< Previous10 MEP Middle East | January 2021 www.mepmiddleeast.com ALIAXIS In the MEP sector, projects teams are expected to make sound decisions, en- sure projects stay on budget and seek out the best solutions. It’s all about get- ting results. Not just for now, but in the fu- ture. The value of reliability Meticulous attention to detail is key to en- suring those results in the future. Compromising in products quality might seem alluring at the early stages of con- struction, but when things go wrong (usu- ally further down the line, and in a spec- tacular manner) it is then that the costs you thought you’d banished away show up to cause trouble and lose revenue. However, you shouldn’t have to wait for that disaster to happen. That’s why investing in reliable products which reduce liability and risk are ultimate- ly the best friends of any good MEP contrac- tor and facility managers. Partnering with a renowned global leader in plumbing and sanitary solutions such as Aliaxis Group therefore makes good sense. The reason is simple; it’s because of the dif- ference in terms of reliability, quality and durability. The Group, which is headquartered in Brussels Belgium, is a pioneer in plumbing and sanitary solutions and its global reputa- tion has been fi rmly built on its rigorous at- tention to quality. With a drive for innovative and sustainable solutions, its international footprint now encompasses 100 manufactur- ing and commercial companies which oper- ate in over 45 countries. “Setting industry benchmarks is a key part of the Group’s success,” says General Manager of Aliaxis Gulf, Tariq Abbadi. He cites Aliaxis Group’s European brands SANIT, Jimten and Multikwik, as examples of this success as their comprehensive product portfolios are widely accepted to be unrivalled in their fi eld. Offering further insights, Abbadi adds: “Be warned though. Great quality plumbing and sanitary solution manufacturers such as SANIT, Jimten and Multikwik aren’t over- night wonders. “If we look at SANIT, Jimten and Multi- kwik we can see that these are pioneers. Their combined expertise in this industry amounts to a staggering 200 years. That’s a lot of experience.” Quality and reliability are certainly high on the Aliaxis Group agenda and its prod- ucts and brands are supported by global Research & Development (R&D) centres which specialise in long-term performance and reliability. In terms of customer benefi ts this has the advantage of reducing operational costs and maintenance, that will positively impact the reputation of the developer as a quality ori- ented partner to any investor. “Let’s take Multikwik as a good example,” continues Abbadi, “It has been a pioneer in ‘fi t and forget’ solutions for over 50 years. The fl exible Eth- ylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) and Thermoplas- tic Elastomer (TPE) seals are key to long- term reliability. “What’s more, Multikwik WC connectors ensure a watertight joint past the point of installation making them ideal for tolerating movement and WC load bearing pressures.” Similarly, Jimten, Spanish manufacturer of plumbing supplies prides itself on over 50 years of manufacturing, and its products are recognised for combining easy installation with are accompanied by superlative perfor- mance. Putting hygiene and sustainability fi rst In this day and age hygiene and sustainabil- ity are also key considerations. Whether the Quality and reliability are high on the agenda, and brands GETTING RESULTS How Aliaxis Group’s plumbing and sanitary solutions can make all the difference to projects across the regionJanuary 2021 | MEP Middle East 11 www.mepmiddleeast.com ALIAXIS are supported by global Research & Development centres which specialise in long-term performance. project encompasses hospitals, hospitality or residential, the considerations of hygiene and sustainability remain important. In terms of sustainability and cost effectiveness SANIT is already ahead of the pack. Its products are exclusively made in Germany and are sold to over 60 countries worldwide. A great innovation in terms of sustainability is a water saving fl ush valve. This carries the prized water effi ciency scheme label (WELL) and the product in fact even exceeds industry requirements making it a market leader which outper- forms the competition. The dual fl ush can be adjusted to a maxi- mum fl ush of 7 litres and minimum fl ush 2 litres., making it a clear sustainable choice. What’s more, its construction from recy- clable plastic ultimately reduces CO2 foot- print. As a result, it proves a natural product choice on the road to achieving LEED cer- tifi