MIDDLE EAST NEWS UPDATE | 06 BIG INTERVIEW | 14 SPECIAL REPORT | 25 MEP AWARDS | 34 SUPPLIER NEWS | 40 FOOTNOTE | 42 An ITP Business Publication | April 2011 Vol. 6 Issue 4 Essential information for mechanical, electrical, plumbing and HVAC professionals An ITP Media Group Publication | October 2019 Vol. 14 Issue 10 MEP AWARDS SUPPLIER NEWS FOOTNOTE | Essential information for mechanical, electricaaaalalalaaaaalllaaaaalalallaaaalalalaaaaaaalalalalaalalaaaaaalalaaaalaaalalalaallalallaaalallalllalalaallaalaalaaaa , , ,, , , , , , ,,, ,,,,, pppppppplplplplplppplplplplplppplpplppppplpppllplpllpplpllpplplplplplpllplumuuuuuumumumummummumummmmmummmumumummmmmmmuuuuuuuumumumumumummmmmmmmmmmmmuummmmmmmmmmmuumummmummmmmmummummmmmmmmmmmmmmmuummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmumummmmmmmmmmummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmuuummmmmmuuummmmmmmmmmmummmmmmummmmmmmmummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmuuuummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmummmmmmmmmmmmmmmummmmmmmmmbbbbbbbbbbbbibbibibibibibibbbbbbbbbbbbiibibibbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbibibbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbibibibibbbbbbbbbbibibbbbbbibbbbbbbiibbbbibibbbbbbbbbbiibibibibbbbbbbbibiibibbbbbbibibbbbibibibbbbbibibibbbibbbbbbibbiibibbbiiibibbibibibbbibibibibibbibbbibibbibibbbibbibbbbbbiibbinnnnnngnngnnnnnnngnggngggngngngngnnnngnnggggngngnnngggngngngngngnngngnngngnngngngnngngngngngngngngggngngnngngngggngngnggggggg aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanndndndndnndndndndnddndndnddnnndndnddnnddnndndndnnn HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHVVVVAVVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVVAVAVAVAVVAVVVAVAAVAVAVAVAAAVAV CCCCCC C CCCCC CCCCCCC CC CCC prprprprprprprprprpprrrprrprprprrprrrrprppp ofofofofofofofoffofofofofofofoofofoffffofoffoffofofofffofofffofoooooooo eeeeeeeeeeseeesesesesssssssssssssssssssseeeeeeseseesssssssssssssssseeeeeesesessssssseeeeeesesesssssssseesssseeeeeesssseeesssssseeessseessssssseeeeeeessssseeeeeeessssssssseessssssseeesssssseeeeessssseeeeesssseeesssssssseessssssseessssssseeesssssssssssssssssseessssssseesssesssseesssseesssssseesssseeessssssissssisissisisisisisisssissisisisiisissisisissisisisisiisiisisisisissisissisissisisisisiisisissssisisisisisissssisisissssssssissisiisisssssssiisisiiissssssssissssssisissisiissisisssssisiissiiissississsissssssisssissssssiisiissssiisisisssiisissiiisisssssiisssissssiiiissssisssssssssss oononononononononooonononononononnonnnnnonononnonnnoooooooooonnonononnooonononoooononononnnoonoooonnnonooooonnonnonooononnoononononononnoonnnnnooonnoonnnnnnooononnnnnoononnnoooooonoooonnnnnonnnnnnnnooonononnnnaalaaalalaalalalalalalalaaalalalaalalalalalalalallalalalalalallaalaaaalaaaalallaaaalaaaalaalalaa sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss AAAAAAAAAAnAAAnAnAAAAAAAnAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAnAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAnAAnAAAAAAAAAnAAA ITP Media Group Publication | October 2019 Vol. 1 TIME TO MEET OUR EXPERT JUDGING PANEL MEP AWARDS COMING TO TOWN Download the free MEP app and be the fi rst to read the latest issue on your mobile devices. INSIDE: SPECIAL REPORT ON BIM & DIGITALISATION IS THE INDUSTRY REALLY READY TO INNOVATE? THE FUTURE OF HVAC LAID BARE Voltas’ head of international operations business group predicts a sweeping Voltas’ head of international operations business group predicts a sweeping digital transformation in the construction industry and MEP sector digital transformation in the construction industry and MEP sector AR SURESH KUMARwww.mepmiddleeast.com MEP AWARDS: MEET THE SPONSORS EAE Elektrik looks to the future and the upcoming MEP Middle East Awards. October 2019 | MEP Middle East 3 OCTOBER 2019 VOLUME 14 ISSUE 10 CONTENTS 06 NEWS Tabreed announces ISO 50001:18 certifi cation. 08 NEWS Abu Dhabi introduces district cooling regulations. 10 NEWS Belimo, Grundfos, Refl ex, and Kingspan make HVAC predictions. 12 NEWS R AK to undergo audit of HVAC water supply and pumping systems. 40 SUPPLIER NEWS The latest supplier-related news from across the market. 42 FOOTNOTE Smart contracts could be the start of a revolution. PREDICTING THE FUTURE Grundfos’ Ronak Monga says HVAC systems must become more effi cient. THE BIG INTERVIEW Voltas’ AR Suresh Kumar believes the industry should be prepared for a sizeable shift in the way it operates. SPECIAL REPORT ON BIM MEP Middle East takes a closer look at the potential of BIM, and analyses what barriers stand in the way of its wider adoption. 25 MEP AWARDS: MEET THE JUDGES Introducing our panel of experts from across the industry. 