Edition 7

News & project profiles from the team at Concrib

Concrib is in the final stages of construction of one of our largest Stone Strong retaining walls to date, at the new industrial/commercial site at Bethania. The rapidly growing population in the Bethania area has created demand for big-box hardware outlets and new supermarkets — and this site, covering approximately 8 hectares, was the ideal location for this kind of development.

Unique interlocking blocks were the ideal solutionConcrib was engaged by the main civil contractor, CATCON, to provide a complete package, including:

• Design• Construction• Certification

in this issueDue diligence updates: Important Australian Standards for retaining walls

Product news: What’s new with Stone Strong

Engineered retaining walls: Maximising land values

CCF Earth Awards Finalists for 2012

Phone: (07) 3375 1800 Fax (07) 3375 1777Email concrib@ecn.net.au web www.concrib.com.au

After extensive design assessments and modelling, including a global stability analysis, carried out by Concrib’s designers (Geoinventions Consulting Services) Stone Strong interlocking blocks were chosen as the ideal earth stabilisation solution for this project. With 2,500m2 of walling, some of it 9 metres in height, these walls have turned out to be impressive structures. The wall has been built with a face batter of 18 vertical : 1 horizontal, in order to fully maximise the land value at the Bethania site.

Built to lastCombining high-quality purpose engineered walling with pleasing aesthetics, Stone Strong is an attractive, affordable earth stabilisation solution that has been engineered to last. Close dimensional tolerances, robust structural design and 40mPa concrete allows for a 100-year design life within a broad range of applications and engineering settings.

Brand-new retaining wall at Bethania development

7m high

Project Stats: •2,500squarefacemetresofwalling• Maximumwallheight9metres,averageheight6metres• 500linearmetresofreinforcedconcretefooting• 3,200tonnesofStoneStrongprecastmodularblocks• 18,000squaremetresofhigh-strengthGeogridsoilreinforcement• 1,600cubicmetresofdrainageaggregatewithintheblockvoids

mmaxiiimiiisiiingg lland valuesmaximising land values

Do the components of your project meet these standards? AustralianstandardAS4678forretainingwall structures addresses a number of issues, including design life, durability and fitness for purpose. Therefore, it is important to consider all components in a retaining structure, and to ensure that everyone involved shares a commitment to uphold these standards through every step of your project’s construction.

When shortcuts are taken, problems may not manifest for years, or may strike when the structure is put under stress, such as incidences of flood or high rainfall. This can involve very costly remediation work — which can be magnified if the problem flows on to affect nearby buildings and structures.

For this reason, it pays to make sure that ALL the links in the chain meet Australian Standards. For example, let’s look at steel and concrete. Here are some things to consider…

Steel reinforcingAS4100 sets out the minimum requirements for the design, fabrication, erection, and modification of steelwork in structures. So when working with steel reinforcing, it is important to consider its quality.

While the most obvious issue is whether the bar diameter and tensile strength of the reinforcement is appropriate for the

duE diligEnCE uPdatEs

important australian standards for retaining walls

load that it will be subject to, you also need to dig deeper to ensure that the steel has been treated correctly.

Forexample,AS4680isthestandardfor zinc coatings on fabricated ferrous articles — that is, hot-dip galvanised structural steel, steel reinforcements, and assembled steel products. Typically these coatingsneedtohavea500-600grammassperunitareaand65-85micronthickness. However, there can be a major difference in the quality of coating adherence between low-quality galvanised steel products and high-quality products. Always remember: just because it is technicallygalvanised,DOESN’Tmeanitisgalvanised to standard.

This can particularly be an issue when it comes to steel structures or steel-supported retaining walls built in marine splash zones. If your product components do not meet the Australian Standards for steel quality or galvanisation, the exposure to water and salt spray can lead to MAJORproblems.

Get Your Checklist!To evaluate your project proposal, jump online to download our:

Proposal Evaluation Checklist: 15 Factors to consider when evaluating proposals for your next project.

