< Previous20 MEP Middle East | March 2022 www.mepmiddleeast.com COVER STORY Warda Naeem started her career in 2014 as a junior engineer, assisting senior engineers in the design of HVAC systems for many different project types. Over time, following continued training and increased responsibilities as a mechanical design engineer, she was promoted to hold her current professional role as a project engineer. The design engineer at Khatib & Alami (K&A), Shruthi Sampath, has more than fi ve and a half years of experience in the engineering space. As an engineer at K&A, Sampath has worked on a number of projects across a wide spectrum of building types, including residential, commercial, and healthcare. Some of her recent projects include the design for three Emirati neighbourhoods in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi; the Al Forsan Sports Resort development in Khalifa City; the Sohar Women and Children’s Hospital in Oman; and a retail and commercial development in Al-Ghobra, Muscat. She has been actively involved in the design of the projects, from the schematic to the GFC stages, and has taken an active part in the BIM development, as well as the collaboration and coordination of all disciplines. Sampath was responsible for the design of lighting systems, power systems, fi re alarms, and emergency lighting systems, and has also assisted team leaders on a variety of electrical engineering Naeem has worked on different sorts of projects, including high-rise buildings such as DAMAC Towers by Paramount in Dubai to the Novotel Hotel in Kuwait, where she handled the load calculations for the HVAC systems and produced mechanical drawings by working closely with BIM technicians. One of the projects that Naeem worked on as a lead engineer was the Engineering University by the Public Authority of Applied Education and Technology (PAAET) in Kuwait, where she designed multiple colleges comprising of laboratories, classrooms, atriums, service areas, and more. She has also helped clients achieve LEED certifi cation, and has worked towards authority approvals for various projects across the MENA region. Commenting on diversity in the industry, Naeem said: “The biggest challenge that young women in engineering still face at the beginning of their careers is to prove that they are as capable as their male counterparts. Surprisingly, questions still persist around whether we will be able to “Young women in engineering still face a challenge of having to prove that they are as capable as their male counterparts.” WARDA NAEEM cope with the demands of the job; whether we can cope with the hot climate on-site; or whether we can handle the pressure on submission days, when we may have to work longer hours.” KEO INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANTS SHRUTHI SAMPATH KHATIB & ALAMI “Many women choose not to opt for engineering due to the perceived gender disparity and lack of opportunities.” and design related tasks. She was also responsible for teaching Dialux Evo, a lighting software, to team members, and has created and introduced Revit Dynamo to colleagues to make the workfl ow simpler. At present, she is working on the Dubai Festive City Zone-6. Speaking about transitioning from academics to the workplace, Sampath said: “The hurdles for young women start from the selection of the graduation course. Many women choose not to opt for technical courses such as engineering because of the perceived gender disparity, lack of opportunities, and the notion that the industry is not feminine. However, I have seen more women enrolling into technical roles and taking up challenging roles due to more exposure and encouragement from the industry.” Warda Naeem Project Engineer, KEO IC Shruthi Sampath Design Engineer, Khatib & AlamiMarch 2022 | MEP Middle East 21 www.mepmiddleeast.com COVER STORY Ayesha Nabeela, a senior sustainability consultant at Ramboll, completed an honours degree in Architectural Engineering from Heriot Watt University in 2016, and has since grown from a graduate to a senior consultant working on some of the most prestigious projects in the region. Nabeela has a background in engineering and energy optimisation and has worked on various project types within the sustainability domain. Nabeela is very passionate about improvements within the built environment, specifi cally through high-performing new designs and optimising existing buildings. She is also keen on embodied carbon reduction and improvements to environmental and occupant health. Nabeela is a Certifi ed Measurement and Verifi cation Profession (CMVP) and holds GBCI’s WELL AP certifi cation. Sharing her passion on sustainability, Nabeela said: “Sustainable design and construction should not be a rich man’s luxury; it is the need of the hour. Being green is defi nitely expensive at the investment stage, but we have to start showing clients and owners on how the value comes back to them over the years, in terms of lowered utility purchases and reduced operational