The rate of growth in commercial and residential construction means developers and builders can hardly build fast enough. Coupled with the latest AS3600 updates mandating an increase in steel reinforcement requirements, the industry is looking for innovative and fully BCA compliant systems that speed up construction and require less resources. The emergence of Dincel Structural Walling as a load bearing alternative to traditional column-slab frame systems is quickly being adopted across the industry.

The traditional column-slab and in-fill wall system, which is still used to build most apartment buildings, involves infill walls that are usually made of stud and plasterboard; masonry and brick; or autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC).

By law, these infill walls are made to meet acoustic and fire prevention requirements. However, they are non-load bearing. That important job is performed by load bearing columns, as well as the concrete slabs that constitute the apartment floors.

For that reason, where this traditional technique is used, apartment buildings require a lot of concrete and a lot of steel. Both the load bearing columns and the concrete slab must be thick and well reinforced.

Dincel Structural Walling

Dincel Structural Walling offers builders an alternative to this traditional method. It not only allows them to reduce the amount of materials they need in the construction process, but also dramatically cuts construction time and costs.

Made by Sydney-based manufacturer Dincel Construction System, the product makes it possible to build load bearing walls by simply pouring concrete into panels that are placed vertically in position and connected together by a simple snap-lock mechanism prior to the pour.

Dincel is available in four different profiles - 110 mm, 155mm, 200mm, 275mm – each of which is suitable for constructing load bearing walls in buildings of different heights. For example, the relatively narrow 110mm profile is suitable for constructing load bearing walls in buildings up to 7 storeys.

At the other end of the scale, the 275mm profile (the largest) can be used for buildings up to 60 storeys, while the 155mm and 200mm cater for building heights of 20 and 30 storeys respectively.

Cost reductions

Like conventional in-fill walls, Dincel Structural Walling exceeds all BCA acoustic and fire safety requirements. However, unlike those traditional walls, they are also load bearing. Therefore, there is no need for load bearing columns and slabs thickness can be significantly reduced.

Using a column-slab and in-fill wall system, minimum slab thickness is 200mm and mesh reinforcement cannot be used. In contrast, with Dincel the minimum slab thickness is just 150mm and mesh reinforcement is permissible.

Transfer slabs (beams used to transfer the floor loads to the support post and pillars) are also important considerations in apartment buildings. Using Dincel, if party walls are placed at right angles to the building’s aisle way, there is no need for transfer slabs.

All of this translates to cost reductions of up to 25 per cent where Dincel is used instead of a column-slab and in-fill wall system.

Time savings

The other major benefit of using Dincel to construct load bearing walls is the time savings it delivers. Overall, it can reduce construction time by 30 - 50 per cent.

This is possible because the system’s panels with their snap-lock technology make the construction of load bearing walls a simple, neat task. The panels themselves are light and easy for anybody on a building site to carry and handle.

The fact that mesh reinforcement can be used in the floor slabs is also significant. It eliminates the need for heavy steel reinforcement and means that slabs can be 50mm thinner than is the case when using the traditional technique. On top of that, the installation process is simpler. Dincel Walls and floor slabs can be installed simultaneously, while the traditional method requires columns to be installed first, followed by the floor slabs, and then finally the infill walls.

Plus, the detailing required for a Dincel wall is less elaborate than the detailing for, say, ACC walls. While both can be relied upon to meet acoustic and fire safety requirements, the simple process of installing Dincel panels and filling with concrete, means there are fewer structural restraints for builders to fit. These are simply not required.

The innovative system offers maximum strength where earthquakes or cyclones are concerns. Its protective outer skin is not only waterproof, but also protects against corrosion, concrete cancer and the like. By simplifying the construction process, it reduces labour hours, lightens the materials handing task, and reduces the amount of a clutter on buildings sites.

Put simply, Dincel is the way of the future for constructing load bearing walls and is quickly being adopted as the partner of choice for commercial, residential and industrial applications.

When it’s time to construct your next working platform or catch deck for your high strutting project, Big River solves all your safety needs with the industry leading EWPAA Certified HyPlank ®.