It contains the vital criteria you need to ensure that your earth stabilisation proposal measures up, so you receive REALvalueforyourmoney.

8Full, site-specific engineers design certification (Building Act form 15) and full engineers construction certification (Building Act form 16).

Fully RPEQ accredited certification of design on a site/job specific basis and construction certification.

We provide both forms, including certification for the entire construction as stipulated. Not pier hole and foundation inspections only as other contractors do.

9Design and construction compliant with AS4678 Earth Retaining Structures code.

This standard ensures that the wall design and construction meets all code requirements.

All design and construction complies with AS4678 Earth Retaining structures code, including 100mm diameter agricultural drainage pipe and near full face 200mm gravel drainage layer surrounded by structural geofabric separator.10 Job site soil description and design parameters. This is required to ensure correct design of the retaining wall.

Concrib can assess this from available geotechnical reports, or if not available will organise for geotechnical investigation to be undertaken.

11 All insurance policies are in place and up to date.

The contractor should be able to demonstrate that they have current, paid up insurance policies including:• Work cover,

• Public and property liability,• Contract works, and• Professional indemnity.

Concrib has all required insurance in place.

Copies of all insurance coverage can be supplied on request.

12 Workplace health and safety.

A fully accredited safety officer should monitor all health and safety aspects of the project including carrying out regular inspections and site toolbox safety meetings.

Our fully accredited workplace health and safety officer (WHSO) conducts regular inspections, holds regular on-site meetings and monitors all health and safety aspects of the project.

13 Project managers with an insight into civil engineering.

If the project manager is a qualified civil engineer with years of experience, you can be assured that all the technical aspects of the project have been well thought out. An experienced engineer will be able to identify any potential challenges and be prepared to overcome them with innovative

solutions.

Concrib’s project managers are qualified civil engineers with a combined history in the industry spanning more than 60 years.References can be supplied on request.

14

Membership of the:• Civil Contractors Federation,• Urban Development Institute of Australia,

• Queensland Master Builders Association, • Concrete Institute of Australia, • Institution of Engineers Australia.

The contractor is an active participant in the civil construction industry. This means they are up to date with the latest developments and cutting-edge practices.

Concrib is a full and active member of all these industry bodies.Copies of membership documentation can be supplied on request.

15Established business with several decades of experience in the retaining wall industry.

You simply cannot put a price on experience.Concrib has been maximising land values in the retaining wall industry for over 25 years.

Are you getting real value & quality for your money? Call Concrib today!Brisbane: (07) 3375 1800 Fax (07) 3375 1777 Email concrib@ecn.net.au www.concrib.com.au

Criterion

What this reflects…How Concrib measures up

Does the

proposal

measure up?

Y/N

1Products manufactured to

AS3600 Concrete Structures

standard.

This standard ensures that:

• Product design requirements are met

and, as such, cover to reinforcement and

durability is appropriate.

Concrib’s manufacturing processes

and products are inspected and

certified (Form 16) on a monthly

basis to confirm compliance with

AS3600 Concrete Structures.

2Comprehensive and transparent

quality assurance program.

The quality assurance program should

include:

• A manufacturing quality assurance system

that is available for client inspection.

• A construction site quality assurance

program that incorporates inspection and

test plans completed by the supervisors

and audited by the project managers.

Comprehensive manufacturing and

site quality assurance programs

maintained, audited, and available

for inspection.

3Accredited, authorised testing of

precast concrete products.

Such testing confirms the design of products

ensuring that they are “fit for purpose” and

that tested strengths meet the theoretical

design strengths.

Concrib’s crib components have

been tested and analysed by Qld

Uni of Technology (report available

on request) while Concrib’s sleeper

components have been tested by

Uni of Qld.

4Contractor licensed by the

Queensland Building Services

Authority for Structural

Landscaping incorporating

retaining wall construction.

