive relationships with new and established clients.
Plan and estimate work and manpower requirements; control budget.
Manage major and minor design projects from beginning to end.
Supervise work of other engineers and CAD technicians.
Help develop less experienced engineers.
Review and checking of engineering work completed by others.
Preparation and checking of design drawings and/or specifications.
Development of project design criteria, design calculations, construction details.

Download Brochure here
Contact Details
Name – Prakash
Email – career@trcintl.com

___________________________________________
Opening for PM – Chennai
We need the PM for Construction company
Exp : 10 – 15 Yrs
Interested Call – 044 – 42128736
Mail resume to sunmathi650 @ gmail.com
___________________________________________

Civil Engineering Firms
We have an upcoming project in Vapi for which we require consultation & supervision of a reputed & well established engineering firm.

Kindly forward us the contact details of at least 3 firms.

Our contact details are :
Nemchand Jain,
Tel: 022-22013229
email : nemchand @ vsnl. com

___________________________________________
PROJECT MANAGER, Greensboro NC,
15 years experience with $1,000,000 plus projects involving earth moving work with a solid amount of Project Management. Must have degree in Civil or Construction Engineering. Job focus is on building and capping landfills, wetlands and other restoration.
Contact – JoVonna
email – firstlinerecruiters @ gmail.com
___________________________________________

Required Civil Eng.
We have requirement for Civil Engineers for good leading infrastructure company, plz send me resume on my email ID- abhinav @arssgroup. in Regards- Abhinav
___________________________________________
Civil Engineer Required

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian agency, fighting hunger worldwide. We are currently seeking qualified individuals to replenish our Civil Engineer roster. Potential positions may become available in the organization’s Administrative Services, Rome, Italy. The selected candidates will be required to travel extensively to WFP’s field offices.

Application procedures:
Go to: http://i-recruitment.wfp.org/vacancies/09-0010030
Step 1: Create your online CV.
Step 2: Click on “Description” to read the position requirements and “Apply” to submit your application.
NOTE: You must complete Step 2 in order for your application to be considered for this vacancy.

Deadline for applications: June 30, 2010
___________________________________________

Requirement for Experienced Civil Engineer

Opening for Civil Engineers with relevant experience in construction line for a reputed Construction Company for their project at Badlapur, Maharashtra. Salary will be at par as per industry.

Contact GH Multi Services 09222715499
email – ghplacement @ gmail.com
___________________________________________

Engineering Project Manager Required

Tulsa OK
- This position/person will be based in Tulsa with frequent travel to Texas for projects
- Projects will be dealing with construction of transmission lines and electrical substations
- Specific experience with providing PM support activities in managing resources for entire Station Projects.
- Experience in project planning support role to large scale construction projects, preferably substation and transmission line projects
- Experience as a focal point for coordinating requests for engineering support and defining resource requirements for projects at the planning stage
- Experience with scheduling of short and long term construction projects and project management measures tools and reports as needed
Skills
Must have Primavera Project Management experience
- Large project experience
- A Bricks and Mortar construction type not IT project manager
- experience in dealing with construction bids, contracts, resources, construction experience and how they all fit together
- Backgrounds in Petro-Chemical, Military, Road Construction,
- Someone with specific electrical utilities, power generation or transmission would be a great fit
- PMP certified as a plus
Education
-Must have a 4 year Engineering Degree (no specific type- could be Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, etc) Not IT
- Very good communications skill (English)

Pluses
- Knowledge of the state of Texas
- If they can speak some Spanish
- PMP certified

if any one is interested you can leave a comment here and mail us your resume, we will forward it to the concerned authority

___________________________________________

Civil Engineer-Quantity surveyor

We are looking a Civil Engineer DCE/BE whose having experience in Quantity surveying with Auto cad knowledge with 5-6 year for our Project Management Consultancy firm at Bangalore
Contact: U K B construction management
Bangalore
Email:ukb.bangalore @ gmail.com
Mob: +91 99809 09895
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Job Openings

Dear sir,
we have vacancies as follows for the following posts for an organization
working in fields related to oil / gas pipeline and infrastructure.

1. Surveyors – 2 (gps/ total station )
2. Civil engineers – 3 ( site work )
3. Safety officers – 2
4. Quality engineer – 1 ( site work )
5. Design engineer – 1 ( concrete structures ).

Please reply to gnkrao @ gmail.com.
with detailed CV and expected salaries.
Candidates with prior experience of working in oil fields will be preferred.
Regards,
Krishna rao.
bin mansour group
fax: +97125513239
e mail : gmkrao@gmail.com
___________________________________________

Lect/Asst Prof/Prof. Vacancy in Civil Engg. Dept

Infant Jesus College Of Engineering, a college under the management of Infant Jesus Educational Trust – Chennai is looking for

1. Lecturers
2. Assistant Professors
3. Professors

We have vcancy in Mech, Automobile, Civil Engg As Lecturer in our college.

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Presentation on Foundation

By
Mohd Habeeb Ullah Shareef
Student of DCET, Hyderabad

This presentation covers following topics
1) What is foundation?
2) Types of foundations along with brief overview of each of them which include

a) Shallow Foundation which is further classified into

i. Spread Footing
ii. Raft Foundation
iii. Compensated Foundation

b) Deep Foundation which is further classified into


i. Pile Foundation
ii. Caissons Foundation

3) Design Procedure of foundations
Step-1: Given Data
Factored load on column Pu in ‘KN’
Size of column, l x b in ‘mm’
SBC of Soil in KN/sq.m
Self weight of footing = 10% of Pu

Step-2:
Area of footing = Total Load/S.B.C
Provide a suitable size of footing L x B

Step-3:
Net upward pressure intensity,
Pu/area of footing.

Step-4:
Design for flexure Critical section occurs at the face of column l = (L – l)/2
Mutr =wl2/2

Step-5:
Depth of footing
d = [(Mu/(2.76x1000)) ]1/2

Step-6:
Calculation of area of steel,
Mu = 0.87fyAst(d-0.42xu)

Step-7:
Check for One-way shear Critical shear force occurs at a distance of‘d’ from face of the column
Nominal shear stress, Tu = v/bd for 0.15% of steel from IS456:2000, Table-19 Permissible shear stress
If Tc>Tv footing is safe in shear.

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What is the purpose of conducting load test for piling works?

Pile load test provides information on ultimate bearing capacity but not settlement behavior. In essence, it can determine if the load is taken up by the stratum designed or if the centre of resistance is at the design location in piles as suggested by Robert D. Chellis (1961).

After conducting load tests, the curve of movement of pile head (Settlement against load) and the curve of plastic deformation can be plotted. By subtracting the curve of plastic deformation from the curve of pile head movement at each load, the curve of elastic deformation can be obtained. For piles of end-bearing type unrestrained by friction, the theoretical elastic deformation can be calculated from e=RL/AE where e is
elastic deformation, L is pile length, A is area of pile, E is Young’s Modulus of pile material and R is the reaction load on pile. By substituting e in the formula, the elastic deformation read from the curve of elastic deformation, L can be obtained which shows the location of the centre of resistance corresponding to that load.

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