Big River is a distributor of hyPLANK® due to its reputation for safe and reliable performance. The strong yet lightweight laminated veneer lumber scaffolding plank is now used extensively throughout the industry in place of conventional timber, and where modular systems cannot accommodate the size and shape of the scaffolding requirement. hyPLANK® is also used to considerable advantage where corrosion is a hazard for metal planks.

Benefits:

• Proven performance to AS 1577
• Tough and long lasting
• Lightweight and versatile
• Sourced from managed plantation forests

hyPLANK® Technical Data

hyPLANK® Sizes - 230 width x 40 thickness
Approximate Mass - 5.7kg/m

Per AS 1577 - 1933 Scaffold Planks
Working load limit (WLL) 210kg
Maximum Span - 1.8m

Availability

230 x 40 hyPLANK®is standard ex stock in 1.8, 2.4, 3.0, 3.6, 4.2 and 4.8m lengths. Other sizes and lengths are also available to order.

Quality Control and Product Certification

hyPLANK® is manufactured in a quality controlled process as required by AS/ NZS 4357. Compliance with process based quality control requirements is third party audited by the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA). The audits, together with end product testing and market inspection, are used as the basis for Product Certification by the EWPAA as a JAS-ANZ accredited Product Certification body. JAS-ANZ stands for the government established “Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand” which exists as the peak organisation for accreditation of Product Certified bodies.

hyPLANK® Specification

hyPLANK® is a structural laminated veneer lumber (LVL) manufactured by Carter Holt Harvey in accordance with AS/ NZS 4357- 1995, Structural laminated veneer lumber and meeting performance requirements for scaffoled planks specified in AS 1577 – 1993, scaffold planks.

Marking

Each plank is permanently indent branded along the edge with the following information:

• hyPLANK®- for identification.
• AS 1577- indicating compliance with performance requirements.
• Working load limit (WLL) in kilograms.
• Maximum span in metres.
• The Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA) Product Certification mark.

When it’s time to construct your next working platform or catch deck for your high strutting project, Big River solves all your safety needs with the industry leading EWPAA Certified HyPlank ®. Big River is a National Distributor of HyPlank® with 14 sites conveniently located across Australia.

CLICK HERE TO FIND YOUR LOCAL STORE or call 1300 88 1958 to get a trade quote.

DOWNLOAD THE SPECIFICATION SHEET

The scaffolding market just got a whole lot more attractive. Ultra-durable DokaScaff is here to support your business with safety, innovation and simplicity. Customers around the world love the versatility of DokaScaff standards, ledgers, diagonal braces and head jacks for shoring and scaffolding applications. Talk to Doka Australia today to get an economical solution for your project.

30% lighter per m3

30% fewer individual components

50%faster to assemble

For many business owners, their business is a major component of their overall personal wealth and in many cases will form a significant part of their retirement funds.

Challenges for business owners

One of the biggest challenges facing business owners is understanding the value of their business, and the business drivers, to ensure that they always have their business “ready for sale”.

A purchaser will only pay what the business is worth to them. Recognising the basics of business valuation will ensure owners’ expectations are realistic, and help avoid disappointment and unnecessary stress during a sale process.

The main factors affecting the value of a business include the certainty of future profits/cash flow and risk. Valuers normally try to assess future profitability or “maintainable earnings” and then apply a capitalisation rate to calculate value.

Capitalisation rate

A capitalisation rate is effectively the rate of return an investor is likely to demand to invest in a business within a certain industry and based on the profit and risks of the business.

The capitalisation rate reflects the degree of certainty of the business’s sustainable profitability or, in other words, the degree of risk that the expected future profit may not be realised.

This is usually reflected as a multiple of the net expected future annual sustainable earnings.

Valuation methods established as “industry norms” or “rules of thumb” are considered an indication of value only, and in my view the application of this methodology is flawed in many cases.

Strategic value

A business is likely to be more valuable to a competitor than if it is sold to a party who will become another participant in the industry. This is known as strategic value.

Competitors may be able to extract obvious savings in areas such as rent and personnel, as well as economies of scale, which means that the profitability of the business for sale is significantly more as the competitor does not have to duplicate costs.