costs. “If not solely for the environmental good, at least maybe for the fi nancial aspect, it would make sense to many. Now, sustainability also is being taught in schools “We shouldn’t depend on one ‘sustainability team’ to hold the fl ag; we need champions in all design disciplines.” AYESHA NABEELA and universities and this is a great initiative within STEM education. We shouldn’t depend on one ‘sustainability team’ to hold the fl ag; we need many sustainability champions in all design disciplines.” RAMBOLL Anwaar Al Mahrouqi is an experienced civil engineer working as part of the Supervision Division at the SSH Oman offi ce. Al Mahrouqi has moved from a civil construction background into the health, safety, and environment (HSE) space. She has managed a LEED accredited project in Oman – the new Omantel Headquarters. For this award-winning project, Al Mahrouqi was involved in civil works, HSE, and architectural site inspections. Al Mahrouqi is also currently working on a mixed-use development as well as a fi ve- star hospitality project in Oman. As an upcoming operational construction manager, Al Mahrouqi’s goals include achieving the best results for clients and top management, and delivering the best possible quality. For more than fi ve years, she has been a noteworthy leader in the construction fi eld. After completing her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Technology and Applied ANWAAR AL MAHROUQI SSH “I would say that the challenge that most young engineers face is stepping out of their comfort zone.” Sciences, she pursued health and safety certifi cations such as NEBOSH & IOSH. Al Mahrouqi believes the equity that has developed across many companies and countries has resulted in a substantial increase in the number of women in the construction workforce in recent years. She adds: “Moreover, this fi eld is now the destination of many ambitious rising engineers. I would say the challenge that most young engineers face is stepping out of their comfort zone, as the preparation we get through our educational level does not reinforce us towards such challenges. “Another challenge that new graduates face, is the absence of suffi cient training in decision making, which form part of the given responsibilities, within the organisation prior to proceeding with offi cial engagements.” Ayesha Nabeela Senior Sustainability Consultant, Ramboll Anwaar Al Mahrouqi Civil Engineer - Supervision Division, SSH22 MEP Middle East | March 2022 www.mepmiddleeast.com COVER STORY After graduating from Heriot- Watt University with a fi rst-class honours degree in electrical and electronic engineering in 2017, Yashodha Wijesinghe snapped up a placement as an intern with WME Global in order to kick-start her career within the construction industry. Her positive and eager attitude resulted in her internship being extended, and four years down the Minal Ramdasji Dumre is currently the senior manager of the Engineering Consulting division at LGE, and has a total of 12 years of work experience in the industry. Certifi ed at the Engineering Level 3, Dumre has also trained as a product specialist, with additional certifi cations in the CATIA Design course, ICEM CFD, and AutoCAD. The scope of her work on recent projects includes technical trainings on new HVAC solutions and applications; design optimisation by using right HVAC equipment conforming to local/ international standards; assisting in guide specifi cations as per project requirements; value engineering; as well as guidance and specifi cation for the selection of the right air conditioning systems for different segments, so that the buildings and projects can be aligned with sustainability. Responding to the survey on diversity and inclusion, Dumre said: “Diversity and inclusions play a very big impact on higher line, she now works as an intermediate electrical engineer within the larger MEP design team. As of 2022, Wijesinghe has worked on numerous design stage projects ranging from residential skyscrapers to leisure parks and cinemas, luxury villas and hotel masterplan developments, and commercial shell and core fi t-outs, mainly within Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Saudi Arabia. In her current role within WME, Wijesinghe works alongside the senior engineers to determine the most suitable design strategies for a project, ensuring that the design proposals are coordinated and aligned with the client requirements and the architectural vision. During the past few months, she has been handed the opportunity to take on the role of electrical lead for a few projects under the supervision and guidance of her team leader. Sharing her thoughts on the importance of mental health checks in the workplace, Wijesinghe said: “I strongly believe, that this is an issue that needs to be addressed “It is important for employees to feel that they are within a safe space regardless of whether they are WFH or are at the offi ce.” YASHODHA WIJESINGHE by the MEP and the construction