12 34 38 20 14DIFFERENT WAY TO COUNT COSTS Tom Oxtoby 4 MEP Middle East | October 2019www.mepmiddleeast.com or views on this issue, please email tom.oxtoby@itp.com For subscriptions and further information, go online to www.itp.com/subscription. More stories at www.mepmiddleeast.com If you have any comment Follow MEP Middle East: @MEP_Middle_East MEP Middle East PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 444 3000 Web: www.itp.com Offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, London & Mumbai ITP MEDIA GROUP CEO Ali Akawi Managing Director Alex Reeve Group Publishing Director Ian Stokes Group Editorial Director Greg Wilson EDITORIAL Editor Tom Oxtoby Tel: +971 4 444 3419 e-mail: tom.oxtoby@itp.com ADVERTISING Sales Manager Tom Martin Tel: +971 4 444 3465 e-mail: tom.martin@itp.com ONLINE ADVERTISING Sales Manager Riad Raad Tel: +971 4 444 3319 email: riad.raad@itp.com ITP LIVE General Manager Ahmad Bashour Tel: +971 4 444 3549 e-mail: ahmad.bashour@itp.com PHOTOGRAPHY Senior Photographers Rajesh Raghav, Efraim Evidor, Adel Rashid Staff Photographers Aasiya Jagadeesh, Ajith Narendra, Fritz John Asuro, Yuliya Petrovich, Jessica Samson PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION Group Production & Distribution Director Kyle Smith Production Manager Basel Al Kassem Production Coordinator Mahendra Pawar Senior Image Editor Emmalyn Robles CIRCULATION Head of Circulation Vanessa D’souza Circulation Executive Loreta Regencia MARKETING Director of Awards & Marketing Daniel Fewtrell Events Manager Business Teri Dunstan ITP GROUP CEO Ali Akawi CFO Toby Jay Spencer-Davies Subscribe online at www.itp.com/subscriptions The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the reader’s particular circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review. T he ongoing digitalisation debate features prominently throughout this edition of MEP Middle East – the realisation that we are on an inevitable march to a binary domain striking more and more people with each passing day. However many times the same talking points crop up, the conversation remains a staple feature during every exchange I have with industry leaders. All have an opinion on what the future will look like, though they will be the fi rst to admit the path forward is foggy at best. Now, picking the best route on a journey such as this is un- doubtedly stressful; the mind can run amok with ideas of digital systems just not working. Key to wider acceptance, adoption, and implementation in the Middle East are pioneers; those brave enough to embrace changes to traditional ways of working to light the way for others. You’ll be interested to know that a recent argument put to me by one particular interviewee – featured in this very edition – is that the industry needs to start counting the cost of not innovating. Once I had time to refl ect on our conversation, I thought this a refreshing way to reframe the digitalisation debate, which has the potential to bore stakeholders out of caring if approached from the same angle on too repetitive a basis. Ugly thought, but consider breaking your leg. The cost of hav- ing it set and cast, plus hospital bills for your ambulance, treat- ment and medication added to the dirhams it’ll set you back in physiotherapy to get it functioning as it once did can be enough to bring a tear to the eye – likely for the second time in this fantasy scenario if your threshold for pain is as low as my own. Ghastly, I know. But the alternative – limping along, possi- bly causing further damage as you go – stands to be far more expensive in the long-term. Realising this may be overdoing the analogy: not treating a broken leg in the right way has even proved terminal for some. Endeavouring to wrap this up and get to my point, there is often more than one way to approach an argument. Granted, the innovators and progressive minds striving for the advancement of the MEP sector – and wider construction industry generally – are already doing so much for the rest of us, but there could be a case for the lobbying of digitalisation in a slightly different way. EDITORÊS NOTE Published by and © 2019 ITP MEDIA GROUP FZ-LLC.www.mepmiddleeast.com NEWS UPDATE CERTIFICATION National Central Cooling Company (Tabreed) has become the fi rst dis- trict cooling fi rm in the region to re- ceive International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 50001:2018 certifi cation. The UAE-based company’s En- ergy Management System was de- veloped with due focus on energy effi ciency requirements across its 75 regional plants. Bader Saeed Al Lamki, Tabreed’s chief executive offi cer, said that the recognition refl ected a concerted drive towards better methods of working. He explained: “Being awarded with an ISO 50001 certifi cation is a clear manifestation of Tabreed’s efforts of more than 20 years in optimising energy effi ciency. “We are proud of this achieve- ment. Our commitment towards sustainability is evident through our robust Energy Management System, which is particularly impor- tant within the context of the GCC’s growing demand for environmen- tally friendly cooling solutions.” Tabreed also holds the ISO 9001:2015 accreditation for qual- ity management systems, ISO 14001:2015 for environmental man- agement systems, and OHSAS 18001 for occupational health and safety management systems. In the fi rst half of this year, the fi rm contributed to saving 656million kilowatt/hours across the GCC – enough energy to power approximately 37,000 homes in the UAE annually. These power savings prevented the release of 392,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere – the equivalent of eliminating the emissions of 85,279 vehicles per year. Tabreed demonstrates commitment to enhancing energy efficiency with ISO 50001:2018 certification The National Central Cooling Company (Tabreed) Dubai plant on Sheikh Zayed Road. „It is vital that HVAC systems work perfectly they are the lungs of the building...