cation. Similarly, Jimten and Multikwik share SANIT’s concern for the environment and sustainability. In fact, all three brands share the ISO 14001 accreditation, an Environmental Management System (EMS) which offers a systematic approach for measuring and im- proving environmental impact. Alongside sustainability, hygiene is an ever more important consideration, espe- cially for hospital projects. Furthermore, hospital design is increasingly focused on improving aesthetics as this has a direct ef- fect on patient wellbeing. SANIT’s German engineered concealed cisterns not only offer a compact design that creates space, but have the distinct ad- vantage of limiting dust accumulation due to their sleek behind-the- wall design. Hygiene is also a carefully considered due to the infrared touch free fl ush plates. What’s more, the option of a hygienic coating on the stainless-steel push plates further prevents the transfer of bacteria and viruses making it the perfect choice for hospital environments, especially in these pandemic times. Quality on your doorstep European manufactured brands have long been known for their enduring quality and are undoubtedly the products choice when quality and longevity matter. It comes as no surprise that SANIT, Jimten and Multikwik are manufactured in Germany, Spain and the UK respectively. This attention to detail and quality how- ever continues from Europe and onto your doorstep in the region. This is because full support is offered across the region by on- the-ground Aliaxis teams. The Group’s Middle East Africa (MEA) division combines all the advantages of global expertise together with the insights of local market knowledge. The regional Aliaxis offi ces, located in Dubai and Riyadh, were set up in 2012 and continue to provide strategic support to leading brands that have been tried and trusted in the GCC market for over 40 years. Heading operations in the region, Abbadi outlines how getting results can best be achieved for those in the MEA sector, “Getting results starts with fi nding a sup- plier who can offer full sanitary and plumb- ing solutions. And not just any solutions. There has to be great design and innovation plus strong industry experience and quality manufac- turing. Finally, if you are lucky enough to have the reassurance of expert on-the- ground customer support then the results will look very bright indeed,” he says. “And that’s why ultimately partnering with a key player like Aliaxis Group makes all the difference,” he concludes.12 MEP Middle East | January 2021 www.mepmiddleeast.com MEP HEROES Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa If we lived in a comic book, the year 2020 would certainly be the villain. And that can only mean that all those who fought back against the disruption of last year are heroes. Check out our fi rst ever MEP Heroes list to remind yourself of the innovation and expertise that shone through despite the adversity of the past 12 months. January 2021 | MEP Middle East 13 www.mepmiddleeast.com MEP HEROES Buro Happold’s Ashveen Jeetun. Ashveen Jeetun is one of the most accomplished plumbing engi- neers in the region, and has spent a large portion of 2020 assessing ways in which systems can mitigate the threat of the spread of Covid. Jeetun has set forth an original and useful concept that he named Pathogens Management Train (PMT). PMT identifi es the risk of transmission of disease at all stages of the plumbing cy- cle and provide useful and feasible meas- ures that can be used to reduce the risks of disease transmission. He has published several articles on Pathogens Management Train on Linked- In and the general response from engi- neers, manufacturers, building operators exceeded expectations. He also presented the fi ndings to Dubai Municipality who commented on his works as amazing and very informative and helpful. He is continuing his discus- sions with the Authority with a view to make plumbing design more hygienic in the region. Of course, the highlight of Jeetun’s past 12 months has been his involvement in the hugely acclaimed Terra Sustainability Pavilion at the Expo 2020 site. The Pavilion raked in the prizes at this year’s MEP Middle East Awards, and it is no surprise that one of the key men involved makes our fi rst ever ‘Heroes’ listing. He has been the lead designer of many systems, which include sustainable urban drainage system (SUDs), infrastructure network, and water treatment plants. For his efforts, Jeetun was recognised with the Plumbing Engineer of the Year prize at the MEP Middle East Awards 2020, the second year in a row he has walked away with the coveted