industry. It is important for employees within the workplace to feel that they are within a safe space regardless of whether they are working from home or are at the offi ce.” WME GLOBAL MINAL RAMDASJI DUMRE LGE “In my opinion, huge improvements are still required within the MEP industr y from a gender perspective.” revenue growth, innovation, the ability to recruit a diverse talent pool, and a higher rate of employee retention. “This can be based on many factors such as gender and nationality, among others. In my opinion, huge improvements are still required within the MEP industry from a gender perspective. There is very little gender equality that can be seen in today’s time.” Dumre states that another major challenge that young engineers face is a lack of confi dence. She said: “Young engineers tend to compare themselves with more experienced professionals and they consider experience as the main parameter for comparison. This leads to a lack of trust in their own ability. Young engineers need to fi rst believe in themselves and work with confi dence.” Yashodha Wijesinghe Intermediate Electrical Engineer, WME Global Minal Ramdasji Dumre Senior Manager - Engineering Consulting, LGEMarch 2022 | MEP Middle East 23 www.mepmiddleeast.com COVER STORY Lubna Shaikh is a mechanical engineer who works as the senior manager - Business Development for TROSTEN Industries Company LLC, Dubai. She has more than 16 years of experience in the HVAC industry. With a dedicated team of technical support engineers, Shaikh works actively with a number of leading developers and MEP consultants in Middle East region, providing assistance in HVAC equipment selections and customised solutions. She is a proud member of TROSTEN, which has EUROVENT and AHRI certifi cations for its manufactured HVAC product range. The fi rm has a number of installations on key projects, including at Expo 2020 Dubai, the Route 2020 metro stations, Royal Atlantis – Palm Jumeirah, Address Jumeirah Beach Hotel – Dubai Marina, the Masdar Neighbourhood Residences – Abu Dhabi, Jumeirah Saadiyat Beach Resort Hotel – Abu Dhabi, and the Dubai Hills Mall, among others. Commenting on female representation in the industry, Shaikh says: “Even though the number of women has increased in the HVAC industry, it is still not good enough. The industry has got such great potential in Middle East, and we need more women to pursue engineering in the air-conditioning fi eld.” Sharing her personal experience, Shaikh adds: “When I started my career as mechanical engineer in the HVAC industry, “The industr y has such great potential, but we need more women to pursue engineering in the air-conditioning fi eld.” LUBNA SHAIKH I was the only female engineer in most of the teams that I worked in. Although I experienced a lot of stereotypical comments at the beginning, this changed as I started establishing my identity in the industry.” TROSTEN INDUSTRIES Jean Camille Mendoza Beato has been working as a general accountant at Rheem Middle East for the past three years. After completing a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, she completed the Philippine CPA licensure examination in 2012. She then worked as a fi nancial analyst at a leading real estate company in the Philippines for three years. Beato then began to pursue her dream of building a career in Dubai. As a fi nance professional at Rheem, she works closely with the product and marketing team - building and tracking cost reports, and helping the fi rm to meets its management goals. She is also involved in overseeing the accounts receivables, accounts payables, month-end closing, auditing, and ad hoc reports of the business. Beato also supports Rheem’s Air and Water business partners (distributors) in processing their orders. She has taken an active part in sustainability-based events within Rheem, and closely supports product JEAN CAMILLE MENDOZA BEATO RHEEM MIDDLE EAST “We should all be ver y mindful to ensure that our decisions lead to a better Planet Earth for future generations.” launches by ensuring timely collaboration from the fi nance division. Recently, at Rheem’s factory inauguration and product launch of a new commercial package unit, as well as at the Pro Partner events and seminars. Beato was part of the working committee and contributed to the team’s success. Sharing her passion on mental health and climate action, Beato says: “A simple, “How are you?” can make a difference to a friend, a family member, a colleague, or even to a stranger. A short message may be very powerful and can build someone’s life. “I am also constantly focused on the impact of our daily actions and decisions on the environment and climate change. In our daily work, we all should be very mindful to ensure that our decisions lead to a better Planet Earth for future generations.” Lubna Shaikh Senior Manager - Business Development, TROSTEN Jean Camille Mendoza Beato General Accountant, Rheem Middle East24 MEP Middle East | March 2022 www.mepmiddleeast.com SPECIAL