Did you Know #DYK: What a Facilities Manager does and the Facility Manager’s responsibilities

posted in: Did You Know 0

 

Facility Manager
A Facility Manager is responsible for managing the building and making sure that it is managed and
maintained by the owners and their tenants. There are two types of Facility Manager: a Hard and soft
Management and in some instances the same manager can facilitate both jobs depending on the size of the
development

 

Hard Facility Manager is in charge of the planning and construction side of the building, this
generally includes everything to do with the construction of the building e.g building budgets, labour as
well as maintenance of the machinery that is used during the construction phase. The Hard Facilitates
manager also manages all the contractors making sure that they perform the duties that they have been
paid for. I would like to say that this type of manager is known in the industry as a “Project Manager”

 

A Soft Manager is also known as a Property Manager and is responsible for maintaining the already
constructed building on a day to day basis. This includes managing all cleaning and security contractors.
The responsibilities of a Property manager are as follows:

 

Security – Making sure that the security company that has been appointed is carrying out the service that
they are being paid for and the building is a safe environment for the staff and clients to make use of.

 

Cleaning – Making sure that building is cleaned and presentable at all times, this includes making
sure that hygiene contacts are in place and ablutions are clean.

 

Gardening – Making sure that the gardens are maintained and are kept neat and tidy, this creates an impression of the building and it’s value especially when looking to lease out offices.

 

Staff – If there are staff employed to clean the grounds and gardeners for the gardens, they would need to be managed and given daily tasks to perform.

 

Health and Safety – Making sure that any contractors working on site follow proper Health and Safety procedures. This also includes making sure that all fire equipment is regularly serviced.

 

Sources:

Facilities Manager image

https://www.thebalance.com/what-is-a-property-manager-2124842

 

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About Cindy Hartley

My name is Cindy Hartley I have been working directly for Victor Terblanche managing his property portfolio since February 2017, I am very passionate about property and enjoy every aspect of property management.

Did you Know #DYK: Trench-less Technology

posted in: Did You Know 5

 

I did not know much about the ‘nitty gritty’ of my topic, so in my research, I have managed to repair the link between the unknown and new information. I do hope that I am able to shed some light to others too.

 

Trenchless Technology”. Trenchless?! How may I ask could any material be placed underground without digging a trench?

 

Well, literally: Trenchless Technology means “no-dig” construction. Few trenches or no continuous trenches are required to being dug below the surface for minimal disruption to the surface. It is green, sustainable and cost-effective. The servicing rehabilitation, replacement of existing, the construction of new, public utilities and other services underground without the digging of trenches, including the development of all kinds of underground condition assessment and mapping techniques, tunnelling devices and specialist machinery, materials and equipment.

 

I became more interested and investigated further. Especially as it is rapidly growing within the construction and civil engineering industries.

 

Why?

As previously mentioned;

· There is less disruption to the surface.

· There are more environmental regulations, so the demand for this technology has increased.

· And expense, this technology is a non-disruptive, cost-effective solution to pipe laying.

 

The NASTT website provides a simple and straightforward definition:

[Trenchless technology refers to] a family of construction techniques for installing or rehabilitating underground infrastructure with minimal disruption to surface traffic, businesses, and residents. Also includes technologies for inspection, leak location, and leak detection with minimal disruption and minimal excavation from the ground surface.

 

The following methods used in this form of technology are: tunnelling, micro-tunnelling (MTM), horizontal directional drilling (HDD), also known as directional boring, pipe ramming (PR), pipe jacking (PJ), moving, horizontal auger boring (HAB)*, minimal excavation takes place for the installation of pipelines and cable below the ground.

 

Methods on a site being rehabilitated are known as: slip-lining, thermoformed pipe, pipe bursting, cured-in-place pipe (CIPP), grout-in-place pipe, mechanical spot repair, and other methods for the repair, rehabilitation, or replacement of existing buried pipes and structures without excavation, or at least with minimal excavation.

 

 

A lot needs to be considered, to prevent the surface caving in, the load on the surface must not have too much pressure to affect the bore which means the soil characteristics must be considered. For example, is the soil is sandy or there is a shallow water table or constant heavy urban traffic? All of this will need to be investigated and researched.

 

Examples where Trenchless Technology is useful:

• Sensitive areas in terms of the environment

• Golf Courses

• Airport Runways

• Railroads

• Waterways

• Busy Road Ways

• Residential or Commercial Areas

• Sewers

Trenchless Technology could quite possibly revolutionise the plumbing industry by providing a more efficient and economical way to restore and repair underground utilities likes pipes and plumbing, without the need for excavation.

When underground pipes get clogged, it can often require expensive and difficult excavation to repair the issues.

Trenchless sewer repair offers a much more streamlined and resourceful way to get your essential plumbing tasks done and once again, here’s why:

1) Saves you money

2) Saves you time

3) “Preserve the Beauty”

4) Improving infrastructure with less disruption

Impressive – I think…

 

Image sources:

Directional Drill

Directional drilling illustration

Technology has no ethics

 

Research tools:

-Myway image search

-Google images

-(Trenchless Technologies cc)

-(Taken from Book “Trenchless Technology: Pipeline and Utility Design, Construction and Renewal. Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Athens, London, Madrid, Mexico City, Milan, New Delhi, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto. Published: 2005. Authors Mohammed Najafi, Ph.D, P.E.)