Plan to maximise value

The key to unlocking the full value of a business is planning, and this means investing time and effort in preparing the business for sale.

Profitability and business risk

Profitability matched by dependable cash flow, is an important element to consider when determining a business’s value. However, not all businesses with the same profitability will have the same valuation.

The different is risk, particularly if businesses are more dependent than others on the business owner to achieve profitability.

This is a very important issue when trying to sell a business.

In addition, a business that has many customers versus a business that relies on a small number of key customers is likely to be considered less of a risk, as the loss of one key customer can have a big impact on the profitability of a business.

A business with a key supplier also has considerable risk as the business carries the risk of the supplier’s business including pricing, service, and delivery.

Cash flow

If the business has a regular and dependable positive cash flow, the business’s value is likely to be enhanced. For all businesses cash flow is a paramount importance. It is therefore an aspect of the business that all business owners should strive to improve in order to increase the value of their business.

Financial records

It is important that business maintain reliable accounting records and can produce current financial accounts.

When planning for a sale, the business records should correlate with what would be required in a due diligence process to be conducted by any potential purchaser.

Business structure

Reviewing the business structure is important because the correct structure may directly increases the “after-tax” value of the business.

IT security threats can wreak havoc on a small business, posing concerns for business owners and customers alike. Securing your data does not have to be a daunting task.

FIA Business Advisory Partner, HLB Mann Judd show you some simple steps you can take to minimise your risk of a data breach below.

“A good privacy policy should outline IT security and confidentiality.”

Update software

Security software needs to be installed on all of your business’s devices and regularly updated to protect against emerging online threats. Keep up to date with antivirus and anti-spyware software, use good firewall and a secure wireless connection.

Regularly back up data

Backing up your data regularly is one of the most important safeguards to protecting your data. A combination of on-site, i.e. hard drives connected to a computer, and off -site (cloud technology) backups should be used.

Cloud-based backups are useful for storing sensitive information but are not suitable for large backups, such as videos and photos. Cloud technology allows you to retrieve your data from elsewhere, if one backup goes down. It protects against internet theft as the data is encrypted before it is sent to the cloud.

Build a culture of data privacy

Creating a culture of IT security in your workplace helps to educate staff and set expectations around technology uses. A good privacy policy should outline IT security and confidentiality. Reviewing your policy regularly and creating a contingency and disaster plan can help to prevent and manage mishaps.

The benefit of using qualified chemical anchors in new and existing projects.

All structural engineers, while studying concrete structure design, become entirely familiar with cast-in rebar (reinforcing bar) solutions as a well-established system for connecting two concrete elements together. How to calculate a splicing or anchoring length is not a secret, and apparently is not a challenging task.

Why should I opt for something else then? Despite cast-in rebar being by and large the cheapest and most flexible solution, there are several reasons why alternative technologies such as cast-in boxes, couplers (aka mechanical splice systems) and cast-in reinforcement boxes (aka starter rebars packed in a galvanized steel unit, bended out after removing the box lid and stripping the formworks), grout and, of course, injection mortars are also used. In this article, we take a look at daily situations where injection mortars are undoubtedly the preferred choice, and we offer some advice.

Dealing with the unplanned

Mistakes happen on the jobsite. Some cast-in rebars may have been wrongly positioned or not been placed at all, or the reinforcement mesh might have moved while casting the concrete. Or perhaps you just need to move a pillar 100 mm to the side and change the reinforcement layout because the project changed during execution.

Projects that change during execution require flexibility: adding a new starter bar to a concrete column

All of these day-to-day cases require a rework, and injection mortars can indeed cover most of the needs better than any other post-installed solution such as grout, which is easier and faster to install.

A safer and ‘cosy’ jobsite

All those starter rebars sticking out from the concrete members represent a real risk for workers, making the working environment less comfortable and restricting site access. Despite alternative solutions being more expensive than cast-in rebar, it makes sense to consider them in many applications.

