HAULOTTE EXCELS AT DUBAI UNIVERSITY

Oger International has successfully completed the first phases in a Dh.1.5 billion construction package for building the new campus of UAE University in Al Ain. The construction project has been awarded by the Mubadala Development Company.

Work on the new campus started in 2007 and all phases are due for completion by 2011. When completed the University complex will feature advanced teaching facilities as well as excellent recreational facilities and accommodation for students and staff.

Structures include accommodation for 25,000 students, an Olympic size swimming pool, gymnasium, lecture halls, laboratories and a ‘Great Hall’ building including basement parking facilities and ground floor with a sloping roof structure auditorium. There is also a mosque.

In the first phase, there are more than 116.000 m² slabs and walls requiring 25,823 m³ of concrete. Walls to be plastered exceeded 91,000 m². There was 84,790 m² of formwork, 150,000 m² of scaffolding, 18,100 m² of blockwork and almost 16,600 m² of tiling. Altogether it is estimated that over 500,000 m² of surface area had to be painted.

To finish the project as quickly as possible, a work force of over 4,000 was employed enabling work to proceed, 6 days per week, simultaneously on many different part of the project.

With a total built up area of 53,000 m², the numerous structures are spread across a vast campus on the edge of the city of Dubai. With maximum building heights of 15 m (6 levels) and with work progressing on several buildings at the same time, the contractors deployed a large fleet of mobile access equipment for the vast amount of finishing work that had to be done. Because of their proven versatility, productivity and reliability, Haulotte equipment was used extensively.

The large fleet of Haulotte machines was supplied and maintained by Dubai company, United Equipment Rentals, who had two service technicians permanently on site.

In constructing of the Olympic size swimming pool hall, Haulotte HA260PX articulated access platforms and H18SX scissor lifts were used for fixing roofing components as well as for installing the air-conditioning ducting. With a maximum working height of 18 m, and a 6 m x 1.89 m, the H18SX makes it easy to handle and install large dimensioned products such as sections of ducting. It is easily repositioned for maximum convenience and provides a very stable working environment.

Similarly with the gymnasium where a spacious, stable access platform was required to install roofing elements. The perfect solution was the mid-range Haullotte H15SX scissor lift with the same platform dimensions and load capacity of 500 kg as the larger mode, but with a lower maximum working height of 15 m – more than sufficient for the structural height.

The long reach of the Haulotte HA260PX access platforms, 16.2 m and maximum working height of 25.6 m were key considerations for installing electrical installations and in finishing the exterior surfaces. They were used extensively on the lecture and laboratory buildings.

Maximum performance was required from the Haulotte H25TPX units used in fixing windows, installing seals and other finishing work on the highest building on the site – the accommodation units. The H25TPX has a maximum working height of 25.3 m, a maximum outreach of 17.4 m and payload capacity of 230 kg.

Mr Giovanni Gulli, project director for Oger said “Access work platforms (AWPs) are critical to the works. They are used for all finishing works on the exterior walls. The reach they provide allows finishing work to be done while excavation works are still proceeding at ground level.

Although we are using some scaffolding, AWPs are more flexible, provide better access, save time and are easy to move from one location to another. Safety is also important to us and we have a dedicated safety team. AWPs are proving to be extremely safe provided the operators are given the appropriate training.”

United Equipment Rentals has successfully positioned Haulotte access work platforms on many projects throughout Dubai including the metro line, the new international airport and on many of the major structures in progress. Despite the difficult time facing the construction industry worldwide, United Equipment Rentals continues to build on its reputation with the support of the Haulotte Group and today has a fleet of over 400 units.

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