*(Wikipedia)

 

About Tara Hutton

My employment at Leads 2 Business commenced in January 2010, where for two years I worked in the Directory Department establishing a better understanding of construction and where Leads 2 Business fitted in. In February 2012, I moved to the Accounts department where I have been looking after accounts queries and anything related to accounts since then. I have been told by many that I’m resilient, yet caring individual and good to have on “their” side. Calm under pressure, which is quite useful in my line of work. I am proud and honoured to be part of the L2B mothership adding my bit to the greater good. Should you require more information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Did you Know #DYK: Things you need to know about Project Cost Estimates

posted in: Did You Know 8

If you are anything like me then you probably associate the word “Estimate” with the word “Guestimate”, but that is not exactly what we are talking about when we mention “Project cost Estimates”. The difference between a “Guestimation” and an “Estimation” is basically the science and realism of it all. An estimation is based on actual historical cost data, and a defined Work Breakdown Structure (which is in all probability standardised across projects) as well as a systematic understanding of the types of cost associated with each aspect of the project. Whereas a guesstimate is purely derived by us placing our finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing and then thumb sucking a huge guess- around about figure.

Estimates are all derived from actual real-life history data, drawn up from completed projects done in the past, basically the moral of the story here is “we live and we learn”. Successful estimators and project managers learn from past cost trends and use this knowledge together with a few project cost estimate techniques to accurately estimate the cost of projects.

 

Now you are probably asking yourself the next reasonable question- “What on earth do they start with and why?”
The answer is simple, they start with a reasonable understanding of what is expected and what they need to deliver. This includes all resource costs needed to complete the project successfully, efficiently and on time within a certain budget constraint. Why? Because let’s face it, when we ask someone for a price for a service or product, it can either go one of two ways. If we are given a ridiculously high price we will walk away and find our next victim and if we are given a ridiculously low price, many of us would jump at the bargain and insist they start right away, however, can you imagine doing work for free yourself? – Hell no.

 

Let’s break it down a little further:

Did you know there are three vital points to consider when estimating a cost of a project? Namely:

 

-Money: Yes! Money makes the world go around, and it is for that reason that you need to calculate your cost correctly, apply your markup, and present the total to your customer.

-Accuracy: We all severely dislike surprises that tend to come out of our pockets (and not go into them) so you have to ensure that there are no surprises when it comes to a pre-construction estimate and the final amount to be paid. This is where historical data plays a huge part if we know the price of a job we have done before and take into account appreciation over time as well as various market trends then we should not be too far off in our figures.

-Speed: The world is full of impatient customers, we want our estimates quickly. Customers will not wait weeks for their estimates. It’s survival of the fittest out there, and more and more companies understand the importance of a speedy delivery, therefore it is imperative you get your estimates out quickly, research shows that customers are more likely to go with one of the first two estimates they receive.

 

Okay so now we know what to consider when estimating, but how do we actually go about doing this estimating thing?

There are a few options available to us, I personally like to call them “New school” and ‘Old school”:

 

New school– We now have technology that can do this all for you. Yes, that’s right, the world has evolved! The amazing thing about technology is that it gives you the advantage of speed. We live in such a fast-paced society, technology is a huge advantage in any business.
All the software programs nowadays come with the standardised:

Takeoff tool: To assist us in the process of taking measurements from paper or digital plans.

Integrated cost databases: which use market available data, combined with your own data for cost estimating.

Calculations for estimates: This generates a worksheet that will show you exactly how the software got to the costs and what was taken into consideration.
Like any other online platform, it also comes with its own comments and notes section allowing you to personalise your estimates.

 

 

 

 

 

Old School– If you are a die-hard, hands-on type of person then this is the option for you. We haven’t fully erupted into the age of the machine. A lot of people still find the most success by going back to the basics.

 

 

 

 

There are 4 major techniques when it comes to cost estimates by hand.
Analogous Estimation: This technique also goes by another nickname “Top-Down Estimation”, and is primarily used when you have very little detail about the project, therefore it is a little less reliable than the others. In this technique, you will have to use experienced judgement to determine a cost estimate based on similar projects you have done previously.
Parametric Estimation: The only difference between Parametric and Analogous estimation is that Parametric estimation uses actual historical and statistical data to calculate a more accurate cost estimate
Three-Point Estimation: This technique is based on removing uncertainties while making estimate assumptions by having three possible estimates and then finding the average between the three and using that figure as the overall estimate.
Bottom-Up Estimation: This technique is the most used and is far more accurate, although more time-consuming. The cost of every single item and activity is estimated and then added to arrive at a total estimated figure.

 

So who wins, Technology or man?

Now we get down to the nitty-gritty of it all, who does it better? The answer is simple, we work well together. Working through a program has the advantage of speed, however it is just a program at the end of the day and cannot replace that age-old experience that a person would have, and on the other end of the spectrum a person cannot calculate as accurately and as quickly as the program can, therefore, hand in hand, they are an estimating force to be reckoned with, which means customers will receive accurate, efficient estimates in a timely manner.

 

Sources:
https://imgflip.com/memegenerator (Pictures)
https://blog.capterra.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-construction-cost-estimating/
https://galorath.com/blog
https://blog.planningproapp.com/estimate-project-cost/
https://www.markupandprofit.com/articles/basics-estimating

 

About Jade Nel

I joined Leads 2 Business in July 2017 as an Account Executive in Durban. My main focuses are sales and customer retention, I am extremely bubbly, fun and competitive.

Did you Know #DYK: Demolitions gone wrong

posted in: Did You Know 0

One of the earliest documented attempts at building implosion was the 1773 raising of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Waterford, Ireland with 150 pounds of gunpowder, a huge amount of explosives at the time. The use of low-velocity explosive produced a deafening explosion that instantly reduced the building to rubble.