‰ RONAK MONGA, segment development manager for commercial building services at Grundfos Gulf, Levant & Pakistan „Smart contracts could prove to be the start of the revolution...‰ SOHAM PANCHAMIY, Reed Smith Associate „It is our aim to encourage the adoption of advanced technologies...‰ HE AWAIDHA MURSHED AL MURAR, Chairman of Abu Dhabi’s DoE 2019 CALENDAR EVENTS AWARDS OCTOBER Leaders in Construction Kuwait Summit Date: 16 October Place: Radisson Blu Kuwait Dispute Resolution Question Time Abu Dhabi Date: 22 October Place: Sofi tel Abu Dhabi NOVEMBER Leaders in Logistics Summit 2019 Date: 12 November Place: Grosvenor House Dubai The Big 5 International & Building Construction Show Date: 25-28 November Place: Dubai World Trade Centre NOVEMBER MEP Middle East Awards Date: 6 November Place: Dubai „The UAE is one of the worldÊs most mature countries when it comes to using new technologies...‰ AHMED ABOU ALFA, founder of the UAE BIM Association 6 MEP Middle East | October 2019NEWS UPDATE October 2019 | MEP Middle East 7 www.mepmiddleeast.com PROJECT Drake & Scull’s Kuwait-based subsidiary has completed construction on Phase 1 of Sabah Al-Salem University. The $54.5million project has been undertaken by Drake & Scull for Electrical Contracting (DSIK), and is set for handover before the end of the year. DSIK is responsible for the construction, operation and maintenance of all MEP works at the site in Shadadiya, including the installation of fire alarm and HVAC systems, and low voltage work. Additionally, DSIK is supplying, installing, testing, commissioning, and maintaining all electrical and mechanical works at the university’s Colleges of Arts and Education. The campus recently welcomed its first batch of students for the first semester of the 2019-20 academic year, and has been inspected by Kuwait’s Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education, Dr Hamed Al-Azmi. Dr Al-Azmi said the facilities are in line with the plan of transition and operation outlined by the higher council of the university. Drake & Scull for Electrical Contracting delivers Phase 1 of uni MARKET GROWTH The gross output of the water, waste water and electricity sector grew 2.7% last year, according to fresh data released by the Federal Competitiveness & Statistics Authority. Output grew to $15.1billion in 2018, driven by continued population growth. This has pushed government to find efficient alternatives through clean energy sources and the launching of national mega projects, such as The Emirates National Grid (ENG) project. ENG facilitates the commercial transfer of electricity between power authorities. It also allows for cost savings as a result of the reduction in installed reserve capacity on individual utility systems. Output of water, waste water and electricity sector grows by 2.7% Floating photovoltaic tech sector predicted to ‘increase signifi cantly’ TECHNOLOGY FORECAST The fl oating photovoltaic systems sector is witnessing rapid growth in the solar power market, according to Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA). Billed as “one of the most prominent and emerging technology sustainable solutions”, a signifi cant increase in the number of water- based systems rolled out locally is expected over the next two decades. Reduced evaporation of water, lower clean- ing cost implications, and less need for site preparation and construction work are all cited as reasons why fl oating photovoltaic systems hold an edge over their grounded counterparts. And with water continuously reducing the temperature of the panels, effi ciency is also enhanced. A DEWA statement said: “In light of these advantages, Dubai seeks to establish fl oat- ing solar power plants on the Arabian Gulf, becoming a pioneer in developing modern techniques to enhance the energy sector in support of sustainable development, and pro- viding alternative solutions to conventional energy, in Dubai’s quest to become the city with the world’s lowest carbon footprint by 2050. “To achieve the vision of HH Sheikh Mo- hammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Presi- dent and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for economic, social, and envi- ronmental development, various government agencies are