For instance, cast-in box and cast-in couplers are valuable engineered solutions designed to overcome these pain points. But again, mistakes do happen and what was described above for cast-in rebar applies to other cast-in solutions as well. Moreover, the biggest advantage of adhesive injection mortars compared with the above cast-in systems comes from the high level of flexibility in terms of sizes and layout covered.

Starter rebars represent a risk and limit the comfort of the site

Simplify formwork design and execution

No formworks to be drilled. Compatibility with Slipform construction unlike cast-in rebars. No rebars to be tied to the reinforcement mesh. No cast-in box or couplers to be nailed to the formworks. No sub-horizontal drilling or manual mixing to be done or long “dip and stick procedure” required when using grouts.

Post-installing a rebar with injection mortars can be extremely comfortable and reliable by using professional cleaning (i.e. automatic cleaning) and injection systems (battery dispensers, extension with plastic tubes and piston plugs, watch a video here). As per any other post-installed system, the key pain point is in the drilling phase: hitting the existing reinforcement reduces the installation speed and drill bit lifetime. So, before proceeding with the installation, you can use detection systems to check the position of the existing reinforcement. However, since injection mortars usually require smaller bore holes than grout, this risk is lower.

Compliance at its best

To not be overlooked: International and domestic codes established the use of injection mortar for post-installed rebar in the construction industry, more so than for other alternative solutions. Chemical anchors can be qualified for multiple conditions (i.e. static, seismic and fire) and design rules are defined in standards (i.e. the recommendation in AS5216:2018 is to follow the Australian Engineered Fasteners and Anchors Council (AEFAC) Technical note on: Post-installed rebar connections). Ensuring full compliance with the regulation requirements is crucial for the selection of qualified products for the application conditions and, of course, for performing a proper calculation.

These are some of the good reasons why you should consider injection mortars for your project. You can use PROFIS Rebar to design your next application. Ask us for support: Just leave a comment or post your question in the community, and build up extra competence through our Webinars or find out about our Training for Engineers and Installers by emailing our technical centre.

Safe Work Australia's latest Virtual Seminar Series Heat and work injury panel discussion has been released and is now live on their website.

In this panel discussion, work health and safety experts share their insights and experiences with work-related injury in hot conditions.

They discuss the importance of identifying hazards, implementing risk-management strategies and raising the level of awareness and education across a broad range of industries.

For more information follow the link below.

READ MORE

Working under the influence of drugs and alcohol puts you and everyone around you at risk.

You have a duty to take reasonable care of your own health and others in the workplace.

This video features carpenter Jonno discussing the risks of drugs and alcohol in the workplace and the importance of stopping work and going home if you are under the influence.

When you’re hungover or under the influence of drugs and alcohol or, you run the risk of slowing your reflexes, taking shortcuts and making mistakes. This is particularly risky when working in high-risk environments like construction, where tools and machinery are being used.

Post tension slabs are becoming increasingly common practice and have lots of advantages. But during the post tensioning procedure props can become loose and create a safety risk on site. 

In searching for a safety solution for this risk Doka are excited to be the first formwork manufacturer to announce they are collaborating with 'Safe Prop' to supply a new product used to make suspended slab construction safer, prevent serious injuries, increase efficiency and maintain structural integrity.

Here's how Doka and Safe Prop product minimise safety risk on site:

1. Prevents serious injuries: The spring loaded attachment prevents the back props from falling over during the curing and post stressing period.
   
2. Increases efficiency: Removing the need to drill support screws onto prop heads means installation is quick and easy, saving time and cost.
   
3. Maintains structural integrity: Removing the need to drill support screws reduces the risk of concrete cancer occurring and prevents contact with the post stressing cables.
   

Safe Prop offers the following safety and structural advantages when back-propping suspended slabs onsite:

• No drilling and screwing props into position.
• No drill permits required when back-propping.
• No working at heights permits required when back-propping.
• Spring has been designed for 100,000 cycles.
• 8 onsite uses and the units are completed paid out.
• Prevents silica dust onsite, which can cause lung cancer
• Reduces the risk of hitting PT and service cables.
• No working platform access machine required when fitting back-propping.
• Saves accidents occurring with falling props 
• Better structural finish concrete end product 
• Prevents exposing concrete and causing concrete cancer
• Prevents having to turn around props onsite for back-propping
• Speeds up labour time onsite when back-propping.
• Works well in carpark construction basements.