There is no actual date when demolition started and how they had demolished castles and other types of structures, but in our times we see demolition every day. I was under the impression you plant your dynamite, press your button and BOOM! Not knowing how much knowledge is required for demolishing a structure, or the different types of demolishing techniques there are. For instance, for smaller houses or small buildings large hydraulic equipment, cranes and bulldozers can be used. Large buildings, bridges, tall chimneys and smokestacks can be demolished with explosives. A new approach to demolition is the deconstruction of a building with the goal of minimizing the number of materials going into landfills, this is called the “green” approach. This is applied by removing the materials by the specific type of materials and segregating them for reuse or recycling. The Japanese company Kajima Construction has developed a new method of demolishing buildings which involves using computer-controlled hydraulic jacks to support the bottom floor as the supporting columns are removed. The floor is lowered and this process is repeated for each floor. This technique is safer and more environmentally friendly and is useful in areas of high population density.

However interesting demolition is, if not done correctly the outcome can be devastating. In fact, any error could be disastrous as it could severely damage neighbouring structures. Flying debris could harm onlookers, a building that fails to collapse completely may be unstable and could be difficult for workers to approach and then of course air overpressure that occurs during the implosion. If the sky is clear, the shock wave (a wave of energy and sound) travels upwards and disperses, but if cloud coverage is low, the shock wave can travel outwards, breaking windows or causing other damage to surrounding buildings. In regards to this, let’s take a look at some demolitions gone wrong:

 

2013 Philadelphia building collapse

On 05 June 2013, a building undergoing demolition collapsed onto the neighbouring Salvation Army Thrift Store at the southeast corner of 22nd and Market Streets in Centre City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, trapping a number of people under the rubble. The store was open and full of shoppers and staff. Six people died and fourteen others were injured. The construction contractor, Griffin Campbell, an excavator operator, Sean Benschop, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and other charges. They were found guilty of manslaughter, and Campbell and Benschop received prison sentences of 15 years to 30 years, and 7.5 years to 15 years, respectively.

On 12 June 2013, Ronald Wagenhoffer, the 52-year-old City Department of Licenses and Inspections inspector responsible for inspecting the demolition site, was found dead in his truck with a gunshot to the chest. His death was ruled a suicide.

 

Royal Canberra Hospital implosion

   

 

The Royal Canberra Hospital implosion was a failed building implosion that killed one person and injured nine others. The implosion occurred on 13 July 1997, when the city’s superseded hospital buildings at Acton Peninsula on Lake Burley Griffin (that formerly constituted the Royal Canberra Hospital) were demolished to make way for the National Museum of Australia. The main building did not fully disintegrate and had to be later manually demolished. But far worse, the explosion was not contained on the site and large pieces of debris were projected towards spectators situated 500 metres away on the opposite side of the Lake, in a location that nobody considered unsafe or inappropriate. A twelve-year-old girl, Katie Bender, was killed instantly, and nine other people were injured. Large fragments of masonry and metal were found 650 metres from the demolition site.

 

In cases of demolition gone wrong, these demolition failures did not only cause destruction to near surrounding buildings or the loss of reputations, but the cost was so much more, the cost of lives.

In order to practice the phenomenal art of demolishing, one must always have the necessary qualifications and truly know their story.

 

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Building_implosion

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demolition#Manual

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Building_implosion

Canberra Hospital image

Canberra Hospital Memorial stone image

Philadelphia building collapse image

If you are interested in becoming one of our subscribers, please visit our website.

To view notes with screenshots on how to use our website, please visit our Wiki site.

To view more articles, please visit our blog.

About Jackie Thomas

I started working for Leads 2 Business in February 2017. I work in the Daily Tenders division where we source and capture daily tenders for our subscribers. It is an absolute pleasure being a part of this Company and I look forward to being apart of this company for many years to come.

Did you Know #DYK: Project Life Cycle Explained

posted in: Did You Know 0

Before I get into the fundamentals of project stages, let’s establish what a project is. Leads 2 Business classifies a development as a project because it is researched as a whole (from the conceptual stage, right up until it is completed). It is funded not only through private organisations but also by the government and parastatals. What it boils down to, is that it is researched from start to finish, instead of just the two stages of Tender & Awarded. Thus allowing our subscribers to know more, as we update the project and notify them as it progresses.

There are many ways to differentiate the phases of a project, Leads 2 Business uses 9 to ensure all the correct information and professionals are made known and to ensure no confusion or omittances occur. 

The conceptual stage is the first phase of a development. During this phase funding is secured, feasibility studies are conducted and the client/developers are appointed. The only professionals listed could be that of the client or the developer.

Once everything is finalised & approved, the development moves to the Procedural stage. All the necessary investigations & surveys are conducted (environmental investigations, assessments, geotechnical investigations & zoning to name a few) to ensure there is no endangerment to any of the natural habitats and living organisms (different pollutions are also taken into consideration).

A bit of designing is done to gain basic knowledge & plans as to what the specifics are of the development, in order to appoint the correct consulting & professional teams. Suggested architects, quantity surveyors, estimators & the necessary engineers would make up the consulting & professional teams.

 

The development then proceeds to move to the Design stage. During this phase the professional teams (architects, quantity surveyors, work together to design and plan everything that would need to be acquired, built, constructed, fabricated etc in order for the project to be completed effectively & efficiently. Once all the design and planning is completed, it is then decided which main building contractors will be asked to bid on the project. Architects, Quantity Surveyors, Engineers, Interior Designers & other consultants are officially appointed at this stage. They will be made available to our subscribers for them to get further information on the project.