accolade. Ashveen Jeetun: Buro Happold Contractor ALEC and consultancy Cundall teamed up over the sum- mer for to launch the Project of the Future initiative. The programme was designed to en- gage young professionals at both compa- nies to come up with an innovative idea “to build a better future” for the industry. The initiative charged future engineers to pitch ideas which they felt would make a notable positive change within con- struction. The winning group came up with an innovative solution called BRAINS – the Built Environment Ranking Artifi cial In- telligence Network System, which takes the next generation of technology, ubiq- uitous computing, which automates our entire external world, and applying it for the built environment and the construc- tion industry. By collating data together, BRAINS is creating correlation between things that we, as humans, do not have the “cognitive ability” to comprehend. ALEC CEO Kez Taylor, a judge alongside Cundall MD Richard Stratton, said that we need to collectively take urgent action to “reverse the current downward spiral of ineffi ciency” taking place in our sector. “This collaborative initiative is giving us the opportunity to raise awareness of the current ineffi ciencies and pave the way forward to transform the construc- tion industry to an effi cient and sustain- able future for all to succeed.” When asked about the future of the in- dustry and their perspective on how the construction sector can prosper for the Middle East, the ALEC and Cundall en- gineers agreed that combining “outstand- ing collaboration” and “thinking outside of the box” will lead to a positive change in implementing new practices. ALEC CEO Kez Taylor sat on the judging panel. ALEC/Cundall: Project of the Future 14 MEP Middle East | January 2021 www.mepmiddleeast.com MEP HEROES Terra The Sustainability Pavilion was a smash hit with judges at this year’s MEP Middle East Awards. Terra The Sustainability Pavilion has redefi ned sustainable systems in the built environment, and will be one of the biggest draws at next year’s Expo celebrations. The pavilion aims to “illuminate the in- genuity and possibility of architecture” as society looks to intelligent strategies for sustainable future living. The structure stands as one of three at the Expo site, presenting the opportunity to deliver an aspirational message about the natural world, ecology, and technol- ogy to a global audience. Drawing inspiration from complex natural processes like photosynthesis, the dynamic form of the pavilion is in ser- vice to its function, capturing energy from sunlight and fresh water from humid air. The incredible engineering feat earned Buro Happold GCC Project of the Year at the 2020 MEP Middle East Awards. Terra The Sustainability Pavilion Emirates Green Building Council has continued to help skylines in the UAE grow in an environmen- tally friendly and considered way throughout 2020. The organisation recently released the results of its ‘Advancing Deep Retrofi ts in the UAE’ study. It aims to support the industry and gov- ernment to explore solutions, approaches and incentives to retrofi tting buildings that go beyond current renovation pro- grammes to achieve greater energy and fi nancial savings, as well as address the challenges and opportunities related to deep building retrofi t projects. It showcases the viewpoints of the key stakeholders in the UAE retrofi t market to support in the development of national and emirate level roadmaps to deep ret- rofi ts and decarbonisation of the existing building stock. The work of Emirates Green Building Council continues to shape the UAE. Emirates Green Building CouncilJanuary 2021 | MEP Middle East 15 www.mepmiddleeast.com MEP HEROES Rheem Innovation Centre Dubai Electricity & Water Authority Brian Hempenstall, Managing Director – Rheem (MEA), and Pramodh Idicheria, COO – Leminar Global, cut the ribbon. Leminar Air Conditioning Company, a member of the Al Shirawi Group, launched the Rheem Innovation Cen- tre, a state-of-the-art experiential and learning arena at Dubai Silicon Oasis, dur- ing the summer months of 2020. The centre seeks to impact the contract- ing community by creating a repository of knowledge and providing training to bring out best-in-class skills among HVAC con- tractors in the UAE. VRF systems showcasing working princi- ples and methods can be viewed at the cen- tre, along with a live demonstration lab to let clients/customers experience the sound/ noise levels; live working demos of Tecnair Close Control units; and a performance test rig of Frese PICV’s. Also on show is a Mexican site study of ro- tary fi xtures