For more information on this product, please call 1800 DokaAus

According to a recent study of more than 12,000 projects by the Independent Project Analysis Group, more than 35 percent of all construction projects will incur a major change. What’s more, almost any change in a project will have a negative impact on construction productivity resulting in inefficiencies: 25 percent of projects slip by over 20 percent and 25 percent of all project costs grow in the field by over 30 percent.

These percentages increase when you take into consideration megaprojects, 98 percent of which “suffer costs of more than 30 percent.” Indeed, a whopping 77 percent of megaprojects are at least 40 percent late.

Inefficiencies, such as schedule slip and project expansion, are the biggest contributors to job overruns, resulting in an average cost increase of 80% of original value.

While many factors contribute to cost overruns, the primary factor is low productivity. “Productivity,” generally defined as the measure of the rate at which work is performed, has been historically neglected in construction. While other industries such as manufacturing have seen productivity double, construction has remained flat for decades. In fact, construction is actually one of the few industries that are less productive now than it was 60 years ago. In a new report, McKinsey Global Institute goes so far as to refer to lagging construction productivity as an “intractable productivity problem.” One need only examine the lag in digitization, a primary drain on construction productivity, to see exactly why this is the case—the 10-trillion-dollar construction industry has been outpaced by every sector, including mining, gas and oil industries, spending less than 1% of revenue on information technology.

But the construction industry is starting to make productivity a priority as costs from inefficiency continue to soar. Even minor inefficiencies can result in staggering costs. Take rework due to poor document control as an example. An independent study revealed that such rework can cost as much as 4.2 billion a year in the U.S. alone. Lagging construction productivity as a whole costs the U.S. global economy 1.6 trillion dollars a year. It’s safe to say that deceptively small gaps in productivity add up to exorbitant costs, which have become simply too high to ignore any longer.

But here’s the thing—when construction productivity increases, everyone benefits, especially the contractor:

• Projects are completed faster
  
• Project costs are reduced
  
• Contractors can bid more competitively
  
• And the overall project will be more profitable
  

The good news is that if minor inefficiencies can result in massive costs, then even incremental improvements to productivity on the job site can save contractors a lot of time and money. With this in mind, we’ve reviewed some of the most innovative research on construction productivity and highlighted the seven best ways to help you complete projects faster, reduce costs and increase your profit:

Further Reading: How to Make Paperless Construction a Reality [Webinar]

1: Bring Technology on Board (faster)

When it comes to increasing productivity, adopting new technology is likely the fastest path with the biggest payoff. New technology such as onsite productivity software, project management software and building information modeling software can all but eliminate wait times and reduce costly rework.

PlanGrid Construction Productivity Software — PlanGrid’s construction productivity software allows teams to collect, manage, and collaborate in real-time on drawings, submittals, markups, photos, issues and RFIs. PlanGrid can help improve productivity in innumerable ways, by reducing trips to the trailer and time expenditures, allowing teams to complete accurate takeoffs electronically instead of surveying or using other means to track issues and tasks electronically.

Kahua Project Management & Collaboration Software — Kahua is reinventing how companies manage and collaborate on projects by solving the problems with legacy project management tools. As an added benefit, Kahua allows teams to synchronize their drawings and markups between Kahua and PlanGrid to drive office and field collaboration.

RedTeam Cloud Construction Software — RedTeam offers a comprehensive, cloud solution for construction project management and accounting. With RedTeam, you can send drawings from RedTeam to PlanGrid in the field, and pull your RFIs from PlanGrid back to the office in RedTeam.

eSub Construction Software — Built for subcontractors, eSUB’s mobile and cloud project management software connects the field and office in real-time. Coupled with PlanGrid, you can save snapshots of drawings and annotations to eSUB documents for a complete record of what happens on the job site.