 

Once the bid invitations are sent out, the development is in the Tender stage. Drawings and other specifications of the project are made available to the invited contractors so that they are able to send out the request for quotations. The contractors have a cut-off date for when they would need to submit their pricing to the client/developers. Once they receive the pricing back from their vendors they then have time to work through it, choose the best prices and complete the tender document and submit it either before or on the closing date. The contractors are referred to as bidders. One bidder is listed but our subscribers are able to request the full bidder’s list.

 

 

Awarded phase occurs when the client has appointed one of the bidders as the contractor for the development, and the main contractor has appointed the subcontractors. The subcontractors used may not necessarily be the same vendors that the main contractor used in his tendering documentation when submitting his pricing to the developers.

 

 

 

 

Once he ground has been brokenconstruction has commenced, it is safe to say the development is in the Underway stage. Other vendors and subcontractors may be brought on board by the contractor during the building & construction phase as complications or miscalculations may occur. More likely than not the project may be delayed, either due to the natural circumstances (weather) or financial disputes, delay in delivery of services from suppliers or fabricators and so on & so forth. Essentially the entire consulting, professional & contracting teams will be on board and work on the project.

 

 

When all building & construction is followed through, the project is in Completed phase. There are particular tests that need to be conducted before project handover such as foundation & footing, sewage & plumbing, electrical, fire & smoke resistant, insulation and more, to ensure that the certificate of occupancy may be issued. The investigations & certifications vary as to what has been built. For more complex buildings there would be more investigations conducted to ensure the building has been built to the correct standard and builders followed the correct protocols and processes.

 

Once the certificate of occupancy is issued, project handover from the builders to the developers will happen. Although the project is completed, the contractors are usually* still under a defect liability period which generally runs for 12 months. During the period, whatever building faults (electrical, plumbing etc) occur, the contractor is liable to repair and services at no additional cost. Tenants that will be occupying the building, if commercial, may also become available at this stage.

*usually: it is not always stipulated in the original agreement, it may have been omitted by the contractor or the developers or it could have been a mutual agreement.

If there are any complications (usually funding or land claim disputes) the project will be Postponed until an outcome is reached. The project will then either continue* or it will be Cancelled. There are few instances when a cancelled project is taken over by other developers and reinstated. 

*continue: with or without any changes or modifications to plans or prior agreements

And there you have it, folks, the Life Cycle of a Project explained.

 

Sources: 

https://blog.l2b.co.za/did-you-know-dyk-what-is-a-private-project/

https://www.l2b.co.za/Projects/Project-Development-Phases

https://www.l2b.co.za/Projects/Project/View?ID=d97de9b4-58af-4ea5-bce3-3ce7970a0ca4

https://www.l2b.co.za/Projects/Project/View?ID=bf6767b5-c64b-4511-b9cb-b59ac0b66130

www.slcdocs.com/building/manual.pdf

https://www.out-law.com/en/topics/projects–construction/construction-claims/defects-liability-periods/

Image of Engineer

Image of Handshake image

Image of Cartoon holding a tool

Image of Contractors on Lunch

About Kirsty Cloete

Kirsty Cloete, reporting live from Leads 2 Business Telesales Department in Johannesburg Gauteng, since March 2015. Thoroughly enjoying working with this dynamic & eccentric company.

Did you Know #DYK: 10 things you should know about demolition

posted in: Did You Know 0

Demolition

10 things you should know about demolition

1. What is Demolition?

Demolition is a very exciting and fast phase of construction. For a complete demolition, a home can come down and be entirely removed from the site in a day or two. While demolition is typically fast and messy, it’s not necessarily mindless and uncomplicated.

There’s actually quite a bit to know about demolition; beginning demolition without a clear strategy can have significant time and financial repercussions later.

So, it all has to start somewhere, I will start from the beginning and tell you a little more about where it starts and how it ends and the different types of Demolition – Kaboom!
As I see it, what goes up, must come down 🙂

 

2. Don’t try it yourself (Don’t DIY)

Get an experienced crew involved in the plan to accomplish any demolition. Otherwise, you could end up getting hurt and paying expensive bills. The ideal situation is to have the framing crew take on the demolition, the framers will know what to retain and the accountability chain is direct.

 

Note to all Men – Don’t DIY, unless you want to end up in the Dog Box.

 

 

 

3. Pre-Demolition Inspection

Pre-demolition inspection may be one of the most helpful and cost-effective steps you can take to recognise materials that should be removed from buildings before starting the demolition process.

 

4. Play by the Rules

Unless you live in the middle of nowhere or in the woods and your nearest neighbour is miles away, there is no subtle way to sneak a proper demolition. Make sure you are going about it the right and legal way. I’d suggest taking the neighbours a nice box of chocolates or wine to apologise in advance for the noise levels. You will definitely need the patience of your neighbours. Play by the rules and get your permits.

 

5. There are different types of Demolition

If and when you are planning to construct a new building in place of an old one, then demolition is inevitable.

  • Demolition by Hand – you can only use hand tools with this method like sledgehammers, for example.
  • Crane and Wrecking Ball – the wrecking ball is largely outmoded, replaced by excavators and other mechanical means that offer better precision, efficiency, and safety.
  • Implosion – A highly-specialised type of demolition that employs the use of explosives to bring down high structures by undermining structural supports so that it collapses within its own footprint or along a predetermined path.
  • Mechanical Demolition – specialised mechanical equipment and tools. These include hydraulic excavators equipped with specialised attachments that can break concrete and steel, effectively “chewing” the structure apart. Smaller equipment is also used.
  • Total Demolition – It is the demolition of an entire structure, and it can be achieved by a number of methods.
  • Dismantling/Deconstruction – dismantlement or deconstruction of a structure to preserve components for reuse, recycling, or refurbishment.
  • Selective Demolition – removal of specific interior/exterior portions of a building while protecting the remaining structure and nearby structures.
  • Interior Demolition – Interior portions of a structure while preserving the exterior. This usually includes removal of walls, ceilings, pipes, etc.