REPORT Evaluating the “intangible” benefits as well as the time, quality, and cost advantages of MEP prefabrication Rejil Kumar, the GM of Weathermaker FZE (WML FZE) – a Voltas Limited subsidiar y – delves into a “wholesome understanding of prefabrication”, which accrues benefi ts for stakeholders across the supply chain from clients and main contractors to consultants and sub-contractors, sharing examples of how prefabricated ser vices – including single MEP ser vices as well as multi-ser vice modules – save time, improve quality, and reduce costs on construction projects The process of manufacturing, assembling, and testing products and systems off-site – including MEP and HVAC building components – in a controlled factory environment, and then having them transported to a construction site for fi nal installation and commissioning is generally referred to as prefabrication. Traditionally, the construction of mechanical, electrical, HVAC, and public health components is time consuming and requires coordination between multiple teams on a live construction site. MEP prefabrication saves time, reduces exposure to project variables, and de-risks construction projects, with specialised MEP contractors offering building services fabricated within a safe and highly effi cient factory environment. Over the past three decades, Weathermaker FZE (WML FZE) – a Voltas Limited subsidiary – has led the industry in this modern method of construction, producing fully coordinated prefabricated modules and air distribution components, with an off-site approach that uses free-issue, pre-approved material from project site. Tangible vs Intangible Benefi ts In addition to manufacturing, testing, and delivering multi-service prefabricated solutions – ranging from corridor modules, HVAC and plumbing riser modules, bathroom modules, pipe and cable tray stacks, among many others – the WML team also consults with the site teams and civil engineering teams to advice on collaborative planning, design, lean construction, site logistics for movement, and installation of modules across a section of project stakeholders in the UAE, Oman, and Qatar markets. Talking to MEP Middle East in an exclusive interview, the general manager of WML FZE, Rejil Kumar, says: “Prefabrication is much more than merely the construction of boxed multi-service modules. “Whether it is the manufacture and assembly of pre-insulated GI ducts, or the pre-build parts of a piping system called pipe spools, or structural elements to support the MEP building services – any single service, or multi-services, or a mixture of both, which can be taken out of the construction site integrated into the project plan and can be manufactured in a factory environment, qualifi es as prefabrication.” “Some benefi ts of pre-fabrication are tangible and can be experienced by multiple stakeholders present across the construction supply chain – from developers, to main contractors, consultants, and sub-contractors – working on a project.” Kumar adds: “The three most important facets of construction are time, quality, and cost. Prefabrication accrues advantages across all three of these facets. While there is increasing awareness of these tangible benefi ts by project stakeholders in the recent years, the devil lies in the details of the intangible benefi ts, which accrue through the project life cycle and are often ignored during the decision-making point at the beginning of the project. “These intangible benefi ts when not understood early in the project, can manifest as cost over-runs, material wastage, rework, risk to cash fl ow, lower product quality, and more.” Time-saving Benefi ts In terms of time, prefabrication provides a number of benefi ts with its “plug-and- play” concept, offering a substantially lesser time to build. Kumar explains: “For instance, the construction of a corridor, which would traditionally take three-four weeks using conventional methods of construction, could take merely three-four days to install at site.” Prefabrication also saves time because MEP works can be carried out within the factory, while simultaneously, other concurrent construction works can continue at the actual construction site. He adds: “However, a number of intangible benefi ts are also witnessed during the project, including reduced exposure to uncontrolled variables, reduction in reworks due to coordination, reducing waste, improving health and safety on-site, improving the ability to catch up if civil is delayed, and eliminating lost-time incidents due to fewer workers required on-site.” Furthermore, since prefabrication is implemented within a factory setting, MEP components can be constructed year-round March 2022 | MEP Middle East 25 www.mepmiddleeast.com SPECIAL REPORT regardless of weather-constraints such as mid-day summer timings. “If the time advantage of prefabrication is integrated closely with the construction programme, and is taken into consideration right at the start of the project, it improves the project