co-operating on these interna- tional standards. “DEWA and Dubai Municipality are study- ing the installation of a photovoltaic solar pan- el system on the deep-water drainage lakes. Dubai Municipality has achieved 50% so far of this project.” A DEWA delegation recently visited the world’s largest fl oating solar power station in Singapore, and has issued a request for proposal for appointing consultants to study, develop, and construct fl oating plants of their own. The statement continued: “We have high hopes that these fl oating solar power plants and DEWA’s other programmes and green initiatives will contribute to achieving the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, to provide 75% of Dubai’s total power output from clean energy by 2050, and to reach a capacity of 42,000 megawatts by 2050. “This includes the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single- site solar energy project in the world, based on the Independent Power Project model. “Our combined sustainable projects will po- sition Dubai as a leading example in energy effi ciency for the region and the world.” Reduced evaporation of water is one reason why fl oating photovoltaic systems hold an edge over grounded counterparts.NEWS UPDATE 8 MEP Middle East | October 2019 www.mepmiddleeast.com EXPO 2020 The UK’s Department for International Trade has tasked an independent environmental consultancy firm to explore decommissioning possibilities for the country’s Expo 2020 pavilion. Resource Futures, with a team that includes Construction Scotland Innovation Centre and Victoria Bond Consulting, will assess the future of the structure post event. The centrepiece of the design will be a 20m-high cone-shaped, cross laminated timber construction. Expo 2020’s target is for the site to be restored post event, and for each country to redeploy, recycle, or return 75% of pavilion construction materials back to the manufacturer. Allan Sandilands, principal consultant at Resource Futures, said: “Far too often, decommissioning and end of life is an after-thought which results in unnecessary wastage and missed opportunities.” Pico International has been awarded the construction contract for the project, working with sub-contractor McLaren. Resource Futures to assess reclamation of United Kingdom’s pavilion post Expo 2020 EXPO 2020 Work is underway to deliver Finland’s ‘Snow Cape’ pavilion in time for Expo 2020. “We are among the first countries to have started the construction work on their pavilions at the Expo 2020 site,” said commissioner-general Severi Keinälä. “Finland’s pavilion is inspired by the white blanket of snow that covers the Finnish landscape from autumn onwards.” MCH Group AG has been engaged to deliver MEP works for the project, which will have a metal structure built by Cimolai Middle East and sandwich panel cladding. Construction begins on Finland’s ‘Snow Cape’ Abu Dhabi Government introduces district cooling regulations REGULATIONS Abu Dhabi Government has become the fi rst administration in the Middle East to set up a complete integrated regulations system for district cooling. The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) made the announcement after the policy was rubberstamped by the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. Regulations aim to unify standards, inte- grate efforts to regulate the sector, ensure the highest quality and competitiveness for energy services, and protect consumer rights. The framework includes clauses to enhance energy effi ciency, protect the environment, and encourage investments in the sector. DoE Chairman, His Excellency Awaidha Murshed Al Marar, said: “The Government of Abu Dhabi has clear strategic vision and directives to improve effi ciency in the energy sector and promote more sustainable systems and infrastructure. “This served as the starting point for us to develop these regulations for the district cool- ing sector, and we began developing an eco- nomic and ecological roadmap for this prom- ising industry. “Furthermore, it is our aim to encourage the adoption of advanced technologies to at- tract investment and increase the contribu- tion of the district cooling sector to economic diversifi cation.” The DoE will be organising workshops to familiarise partners – which include the De- partment of Urban Planning & Municipalities, real estate developers, district cooling provid- ers, distributors and retailers, property own- ers, and property management companies – with regulations. DoE Undersecretary HE Mohammed bin Jarsh Al Falasi said: “The Department of Energy is committed to supporting the gov- ernment’s efforts to ensure the local commu- nity’s welfare and offer high-quality logistics services to various economic sectors. “The regulations for the district cooling sector will not only provide a reference, but also establish a consumer-centric culture and support the emirate’s economic development. “We will continue to work with our partners to