 

6. Try to find somewhere to live during your demolition

Demolition is loud, dirty and gets dust on everything. It will almost be impossible to enjoy your home under these circumstances and may also not be very safe for you and your family. It’s best to try to find a place to stay during your demolition. Keep the wife happy, no woman likes a dusty house.

 

7. Asbestos Procedures

Do your homework when it comes to asbestos. Nothing will shut down a project faster than an asbestos violation. Inspection prior to demolition or renovation, the affected structure or part of the structure where the work is to take place must be thoroughly inspected by a certified asbestos inspector for the presence of asbestos. Notification requirements vary with the amount of regulated asbestos and type of activity taking place. All demolitions, including those where no asbestos is present, require a notification form be sent to DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources)

 

I don’t know if it’s just Me, but it looks like Chuck Norris was here

 

8. Listen to the guy on site who says “consider the following things…”
He is speaking from experience and he knows what he’s talking about.
Always get the experts involved in any situation, people qualify to do certain things for a reason.

 

9. You’d be surprised how many items and materials can be reused or recycled from the demolition
Deconstruction is a new term for a simple concept: rather than destroying or demolishing a building, the team carefully disassemble the structure, identifying those parts for reuse. Construction and demolition waste recycling is a big industry and is steadily increasing. The amount of construction and demolition waste generated in the U.S. in 2012 was estimated at 480 million tons, according to a 2014 CDRA executive summary.

 

10. Get in touch with the Correct People

You can get in touch with some Demolition/Construction Companies on our Directory, by clicking here

 

Should you wish to subscribe to our services and find out more about what we do here at Leads 2 Business, you are more than welcome to give me (Natasha) a call on +27(0)33 343 1130 or email me at NatashaL@L2B.co.za

 

Now you know a little more about Demolition and so do I 🙂

L2B Blog: Renovation or Demolition?

 

 

Sources:

https://www.epa.gov/large-scale-residential-demolition/pe-demolition-inspections
http://www.rbaker.com/press-room.php?id=230

http://rockassoc.com/2017/07/18/10-things-you-should-know-about-demolition/

http://blog.buildllc.com/2011/07/10-things-you-should-know-about-demolition/

http://denr.sd.gov/des/wm/asb/asbdemolition.aspx

http://blog.wegowise.com/2012-10-30-building-life-cycle-demolition-recycling

http://blog.capterra.com/5-tips-for-recycling-your-construction-waste/

About Natasha Lubbe

My name is Natasha Lubbe and I am a very Bubbly and Happy 30-year-old Mother to the Sweetest 6-year-old Little Girl. I have worked for Leads 2 Business since 04 October 2016. I really enjoy a Challenge and Love Learning new things. Feel free to call me at any time, I'd gladly assist. Nothing you wear is more important than your smile.

Did you Know #DYK: The most extravagant greenhouses / buildings

posted in: Did You Know 2

The most extravagant greenhouses / buildings

The most extravagant greenhouses / buildings

Before we look at the largest and most extravagant greenhouses I think we need to cover what a greenhouse is. A Greenhouse is a structure with walls and roof made chiefly of transparent material, such as glass, in which plants requiring regulated climatic conditions are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to industrial-sized buildings.

The idea of growing plants in environmentally controlled areas has existed since Roman times. In the 13th century, greenhouses were built in Italy to house the exotic plants that explorers brought back from the tropics. Greenhouses in which the temperature could be manually manipulated first appeared in 15th century Korea. The concept of greenhouses also appeared in the Netherlands and then England in the 17th century, along with the plants. Today the Netherlands has many of the largest greenhouses in the world, some of them so vast that they are able to produce millions of vegetables every year.

The golden era of the greenhouse was in England during the Victorian era where the largest greenhouses yet conceived were constructed, as the wealthy upper class and aspiring botanists competed to build the most elaborate buildings. A good example of this trend is the pioneering Kew Gardens.

   

Kew Gardens is a botanical garden in Southwest London that houses the “largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections in the world”. Founded in 1840, from the exotic garden in Kew Park, UK, its living collections include more than 30,000 different kinds of plants while the herbarium, which is one of the largest in the world, has over seven million preserved plant specimens. The library contains more than 750,000 volumes, and the illustrations collection contains more than 175,000 prints and drawings of plants. It is one of London’s top tourist attractions and is a World Heritage Site.

 

A Conservatory is a building or room having glass or tarpaulin roofing and walls used as a greenhouse or a sunroom. If in a residence, it would typically be attached to the house on only one side. Conservatories originated in the 16th century when wealthy landowners sought to cultivate citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges that began to appear on their dinner tables brought by traders from warmer regions of the Mediterranean. Municipal conservatories became popular in the early 19th century.

A traditional conservatory at the Horniman Museum in London.

 

In the UK the legal definition of a conservatory is a building that has at least 50% of its side wall area glazed and at least 75% of its roof glazed with translucent materials, either polycarbonate sheeting or glass. Today the terms sunroom, solarium and conservatory are used interchangeably by the public, but in general, the term conservatory and particularly English conservatory evoke the image of an ornate structure, echoing the traditions of that Victorian era of conservatory building.