2: Improve Planning with More Data

It goes without saying that improving planning will improve productivity. You can start by analyzing the entire construction process from end-to-end on previous jobs to locate and determine productivity weaknesses and strengths. If problems or changes arise during construction, then re-planning is advised. Improving data use is imperative for increasing productivity. In particular, for teams using BIM, enabling each team member to input their information into one model so it can be evaluated as a team from the beginning of a project will deliver huge gains in productivity by dramatically decreasing building process waste. But it’s not enough to use more data in current planning processes. Contractors should also strive to analyze data from previous projects to identify and eliminate barriers to productivity. By developing metrics determining how accurate current planning processes are, contractors can then set realistic benchmarks to ensure improvement.

3: Improve Construction Productivity Training and Require More Job Site Experience

Have you been providing enough training for your construction supervisors? Like it or not, supervisors have the ability to make or break a job, and contractors that invest in training employees will reap huge dividends. While the industry traditionally sees training employees as essential for project completion—e.g., how to operate a new piece of equipment—few contractors actually train their supervisors on how to increase productivity or be mindful of it. Supervisors need to be trained not to look at a job on a day-to-day basis, but on how to increase the odds of on-time completion. Does the project have milestones? If so, is the project on pace to meet those milestones on schedule and within budget? In addition, the industry as a whole can benefit from requiring design students to complete internships on job sites to reduce conflict between designers and contractors and help designers create more “constructible” designs.

4: Increase Use of Prefabrication

With a large project comes repetition—with many repetitive elements, you can prefabricate in a factory rather than build each one from scratch on site. However, many are unaware that using prefabricated elements not only decreases costs, but also increases quality. In fact, according to Civil and Environmental Engineer Emeritus, Paul Teicholz, “If you can put the proper design content for prefabrication into the design from the beginning, you can achieve a very significant improvement.” Check.

5: Move Toward Shorter, Team-Friendly Contracts

“Draconian” contracts continue to impede productivity and impact the bottom line of projects. When each party seeks to provide as much legal insulation as possible, it makes it more difficult for team members to engage directly with each other, increasing the likelihood of errors and discrepancies that lead to inefficiency. Rather than beefing up your legal team, modern construction negotiations would do well to follow the lead of Japan and Korea, where shorter contracts require less legal mediation and more direct engagement from team members. In this scenario, problems and solutions are discussed fully and openly and compensation is agreed upon with less legal involvement. All of this serves to improve overall productivity of a construction project.

6: Improve Safety Training and Provide More of It

Accidents are a primary cause of project delays and cost overruns. Contractors need to offer more safety training to make employees more aware of hazards and risks in their environment as well as encourage them to adopt new safety methodologies. Many outdated safety practices have been proven ineffective, so contractors need to continually incorporate new methodologies into daily operations to reduce risks and liabilities. Raising awareness about safety and providing more awareness curriculum will also help to improve safety while increasing construction productivity. In general, don’t just provide safety training—make sure it’s up-to-date.

7: Communicate Better

It goes without saying that productivity impacts everyone on the job site, but contractors can really shift the dynamic on their projects by communicating the importance of productivity to the entire team. Moreover, the construction company should explicitly solicit suggestions from workers on how to improve productivity and incentivize them to do so. But you can also go beyond analog modes of communication and leverage construction collaboration and/or productivity software to improve communication across all your teams. Using such software can allow a worker to immediately communicate a change or error to managers that will grow the project unnecessarily or lower cost performance.

In short, changes that lead to inefficiencies affect schedule and cost performance throughout the construction industry, resulting in significant schedule slips and cost overruns. Although a lack of productivity is the primary factor contributing to these negative outcomes, there are many quick and easy ways to make productivity improvements that will have a dramatic effect on your bottom line. Adopting new technology and using more data in the planning process are just two of the most expedient means to reduce inefficiencies. Although construction productivity has been static for decades, that’s all about to change as construction begins to prioritize productivity amidst a digital renaissance. Armed with these seven key insights on how to improve your productivity, you’ll be better equipped to keep your projects on schedule and under budget.

Leverage our experience by downloading our ebook, “Construction Productivity 101: A Practical Guide to Increase Productivity in 7 Easy Steps,” and learn how you can keep your projects on schedule and under budget.

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE PAPER NOW