certainty to a large extent,” Kumar says. “On the other hand, and as often is the case in the reality of the construction industry, the speed of prefabrication often makes up for delays in the structural or civil stages of construction, thus, keeping the overall project timelines on track.” Enhanced Quality MEP prefabrication also ensures the delivery of high-quality products and systems. Since MEP components are manufactured within a controlled factory setting using equipment that is otherwise diffi cult to deploy in the site environment, there is much higher control over the quality of the product output. The reduction of labour-intensive tasks not only reduces the possibility of human error and reworks – which can often be expensive – but also improves the quality of MEP components through the use of industry-leading equipment such as CNC machines for factory prefabricated duct works, high-end specialised welding machines , among others. Kumar says: “Moreover, quite often, simple issues such as access to the MEP services or HVAC services on a live construction site is limited. For instance, on a live construction site, workers on top of scaffoldings often must work with their hands above their shoulders to reach ducts or pipes that are placed many inches above their head. This not only results in a diffi cult working environment, but also affects the quality of the component, as it offers limited access when key works such as welding, joining, insulation, and testing, are required. “In a prefabrication factory setting, these ducts and pipes can be accessed very easily at eye level or on the ground level, which improves effi ciency, eliminates accessibility issues, decreases obstructions, and offers a much better working environment leading to far superior build quality.” Further, the labour skills are considerably improved as there is little distraction for workmen in a controlled environment compared to a project site. Improved Labour Productivity Labour productivity is a struggle that the construction industry has been facing for a long time. On a traditional construction site, productivity issues directly impact costs of a project because the time-honoured adage “time is money” comes into play here, with worker salaries and man- hours on-site taken into consideration. Kumar explains: “Often, when you choose for the build on-site, the contractor is seldom able to estimate the exact costs will be incurred on labour – as delays have unfortunately become more the norm than the exception within the industry. “We don’t have these concerns within prefabrication, as the cost for the project is set, the timelines are precise, and we know that within a factory environment, whatever is promised can be delivered.” Lower Construction Wastage Within a prefabrication factory environment, wastage of construction material is considerably reduced – almost none – which accrues considerable amount of cost savings compared to the copious amounts of material wasted on traditional construction sites. Since optimisation is essential within prefabrication, only the product that is required for the job is utilised, while the rest is either reused, recycled, or kept aside for another job location, thus, saving money while also ensuring a safer jobsite and easier work environments. Kumar adds: “Of course, there are also other advantages such as the cost savings on supports and anchors, as prefabricated solutions do not require as many anchors and HVAC threaded rods as are required in traditional MEP works. “Also, if the laydown areas or the storage space on the construction site is limited, or access to the construction site is diffi cult, then prefabrication helps because it reduces the amount of raw construction material needed on site, and it also ensures that the number of trucks accessing the site are reduced to the bare essential for the transport of ready-to-install solutions.” Reduced Cash Flow Risks Additionally, when build sequence and time are altered extensively, contractors can claim progress and manage cashfl ow in a manner that is not only faster, but also reduces risk. On a whole, while the appreciation for modular is gradually increasing within the industry, stakeholders are still miles away from tapping into the full potential of prefabrication. “There is a need for a greater comprehension and appreciation of the intangible benefi ts of prefabrication through the overall lifecycle of a project. There is a need to evaluate the true cost, time, and quality benefi ts that prefabrication adds to the construction programme. There is a need to engage with project stakeholders early in the project lifecycle and modify or align the “design- build mindset” in order to ensure a higher level of integration with the project plans, engineering, project structure, and project packaging. “Stakeholders such as consultants and PMC can play a critical role for alignment in the early stages of a project. There is a need for a more wholesome understanding of the