 

Anthaeum, Hove built in 1830 with the world’s largest dome, was an iron and glass conservatory planned by English botanist and landscape gardener Henry Phillips and designed by architect Amon Henry Wilds on land owned by Sir Isaac Goldsmid in Hove, Sussex. Conceived on a grand scale and consisting of a gigantic cupola-topped dome covering more than 1.5 acres, the structure was intended to enclose a carefully landscaped tropical garden, with exotic trees and shrubs, lakes, rockeries and other attractions. Disagreements between the architect, the project engineer and the building contractor led to structural problems being overlooked or ignored, though, and the day before it opened the Anthaeum collapsed spectacularly in 1833.

 

Adelaide’s Bicentennial Conservatory was constructed in 1987 and opened in late 1989. The building was designed by local architect Guy Maron and has won awards for its design, engineering and landscaping. It is 100 metres long, 47 metres wide and 27 metres high making it the largest single span conservatory in the southern hemisphere. The conservatory houses at risk or endangered tropical rainforest plants from northern Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and South Pacific Islands.

 

Adelaide’s Bicentennial Conservatory

 

Although there are lists of spectacular glass houses or conservatories, the Palm House at Schönbrunn Palace Park in Vienna takes the cake as the largest glass house in continental Europe. It is 111 metres long, 28 metres wide and 25 metres high composed of 45,000 sheets of glass. It is also among the largest botanical exhibits of its kind in the world, with around 4,500 plant species. Devised by designer Franz von Segenschmid and constructed by metal worker Ignaz Gridl in the 1880s, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

 

Palm House at Schönbrunn Palace Park

 

No matter how extravagant the building or greenhouse the importance of greenhouses still remains. Greenhouses allow for greater control over the growing environment of plants. Greenhouses may be used to overcome shortcomings in the growing qualities of a piece of land, such as a short growing season or poor light levels, and they can thereby improve food production in marginal environments. Greenhouses are also increasingly important in the food supply of high-latitude countries, as they may enable certain crops to be grown throughout the year.

 

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kew_Gardens

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmenhaus_Sch%C3%B6nbrunn

http://greenarea.me/en/109899/the-importance-of-greenhouses/

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About Helga Venter

My name is Helga Venter. I started with the company in 2004 and was promoted to Financial Director in 2007.

Did you Know #DYK: EIA Processes Explained

Ultimately when I was chosen for this topic, my first thought when hearing “Environmental Impact Assessments” (EIA’s) was little butterflies, tree huggers and strange frogs of which there are only 2 left. But there most certainly is a lot more to it!

 

First things first… what exactly is an EIA? Very simple really, thanks to my bestie, Google: “Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process of evaluating the likely environmental impacts of a proposed project or development, taking into account inter-related socio-economic, cultural and human-health impacts, both beneficial and adverse.”

Source

 

Still not sure? Let’s get to it then!

 

EIA in South Africa all started back in the ’70’s. It started out voluntarily until 1997 when the government passed EIA regulations under the old Environmental Conservation Act (Act 73 of 1989). Activities, such as projects, policies, programmes and plans, which have a significant effect on the environment must be investigated and assessed, to bring any valuable concerns to light. This does not, however, mean that the project won’t move forward, the EIA test is to gain clarity so that developers/clients are made aware of any impacts the project will have on the environment or culture upon completion.

 

There are two levels of assessment, namely: a Basic Assessment process and a full EIA. The full EIA process entails the following steps:

1. Screening
2. Scoping
3. Assessment study
4. Review
5. Decision-making
6. Follow-up

 

The length of the EIA will depend on the project under review. The process usually lasts between 6 and 18 months, approximately the same length as the feasibility study. Now, let’s have a look at each step individually and what each step of the process entails.

 

Screening:

This process is completed by the relevant authority at national, provincial or local level. As previously mentioned, there are two levels of assessment. Basic assessments are done to streamline the EIA so that smaller projects/activities (ie. road widening, construction of dams below 5m in height etc) are not subjected to a full EIA. These assessments, therefore, do not include a scoping phase. An Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) is required to determine whether a basic assessment or full EIA is required. The EAP will consult with the public, designated competent authority and relevant stakeholders. The input by the stakeholders is required before submitting the screening report for screening decisions by the DEA. A full EIA is needed for projects that will have an effect on a national protected area. In these instances, the Minister is designated as the competent authority. The estimated time frame for the screening process is 30 days.

 

Scoping:

Scoping is the process of identifying the key environmental issues and is the most important step within an EIA report. Scoping is important for two reasons: a.) so problems can be pinpointed early allowing mitigating design changes to be made and b.) to ensure that detailed prediction work is only carried out for important issues. Scoping is only required for projects that undergo a full EIA. An approved EAP may be appointed at this stage. After the application is submitted, the proponent must:

  1. Conduct the public participation process;
  2. Give notice in writing of proposed application to any state agency with jurisdiction over the proposed activity;
  3. Open and maintain a register for public participation;
  4. Consider all objections and representations received from interested and affected parties;
  5. Identify relevant issues, potential environmental impacts, alternatives of the project activity;
  6. Prepare a scoping report which must be reviewed and commented on by all concerned parties;
  7. Give interested and affected parties an opportunity to comment on the scoping report;
  8. Submit the scoping report to the competent authority for review and decision-making.

Once all documents are submitted, the competent authority makes the decision on whether the report has been approved, rejected, or if amendments should be made. Scoping is done to identify key interest groups, both government and non-governmental. Individuals who are affected by the project need to hear about it as soon as possible. The estimated time frame for the scoping process is 30 days.