implement the regulations, set priorities for the coming period, and encourage innova- tive and sustainable initiatives in the district cooling sector. “We are confi dent that this trend will be a turning point that refl ects positively on the quality of services provided by our partners in the sector.” The DoE also outlined requirements for switching from conventional cooling to dis- trict cooling systems, including the avail- ability of suffi cient water supplies – drinking water, desalinated, or sea water – that are up to standard. Another condition is that the cost of im- plementing a district cooling system must be below the cost of opting for the most optimal of conventional cooling methods. The cool- ing station must also have access to enough energy supplies to operate. The DoE drafted the regulations in line with Law No. (11) for 2018, which mandated the department with protecting consumer rights, providing a stable environment for in- vestors, and improving energy effi ciency. Part of the mandate covered regulating district cooling activities, providing licensing for the entities and individuals involved in the sector, and monitoring compliance with qual- ity standards. HE Awaidha Murshed Al Marar, Chairman of Abu Dhabi DoE.NEWS UPDATE October 2019 | MEP Middle East 9 www.mepmiddleeast.com COLLABORATION AGREEMENT Engineering practices chapmanbdsp and Hamdan Consulting Office (HCO) have signed a collaboration agreement for projects in Saudi Arabia. A statement says the arrangement “significantly increases” both firms’ capacity to bid for and deliver projects in the Kingdom, combining chapmanbdsp’s MEP engineering and environmental design team with HCO’s engineering and project managing skills. The two organisations have collaborated on projects in the region for many years, and the arrangement will see 180 HCO engineers currently operating in the region complemented by chapmanbdsp designers from KSA, the UAE and London. Ray Upjohn, chief executive of chapmanbdsp, said: “After working together with HCO for seven years we are delighted to enter into this agreement. “It means we now have a compelling offer for clients; a full range of design solutions delivered through one team.” Simon Baines, general manager of HCO, described the arrangement as an “exciting chapter”. He added: “Together we provide a turnkey solution for total design and project delivery; international and local expertise interlinked.” chapmanbdsp and Hamdan Consulting Offi ce to collaborate for projects in Saudi PROJECT Developer Deyaar’s Bella Rose project in Dubai’s Science Park has passed the 35% milestone. Kling Consult has been appointed as lead consult and MEP and structural engineer for the $102million 19-storey residential tower project. The developer’s vice president of projects and commercial, Khalid Ababneh, said the development was Deyaar’s first to be built under a design- and-build contract. Bella Rose build in Dubai Science Park at 35% mark DEWA joins Nestlé for inauguration of UAE’s largest ground-mounted private solar plant SOLAR PROJECT The UAE’s largest ground-mounted private so- lar plant has been launched at Nestlé Middle East’s Al Maha factory in Dubai. The project entails the installation of nearly 28,000 photovoltaic panels at the company’s three manufacturing sites. Panels will generate 10GWh of electricity per year – eliminating at least six million kilograms of CO2 emissions annually, the equivalent of emissions from 1,500 passen- ger cars or the energy consumption of 800 homes. The largest site alone will house 20,000 PV panels, generating 7.2GWh of electricity and eliminating 4.5m kilograms of CO2 per year. The solar plant is part of Dubai Electricity & Water Authority’s (DEWA) Shams initiative, which encourages building owners to install PV panels and connect them to DEWA’s grid. “I am pleased to be here again at the Nestlé Al Maha factory to witness the harvest of co- operation on sustainability between DEWA and Nestlé,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, DEWA MD & CEO. “This is a real example of the positive effect of collaboration between the public and pri- vate sectors in renewable and clean energy, which will have a positive net effect on the environment as a whole locally and interna- tionally.” One third of Nestlé’s 413 factories world- wide already use 100% renewable electricity. Marco Settembri, executive VP Nestlé SA and CEO zone Europe, Middle East & North Africa, said: “Nestlé is committed to steward- ing resources for future generations through caring for water, safeguarding the environ- ment and acting on climate change. “The solar plant in Dubai is an important contribution to Nestlé’s global ambition to achieve zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. “We are embracing the most ambitious aim of the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C.” The largest site alone will house 20,000 PV panels, generating 7.2GWh of electricity annually.Next >