tangible and intangible benefi ts of prefabrication and project costs, which would not only spur modern methods of construction, but also the industry as a whole,” Kumar concludes. Rejil Kumar General Manager, Weathermaker FZE26 MEP Middle East | March 2022 www.mepmiddleeast.com PROJECT UPDATE Dubai-based design-led real estate developer Ellington Properties has marked the completion of MEP works on its Wilton Terraces residential development, which aims to be a premium boutique development situated in Mohammed Bin Rashid City (MBR City), offering views of the Dubai skyline as well as the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary. The Wilton Terraces development also stands out for its location in the heart of the city, close to Dubai’s major landmarks including the Meydan One Mall and Downtown Dubai. The project is built within the Sobha Hartland’s residential cluster which spans across eight million square feet of freehold villas, quad homes, and apartments in MBR City, surrounded by 2.4 million square feet of greenery, set along the Dubai Water Canal. The development provides easy access to Downtown Dubai and other business and leisure attractions in the city. Its central location off Al Khail Road also ensures easy connectivity and mobility. Blending classical elements with contemporary design, the Wilton Terraces development comprises 283 one- and two- bedroom apartments, which are set across two 12-storey towers, namely Wilton Terraces I and Wilton Terraces II. Commenting on the construction works, the co-founder and managing director of Ellington Properties, Joseph Thomas, says: “We have completed engineering approvals, site execution, fi nal fi xture installations, authority inspection approvals, testing and commissioning, snagging and de-snagging, The co-founder and managing director of Ellington Properties, Joseph Thomas, shares exclusive details on the MEP and construction works at the developer’s Wilton Terraces residential development, located in the heart of Dubai’s MBR City ELEGANT DESIGN WEDS ENERGY EFFICIENCY AT ELLINGTON PROPERTIES’ WILTON TERRACESMarch 2022 | MEP Middle East 27 www.mepmiddleeast.com PROJECT UPDATE as well as building handover. Recently completed, the development has a ground fl oor, two podiums, and 12 residential fl oor confi gurations, touting a total built-up area (BUA) of 49,856.81m2 constructed on a plot area of 7,271.55m2.” Wilton Terraces I and Wilton Terraces II are interconnected by one of the podiums, with an eye-catching exterior. Thomas adds: “Key design features include high ceilings in the fi rst-fl oor units, high- performance glazing, and clever shading elements. The development’s design is inspired by the Silk Road, which lends the project a sense of harmony and elegance, while interacting seamlessly with its natural green surroundings. “In addition, plenty of outdoor space has been factored into the development, with the surrounding parks serving as an ideal setting for family gatherings.” Construction Stakeholders and Milestones Under the direction of Ellington Properties as the client, the Wilton Terraces development was built by UAE-based construction fi rm Aroma International Building Contracting LLC as the main contractor, as well as main consultants – Dubai Consultants – which is a fully integrated design fi rm that offers architecture, engineering, landscape, and construction management services. Proleed Engineering Consultants, which is known as an industry leader in energy effi cient designs, was the MEP consultant on the project, while Aroma International Building Contracting LLC also provided MEP contracting services on the project. Middle East-based manufacturer Naffco supplied the fi refi ghting products, while Sharjah-headquartered Unigas supplied the LPG for the residential development. The ducting was supplied by Indian fi rm Jindal, and the cables for the development were supplied by UAE-based National Cables. Surya Pipes, which is counted among one of the most prominent Indian suppliers, retailers, traders, and wholesalers of a comprehensive range of PVC pipes in the market, supplied the MS pipes. Furthermore, the light fi ttings were sourced from Italian fi rm Romaluce; the LV switchgears were provided by France’s Legrand; the plumbing was supplied by UAE-based Cosmoplast. The busbar systems were sourced from Malaysian fi rm Power Duct; the video intercom systems were supplied by Comelit; and the chiller systems were provided by US- headquartered York. Commenting on the construction milestones, Thomas says: “The Wilton Terraces development achieved structural completion in March 2019, with the fi nal installations completed in June 2021.” “Additionally, the authority inspection milestones were achieved in September 2021, following which the testing and commissioning phases were completed in December 2021. The fi nal handover of the development was reached in January 2022.” Ellington Properties has marked the completion of more than 4,064,802 safe man-hours