 

Assessment and reporting:

Once the scoping report has been accepted, the EAP will begin with the approved plan of study for the EIA. The applicant or EAP may appoint an expert to carry out a special study or a specialised process. The contents of an EIA report include the details of the appointed EAP, the description and location of the project, a description of the environment that may be affected, details of the public participation process, description of the needs of the project, description of the potential alternatives to the project and their analysis along with the indication of the adopted methodology, a summary of the findings and recommendations of any specialist report, all environmental issues identified with significant impacts, assumptions, uncertainties and gaps in knowledge. Reasoning as to whether the project should or should not be authorised, a draft EMP and copies of any specialist reports and any specific information that may be required by the competent authority. For projects that require a Basic Assessment, a Basic Assessment Report (BAR) is required.

 

Review:

The competent authority and other relevant authorities are responsible for the review, they can either accept the EIA report or refer it for specialised review by a team for their comments, this is usually the case where technical knowledge or a high level of objectivity is required. The time frame for the reviewing report is 60 days. For a Basic Assessment Report, the competent authority has 30 days to accept, reject, suggest alternatives, or to subject the report to a full EIA.

 

Decision-making:

After the EIA report is approved, a decision is taken on whether an environmental authorisation is granted for the activity. This is required before any activities can begin by the developer. The granting of an environmental authorization does not necessarily lead to project approval. Other licences separate from the one issued by DEA have to be received from other relevant authorities before proposed project activities can commence. The competent authority taking the decision on whether the environmental authorisation is granted or not can be the Minister of Environmental Affairs, Members of the Executive Council (MEC), the Minister of Mineral Resources for mining related activities, the provincial, or local environmental authorities with delegated powers. All decisions need to be made public. The competent authority must grant or refuse the environmental authorisation within 45 days. For Basic Assessments, the decision will be taken within 30 days from the approval of the BAR.

 

Monitoring, Compliance and Enforcement:

 

Compliance monitoring
Monitoring is a mandatory requirement. The applicant is required to submit an Environmental Management Plan as part of the EIA study report. This should include the requirements for the management, monitoring and reporting of the impacts of the project on the environment throughout the life cycle of the project.

 

 

 

Non-compliance penalties
The competent authority may suspend an Environmental Authorisation for several reasons, i.e. if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the contravention or non-compliance with a condition of the authorisation causes harm to the environment, or if it is necessary to prevent such harm. Furthermore, a person is guilty of an offence if that person provides misleading or incorrect information, fails to disclose information to the competent authority, fails to comply with a request to submit an environmental audit report, fails to comply with any conditions granted in an authorised exemption and continues with a project for which an Environmental Authorisation was suspended. The punishment for the offence could be imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to a fine prescribed not exceeding R1 million, or (and this is the scary part) to both a fine AND imprisonment.

 

 

 

Public participation:

Public participation is required for projects that require only a basic assessment and projects that require a full EIA. However, there are no provisions for public participation during the decision phase and during monitoring of EIA activities. The public is given an opportunity to comment on reports and statements. The public is also informed about decisions and their reasoning.

 

Legal recourse:

A person who wishes to appeal against a decision must submit a notice of intention with the Minister in charge of the environment, the MEC or a delegated organ of state to the appeal authority. An appeal panel can be appointed to support the processing of the appeal. Recommendations are submitted to the competent authority in writing. The relevant authorities can then make a decision to the appeal.

In conclusion, Environmental Impact Assessments cannot give a precise picture of the future, much like we as South Africans don’t have an exact idea of where these “interesting” changes will take us. Environmental Impact Assessments enable uncertainty to be managed and to assist in correct decision making within the project process. A useful management general truth is to preserve flexibility in the face of uncertainty.

 

Sources: http://www.fao.org/docrep/V8350E/v8350e06.htm

http://www.eia.nl/en/countries/af/south+africa/eia

https://www.soas.ac.uk/cedep-demos/000_P507_EA_K3736-Demo/unit1/page_14.htm

About Elaine Cockcroft

I started working at Leads 2 Business in January 2016 and form part of the sales team as Account Executive based in Gauteng.

Did you Know #DYK: The start of the go green movement

posted in: Did You Know 0

What is the Green Movement and what is its origin?

To understand the green movement of today first we need to look back to see how it all started.

One of the key pieces of literature that captured peoples attention was the 1962 publication Silent Spring by Rachel Carson but the movement’s origin can be traced back even further to Henry David Thoreau and Teddy Roosevelt. In fact, elements of the go green movement can be traced back throughout a large part of human history even if it wasn’t named as such.

 

Environmentalism today can be defined as:

“Environmentalists advocate the sustainable management of resources and stewardship of the environment through changes in public policy and individual behaviour. In its recognition of humanity as a participant in (not enemy of) ecosystems, the movement is centred on ecology, health, and human rights.”

 

The Modern Green Movement

Teddy Roosevelt was a major supporter of environmentalism and helped to bring national parks and wildlife conservation to the forefront of the public’s consciousness however when world war 2 started it faded into the background and took many years to resurface. After tragedies like the Donora Fluoride Fog and the Cuyahoga River catching on fire people started taking notice of the dangers that were posed by ignoring our environment.

The Donora Fluoride Fog or the Donora Death Fog killed 20 people and left hundreds injured or dying and was caused by the fumes of a nearby smelting plant which covered the town for 4 days in a toxic fog. The Cuyahoga River was covered in oil and chemicals and caught fire, the flames reached up to five stories high.

Most recently Al Gore’s film, An Inconvenient Truth, highlighted the problems we still face today from chemically treated food to contaminated water and serves as a reminder that we still have a long way to go if we want to conserve our environment for future generations.

 

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_movement
http://webecoist.momtastic.com/2008/08/17/a-brief-history-of-the-modern-green-movement/
http://www.brighthub.com/environment/green-living/articles/77266.aspx

About Barry West

I am a software developer.

