Cipla Distribution Gateway
SAISC PROJECTS
Cipla Distribution Gateway
“ To accommodate the tenant’ s required racking layout, columns were placed on a 38m x 32m grid. The 32m long girders, carrying the 38m long trusses, support a total area of 1 220m 2 resulting in very high forces within the girder and at the connections. Each girder has a support capacity of 120 tonnes.”
This project included the constructin of Cipla Medpro main distribution hub for Southern Africa 16 380 m2 warehouse and 1 500m 2 offices facility. A light-weight steel structure was built on 3m high concrete columns on the perimeter and full-height internal concrete columns. Internal columns were founded on pile foundations while perimeter columns have pad footings. The roof structure is comprised of lattice girders and trusses on a 32 x 38m grid spacing.
Eave height of warehouse is 16.5m to accommodate a clear 15m stacking height inside. The warehouse tops out at a maximum height of 22m for the monitor trusses.
A horizontal membrane was created by using a large bracing system over the entire roof area. This membrane is stabilised by strategically placed vertical bracing fixed to concrete portals. Pile foundations under the ends of these portal frames transfer lateral forces to the ground. Trusses span + 38m, spaced at 8m intervals, and supports the large HVAC ducts needed to regulate the required temperature for pharmaceutical storage. The loading from these HVAC ducts equates to an additional 3.2tons per truss located at mid-span.
Project Team
Client: Capital Property Fund( now: Fortress Income Fund) Architects: ICM Architecture Structural Engineer: Bigen Africa Services Quantity Surveyor: MLC Quantity Surveyors Project Manager: ICM Architecture Main Contractor: Isipani Construction Steelwork Contractor: Anchor Steel Projects Electrical Engineer: Infrastructure Solutions
Ecosense was appointed as environmental consultant during construction. Precast perimeter wall panels will result in low maintenance throughout the building life cycle in comparison to painted brick walls. To accommodate the tenant’ s required racking layout, columns were placed on a 38m x 32m grid. The 32m long girders, carrying the 38m long trusses, each support a roof area of 1 220m 2 resulting in very high forces within the girder and at the connections. Each girder has a support capacity of 120 tons. The requirement from the tenant to control the warehouse temperature resulted in a large duct system from the HVAC plant being supported at mid span of the centre roof trusses. Due to the fast track programme, temporary stability of the structure had to be considered in order to proceed with the installation of roof sheeting and side cladding before the final steel frame was complete. Support of HVAC ducts in and around the warehouse presented additional challenges compared to facilities with traditional HVAC systems. Construction sequence was optimised to allow the various disciplines to complete their parts of the project without causing a delay to other contractors, thus shortening the construction period and finishing ahead of schedule.
Economic steel weights were achieved despite large roof spans( only 8 internal columns) accommodating the racking layout and supporting HVAC equipment.
The project was completed in 8 months, within budget and on time, without compromising on quality of workmanship.
Steel Construction Vol. 40 No. 3 2016 21