without lost-time incident (LTI) on the project. Commenting on the health and safety focus, Thomas says: “Our contractor provided detailed training sessions – both internal and external – for all employees covering divisions such as rigging, scaffolding, electrical safety, working in confi ned space, safe usage of power tools, hot-work and cold-work training, working at heights, scaffolding erection, as well as cradle and MCM operator training. “All the internal training sessions were conducted by the Aroma HSE team, while the external training sessions were conducted by third-party agencies approved by Dubai Municipality.” Despite the pandemic and a few unexpected challenges, the residential development project maintained and met all of its construction deadlines due to its clear project management continuity programme. Thomas says: “The only delivery delay we would have faced was for the fi nal fi xtures, but we resolved the problem by resorting to airfreight, which compensated for the delay.” The development includes a swimming pool, a gym, a play area for children, as well as a seating area and reading desk in the reception lobby, all of which aim to improve the quality of life of the residents. 28 MEP Middle East | March 2022 www.mepmiddleeast.com PROJECT UPDATE Thomas adds: “Effi cient space plans have allowed maximum storage and privacy within the units and balconies. The semi-closed kitchens work well to keep small children and pets out while maintaining natural daylight and views out of the kitchens. Carefully planned storage in the kitchens has allowed for a good working triangle and purpose-built storage cupboards. The grid ceiling in the kitchen is both functional and aesthetic, allowing ease of maintenance access without commercial look and feel. Bathrooms have been designed for storage and usability within a small footprint.” Showcasing Sustainable and Energy-Effi cient Engineering The Wilton Terraces project has embraced key technologies, highlighting specialised equipment that improved quality-, time-, cost-, and energy-related effi ciencies on the project. For instance, FCUs with inverter type DC motors have been installed on the project as they lower noise considerably and have far better cooling performance In addition, acoustic lagging has been used for drainage pipes, especially where they are cross dwelling units and the sitting areas of the building, thus, ensuring better noise reduction. High-grade GRP insulated panels have been installed on the roof tanks for the water supply systems, in order to maintain the standard cold- water temperature. Thomas says: “We have also installed a video intercom system with an access control system that enables tenants to allow entry to guests and deliveries to the building. High-grade electrical panels and top-rated circuit breakers have been used in the electrical power system.” High-quality and energy-effi cient concealed kitchen appliances sourced from Italian fi rm March 2022 | MEP Middle East 29 www.mepmiddleeast.com PROJECT UPDATE Zanussi have been installed within the project. The use of UK-based Bagnodesign decorative sanitary wares have resulted in effi cient water fl ow rates in line with green building standards. “The building management systems (BMS) used in the billing system for both the chilled water and gas consumption is another remarkable feature. We follow the smart monitoring system used by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) for water and electricity billing,” Thomas adds. The Wilton Terraces development has also taken sustainability into consideration in terms of its building materials, electricity, water usage, and HVAC elements. The project has prioritised locally available materials such as concrete, steel, block, wires, and cables, to name a few. Thomas explains: “Condensate drain from all the fan coil units (FCUs) and fresh-air handling units (FAHUs) is collected in a tank and is used for irrigation purposes. Also, all of the FAHU are equipped with an energy recovery wheel. Furthermore, variable frequency drives have been deployed in all pumps and fans to save energy. “All the common area air conditioning is controlled by these building management systems. The fl ow of fresh air is also controlled by motorised smoke dampers and is monitored by the BMS.” In terms of lighting fi xtures and controls, the development uses energy-effi cient LED light fi ttings, and has implemented a lighting control system and motion sensors to save electricity in the corridors, public areas, and parking. It even has its own chiller plant located on the roof with BTU metres for each apartment. Highlighting other effi ciencies across the development, Thomas concludes: “Construction stakeholders have ensured the use of only low VOC adhesives and paints. Also, only water effi cient fi ttings have been used throughout the development. Thermal insulation has been used for pipes and ducts. These measures have ensured higher energy effi ciencies on the project.”Next >