Did you Know #DYK: SA’s first solar airport in Africa

posted in: Did You Know 0

South Africa has a “green” airport! One where all their services: the check in desks, the baggage carousels, restaurants, ATMs and even the Control Tower are run from the electricity generated from solar panels…

 

Who knew! We actually have three, part of a six airport plan expected to be up and running by mid-2017.

 

This is a massive step forward as a country, and from one our ‘state owned’ enterprises, toward reaching our government’s sustainable development imperatives, increasing our energy security and environmental conservation obligations.

 

In a politically, let’s call it – interesting – time, this is one good and worthwhile campaign that has stayed the course. As the state owned enterprise responsible for the movement toward a more environmentally friendly conscious country, ACSA, battles on in court, the project for the solar overhaul of 6 regional airports is underway with at least 3 airports already completed. Not bad considering they started the project in September 2015…

 

The large corporation, and beacon of hope for South Africa’s plans to reduce our own carbon footprint, giant enterprise, ACSA – the Airports Company South Africa, an environmentally conscious company, believes that by decreasing their dependence on the national power grid, they will begin to fulfill their role by increasing energy security (electricity sustainability) and the diversification of the energy matrix (fancy way of saying, using different types of electricity together) as their key priority to ensure sustainability of business activities, says the GM for Regional Airports at ACSA.

 

ACSA has dedicated a project worth R90 million over the period of two years for the completion of 6 regional solar powered airports to ensure they fulfil their obligation as a large enterprise to continue to grow and support the movement toward finding and using different more environmentally friendly solutions to source electricity to keep our country running.

 

This admirable and much needed progressive step toward not only our own but our entire planet’s sustainability is a shining example of South Africa’s commitment toward going green…

 

The unveiling of the first “Green Airport is Africa took place in George on the 16 May 2016.

Image Source

 

Speaking at the opening ceremony at George Airport, Skhumbuzo Macozoma, Chairman of ACSA, said: “As an airports management company running nine airports nationally, part of our strategic objective is to minimise our environmental impact.” He said the company was looking into ways to reduce energy consumption, water consumption and noise levels as well as find ways to use energy-efficient materials.

 

South Africa with its broad open spaces and African sun has proved to have the potential for generating renewable energy and government plans to generate nearly half of the country’s power needs by 2030.

 

This is the R16 million, 3 000-panel solar plant at George Airport in the Western Cape. One look at the use, natures free gift to us and of previously unusable land due to noise constraints and one starts to recognise that opportunities truly exist under our beautiful African sun.

 

In this tiny town of George with 150 000 people in the Western Cape, the weather is so unpredictable, one would never think to find Africa’s first Solar Powered Airport. Surely not, when we consider that South Africa has rolling acres of sun-baked land in other provinces, and George is anything but!

 

This small airport, with its bustling tourist industry and acting as a transit hub for shipments of oysters and flowers, sees an average of 700 000 people through its doors each year, has proven to be an excellent test site for the airport solar roll out plan.

 

The unpredictability of the weather played an especially large role. ACSA, wanting to ensure the energy matrix solution would work for all six regions, made the decision to first try it in George, as the weather conditions were far more extreme in George than other parts of South Africa. The probability of the success of the nationwide project increased exponentially if the idea was a success there, which of course, it has been.

 

Ultimately solar power plants like this one will reduce the load on the constrained on the power grid. This 75KW plant will eventually see George Airport going off the power grid completely.
It already supplies 41% of the airport’s electricity needs.

 

Here are some facts about our very own and Africa’s very own, first solar powered airport, George Airport.

  • This is the second Solar Powered Airport in the world. The first being Cochin in South India
  • There are 3 000 panels located on the roofs of the airport building and on 0.7ha of land adjacent to the airport.
  • The airport produces 750KW per day. Only 400KW per day is needed.
  • In September 2016, the excess energy was fed back into the grid and powered 274 households.
  • As of October 2016, George Airport lowered their carbon emissions by 1 229 tonnes!
  • The energy efficient solution costs a mere R250K per year in maintenance, with an average savings of R65K per month.
  • The solar batteries used in the panels last 25 years.
  • The R16 million spent on the airport will be recovered in 10-15 years, leaving the remaining 10 years of profit.
  • The plan has also created jobs both in the temp and permanent fields boosting the local economy.
  • Since its implementation, load shedding cuts have become a thing of the past.

 

With all of these benefits, “going green” seems to be an obvious choice. With the planet’s climate change predictions slowly gaining respect around the world, it is a matter of time before we see landscapes like this…

Image Source

 

Sources:
http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/acsa-unveils-kimberley-airport-solar-power-plant-2016-05-13/rep_id:4136
http://www.airports.co.za/business/tender-bulletin/current-and-future-tenders
http://www.tourismupdate.co.za/article/107004/Acsa-launches-solar-power-project
https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/companies/transport-and-tourism/2016-02-29-acsa-to-start-with-solar-power-at-six-regional-airports/
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2016/10/solar-powered-airports-are-taking-off-worldwide.html
https://aviationbenefits.org/case-studies/the-first-solar-powered-airport/
https://www.howwemadeitinafrica.com/green-airports-future/
https://cleantechnica.com/2017/04/12/worlds-first-100-solar-airport-double-solar-capacity/

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To view notes with screenshots on how to use our website, please visit our Wiki site.

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About Nikki Blake

I am an Account Executive in our Gauteng branch. I have been with L2B for almost a year now and it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I am so passionate about people and being able to assist them grow their business with the use of our amazing system. It has not only given me an overwhelming sense of self fulfilment, but has also become my motivation to be the best person I can be each day. Thank you L2B and to all of our awesome clients!

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