Construction World September 2015

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PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

MINE WATER RECLAMATION

Realising the restrictive work environment on this project, Delf Consulting Engineers had no hesitation in specifying Sika’s Sikadur-Combiflex SG system. With its international approval for drinking water suitability, the Sikadur-Combiflex SG system was used to seal all construction and expansion joints within the water retaining structures, including all water tanks and clarifiers. Sikadur-Combiflex SG is a high performance joint sealing system consisting of amodified, flexible Polyolefin (FPO) waterproofing tape and Sikadur-31 CF Normal, an advanced thixotropic, moisture-tol- erant, structural two-part adhesive based on a combination of epoxy resins and special fillers. When fixed to a joint, the Sikadur-Combiflex SG system allows for irregular and high movement in more than one direction whilst still maintaining a high quality seal. Working under extremely difficult conditions that included confined spaces and rigid safety requirements; contractor Liviero Civils installed 2 000 metres of the Sikadur-Combiflex SG system. Since it is extremely flexible, easy to install, and provides excellent adhesion on either dry or damp concrete surfaces, it was the ideal product for this challenging situation. For highly effective chemical protection of the pump stations, chemical dosing areas and clarifier launders at the plant, Sika’s Sikagard-63 N (2 000m 2 ) was specified. This 100% solids, two-part epoxy resin coating, designed for normal to aggressive chemical environments, is simple to apply, liquid-proof and solvent-free. Since the application of these Sika products was a high priority project that could not afford any delays, a restrictive time schedule was imposed. Unfortunately, severe weather conditions prevailed which caused major delays. With increased emphasis on protection of the environment, Aveng Water, who constructed this plant, is playing an important role in combating the problem of acid mine drainage (AMD), while the use of Sika’s products ensures the durability of the plant and thereby the provision of millions of litres of potable water. Although not the first such plant in this coal mining area, it is the largest of its kind and will purify millions of litres of toxic mine water that will be safely returned to local municipal waterways. > Sika recently supplied its world renowned products to seal and protect a huge, newly constructed Mine Water Reclamation Plant (MWRP) in Middleburg, Mpumalanga.

RC35 bits.

Johannesburg-based Fedglass successfully completed its scope of the project by drilling 12 000 holes, each 22 mm in size, using equipment supplied by Diamond Products – a leading specialist in the manufacture, assembly and sale of diamond tools and equipment for industrial applications. Fedglass managing member Jürgen Ewert notes that the company did not encounter any major challenges, thanks to the quality of the 120 Diamond Products RC35 core barrels and three Shibuya 1011 core drills being used throughout the duration of the project. “The team of 15 Fedglass experts were able to successfully drill all the holes problem-free, thanks to the reliability of the equipment. The Shibuya core drills were highly-impressive, and proved to have an extended oper- ational lifespan, compared to similar products in the market,” he states. The Shibuya range of core drilling machines are distributed exclusively in Southern Africa by Diamond Products. Director Brian Clark points out that the Shibuya core drill is lightweight and easy to handle. “It is also high- ly-durable, making it ideally-suited to numerous applications.” Shibuya core drills also come standard with a water collection ring to contain any water that may be spilled while drilling. This excess water can be collected by a vacuum cleaner. Another user-friendly aspect of the drill is that there are no gears, and the user simply has to turn the drill on and off. Clark adds that the RC35 core barrels are used in drilling to make clean holes quickly and precisely in concrete, masonry, asphalt and stone. “They are highly cost-efficient, and require little clean-up or patching compared to other methods of making openings in floors, walls, ceilings or pavements.” Given the success of this project, Ewert is confident of the future outlook for Fedglass. “Our high-quality work and competitive pricing have enabled us to grow from strength-to-strength across Southern Africa. With reliable, value-adding partners such as Diamond Products, I believe we can increase market share, particularly in frameless glass applications,” he concludes. GETTING TO THE CORE Glass and stainless steel products specialist Fedglass has successfully installed 2 500 m of balustrading and 200 privacy screens at a high rise building in Mozambique, which consists of commercial offices and residential apartments. >

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The Shibuya range of core drilling machines are distributed exclusively in Southern Africa by Diamond Products.

CONSTRUCTION WORLD SEPTEMBER 2015