of air handling units, as well as a live demo of all available air conditioning model, and dedicated product showroom. Dubai Electricity & Water Author- ity overcame the challenges and disruption of coronavirus by shifting WETEX and Dubai Solar Show into the virtual realm. “As one of the largest and most impor- tant global water, environment, and en- ergy exhibitions, WETEX & Dubai Solar Show enhances communication between professionals, experts, companies and audiences, and acts as a global platform encompassing decision makers, inves- tors and potential buyers from all over the world,” said MD and CEO Saeed Moham- med Al Tayer. “The show also offers visitors the op- portunity to participate in a wide range of specialised seminars and workshops on the latest technologies and solutions in oil and gas, power generation using clean and renewable energy, as well as solar grids.” DEWA shifted two major events online to mitigate the disruption caused by coronavirus. 16 MEP Middle East | January 2021 www.mepmiddleeast.com MEP HEROES Buhais Geology Park in Sharjah is a pioneering project in the field of ecotourism. Buhais Geology Park in Sharjah is a pioneering project in the fi eld of ec- otourism in a region of exceptional prehistoric and geological signifi - cance, and has been designed to introduce visitors to the history of the Emirate’s geol- ogy. Designed by Hopkins Architects, GAJ was the MEP consultant providing the design and supervision of the HVAC, electrical sys- tems, plumbing, and fi refi ghting services. Key to the design and execution of the MEP provision was the sustainability of the project and the optimisation of elec- tricity and water energy resources. The infrastructure was carefully co-ordinated throughout the project to ensure the de- sign of the services were consistent with the architectural vision. These included the use of low-consump- tion lighting and the harnessing of natural lighting where possible. GAJ: Buhais Geology Park Membership and lobbying body Eurovent Middle East ramped up its digital offerings through- out 2020, helping to move the conversation about HVAC optimisation forward as the impact of the pandemic became more clear. Regular whitepapers and webinars con- nected people from all over the region with peers from around the globe, ensur- ing all available information regarding the virus could be accessed in a timely manner. The body recently elected a new Presi- dent in Tariq Al Ghussein, who is also CEO at Taqeef. He said: “These are exciting times for our membership and our region, and Eurovent Middle East’s work on energy effi ciency, better IAQ, transparency and protocols has never been more relevant.” Taqeef CEO Tariq Al Ghussein was recently named President of Eurovent Middle East. Eurovent Middle EastJanuary 2021 | MEP Middle East 17 www.mepmiddleeast.com MEP HEROES Empower Phillipa Grant: AESG Ain Dubai was connected to Empower’s vast network earlier this year. Empower has enjoyed another suc- cessful year in the district cooling sector, and this year connected the world’s tallest observation wheel, Ain Dubai, to its network. CEO Ahmad Bin Shafar said: “With an investment of $1.6 billion, the Bluewaters Island project, which embraces the Ain Dubai Wheel, in addition to many luxurious residential and hotel buildings including the Caesars Palace Bluewaters Dubai and the distinctive shopping and entertainment centers, is indeed a qualitative addition to company’s portfolio.” Elsewhere, the fi rm also announced the award of a set of contracts worth $51million for the constructing of it’s fourth district cooling plant in Business Bay in Downtown Dubai. Chilled water production will be starting from the new plant by the third quarter of 2021. Phillipa Grant, Director of Energy and Sustainable Development at consultancy fi rm AESG, has shared her expertise on count- less occasions throughout 2020, and has been the driving force behind the com- pany’s Pathway to Net Zero tool. The application is applied free of charge to all projects to demonstrate how clients can achieve more eco-friendly structures. “We regularly release white papers on different issues. We’ve recently released a report on urban resilience looking at climate change and the impact that is go- ing to have on cities and how cities should develop to be resilient to changes that are coming,” said Grant. “We’re trying to encourage our em- ployees, push ourselves to be conducting research, and that feeds back into our projects and allows us to evolve and devel- op as consultants.” Phillipa Grant has helped drive forward AESG’s Pathway to Net-Zero tool. 18 MEP Middle East | January 2021 www.mepmiddleeast.com MEP HEROES Ramboll’s Jessica de Torres. Jessica De Torres was only pipped to the post at the MEP Middle East Awards by another 2020 Hero, Ashveen Jeetun, taking away the judge’s Highly Commended prize as a de- serving runner-up. Ramboll’s Senior Public Health Engineer has worked on numerous projects from concept to completion through the past 12 months, and provides design solutions for a wide range of projects that include high- rise hotels, residential, commercial, mixed- use, offi ces and villas. With extensive knowledge of both inter- national and local public health codes and standards, she provides optimum design solutions that are compliant and innovative. Her strong analytical thinking makes her capable of delivering sustainable design strategies for potable water and greywater treatment, centralised hot water genera- tion, fi re protection, gas distribution and rainwater harvesting that are suitable for the project and meet the clients’ require- ments. She is adept in analysing potentially chal- lenging areas and delivers feasible solu- tions that are workable and well-coordinat- ed with all other services. She has worked as a lead Senior Pub- lic Health Engineer on the twin 74-storey high-rise towers that include a fi ve-star hotel and serviced apartment, DCH-Creek Edge that comprises two high-rises, resi- dential, DCH-Plot A007 comprising two residential towers to name a few. She is in the process of obtaining her membership status at the Society of Public Health Engineers (SoPHE) and joins focus group discussions with other Public Health Engineers from various companies with the of co-creating some elaborate ideas on advanced building technology and the future of public health in the Middle East. Jessica de Torres: Ramboll The fi ngerprints of John Myer are all over Terra The Sustainability Pavil- ion, but it is not just the Expo mega project that has made him a 2020 Hero. Myer worked closely with subject mat- ter experts and local authorities to de- velop immediate tactics on how to safely reopen buildings and businesses amid the summer’s Covid-19 lockdowns. He has also developed a unique concept on Pathogen Management Train (PMT) in mechanical engineering systems. This identifi es potential transmission pathways in mechanical systems and in- forms on how existing and new building design can be enhanced to mitigate the evi- dent risks of pathogens. His work is being used to bridge the gap between science and engineering for which he has presented and discussed with Dubai Municipality. John Myer was presented with the Mechanical Engineer of the Year prize at the MEP Middle East Awards. John Myer: Buro Happold January 2021 | MEP Middle East 19 www.mepmiddleeast.com MEP HEROES Nathan Hanns: ALEMCO Association of District Cooling Operators ALEMCO General Manager Nathan Hanns. ALEMCO proved to be one of the real success stories of the past 12 months. Such was the robust nature of the systems put into place during the crisis that the fi rm was able to keep nearly all of its sites in operation, even at the height of the pandemic. And General Manager Nathan Hanns says that is down to the dedication of staff. “I think we were extremely lucky to put to- gether all the right people, key leaders, at the right moment, and had daily meetings to use all their ability to react accordingly. “In the beginning stages it was a little bit diffi cult to implement, but we picked up speed very quickly. “From a business perspective, brilliant, we kept pretty much every site running through the pandemic. On the whole it was a very good year all round, especially when you con- sider the circumstances in the market.” Dubai launched the region’s fi rst Association of District Cooling Operators to enhance the effi cien- cy of district cooling operations and optimise water and energy resources. It is hoped members will collaborate to drive innovation and raise standards in the fi eld even higher. Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower, presided over the association’s fi rst meet- ing in the presence of Ahmad Buti Al Mu- hairbi, Secretary General of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy. Al Muhairbi outlined the need to in- crease the penetration of district cooling in Dubai to reach 40% by 2030. He also ex- tended his full support to the association. He said that district cooling operators should integrate modern technologies of energy effi ciency into their operations and prioritise the usage of recycled water in district cooling. The Association of District Cooling Operators is the first of its kind in the region. Next >