Steel Construction Vol 40 No 3 - Mining, Industrial, Import/ Export

SAISC PROJECTS Husab Uranium Stockpile “The project entailed the detailing, fabrication, corrosive protection, delivery and installation of 2 600 tonnes of steelwork, as well as 21 000sqm of IBR sheeting.” The project entailed the detailing, fabrication, corrosive protection, delivery and installation of 2 600 tonnes of steelwork, as well as 21 000sqm of IBR sheeting. There were a number of interesting challenges to overcome, i.e. short lead times, high specifications required by client, galvanizing of trusses, for the logistical challenges due to cross border distances, lifting and jacking in the 140 tonne gantries and sheeting the building on 45 degree slopes. We pioneered some ideas at each phase to overcome the challenges and ultimately bring the project home safely and in time. Some highlights were: • The logistical concern of delivering this volume of steel and sheeting was overcome by partnering with a local transporter with dedicated trucking, supplemented our in-house fleet. • The development of the idea and plan to strand jack the gantries (50-meter span and 140 tons) into place forty meters above ground level, as opposed to using the traditional method of cranes, allowing for this part of the project work to be done faster and safer, ultimately saving the project time and the client money • The development of sheeting gondola platforms, which supported a four-man team, tools and materials. These working platforms allowed for the sheeting installation crews to achieve around one thousand two hundred square metres of sheeting installation per day. The safety risk of working on the steep slope was totally eliminated and went a long way in ensuring that Union Steel achieved another incident free project. • Preassembly of truss box section allowed for the site crews to lift into place bigger sections of steelwork, minimising works being Project Team carried out in the air, again target our approach to ensuring that Client: Swakop Uranium (Pty) Ltd set. our focus on all projects is safety first, and driven with this mind- Structural Engineers: HPJV between Amec and Tenova Bateman Structural Engineers: WAH Engineering (Pty) Ltd The project duration including both on and offsite activities was 14 Quantity Surveyors: Professional Cost Consultants months with the site duration being 11 months. Project Manager: HPJV between Amec and Tenova Bateman Steelwork Contractor: Union Structural Engineering Works (Pty) Ltd Structural Steel Detailer: Union Structural Engineering Works (Pty) Ltd Cladding Supplier: Re Union Projects (Pty) Ltd Steel Erectors: Re Union Projects (Pty) Ltd Painters: Nu Nation Protective Coating 22 Steel Construction Vol. 40 No. 3 2016

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