The BSA requires an annual, audited

financial report to accompany the annual

license renewal. This ensures your

contractor is financially and experience

accredited.

Membership current and annually

renewed.

Licence No: 59212

Licensed Since: 1989

5

Supervisors are:

• BSA licensed,

• Experienced (3+ years)

• Internally and externally

trained, nationally recognised

• Full-time team members of the

contractor.

Assurance that your project is in qualified

and experienced hands and the contractor

will be accountable throughout the duration

of the project.

All our supervisors are BSA

licensed, experienced, well-

trained (including a senior first aid

qualification) and full-time team

members.

6 Contractual arrangement.

What entity is your contract with? Is it with

the actual original proposer or a third party

associated with the proposer.

Concrib contracts to its clients

as the Concrib Trading Company

entity for full design, supply, and

construction. There are no trusts,

sub contractors, holding companies

or subsidiaries.

7Compliance with the National

Code of Practice for the

construction industry.

Compliance is required for most major

government related projects.

Concrib has individual employee

agreements in place, which have

been accredited as meeting the

national code.

Your project’s important, and it MUST to be done RIGHT. But choosing from a variety of different proposals can be difficult.

That’s why we compiled this handy checklist of vital criteria for evaluating earth stabilisation proposals. Use it to determine

whether the proposals you’re considering are offering REAL value for money. And make your choice with confidence!

Proposal Evaluation Checklist:

15 Factors to consider when evaluating proposals for your next project.

Brisbane: (07) 3375 1800 Fax (07) 3375 1777

Email concrib@ecn.net.au www.concrib.com.au

It’s one thing to “tick the box”, but will your project meet Australian Standards?

By looking at both the materials ANDtheconstructiontechniquesthat are employed, you can rest easy knowing that your structure is sound and safe.

Concrete structuresAS3600specifiestheminimumrequirement for the design and construction of concrete structures, and it is VITAL that you check your product components measure up.

Always check:

• Isthestrengthoftheconcretecorrectfor the application?

• Whatistherequireddepthofcoverfor reinforcing, to ensure strength and protection from possible future “concrete cancer” problems?

For your protection, Concrib’s manufacturing processes and products are inspected and certified on a monthly basisonconfirmcompliancewithAS3600Concrete Structures. We make sure that EVERYprojectwecompleteisdoneproperly — and so should you.

Reinforced soil:

Founding soil:

Extended to 8m

Geo

grid

rei

nfor

cem

ent

(460

cen

tres

)

8m retaining wall

mmaxiiimiiisiiingg lland valuesmaximising land values

Stone Strong’s new wide blocks measuring1.6mand2.2mallowforbridge abutments to be constructed prior to any bridge abutment piling — which means that bridge piles can be subsequently drilled or driven through wide block voids without compromising the integrity of your retaining wall structure.

Features:• Twoadditionalstandardblocksizes,

measuring1.6mand2.2mfronttoback – current 24SF block is 1.1m.

• Suitableforgravitywallsupto 5m high.

• Canbeusedas“PileThrough”blocks– the internal voids will allow for pile casingdiametersfrom600to900mmas well as driven steel H pile and driven opencasingpilesto760mmdiameter.

• Allowsforabutmentconstructiontobeseparated from bridge construction at contract stage.

• PileThroughSystemthatcanbeintegrated with gravity retaining wall designorGeogridMSEdesign (see additional data sheet).

If you are designing a project that involves bridge abutments, call us today on (07)33751800andwe’llbehappytodiscuss your project requirements!

PrOduCt nEws

what’s new with stone strong

PILE THROUGH ABUTMENT

EnginEErEd rEtaining wallsMaximising land values

Call us today to plan your next project. Phone: (07) 3375 1800 Fax (07) 3375 1777Email concrib@ecn.net.au web www.concrib.com.au

Concrete crib wallsConcrete sleeper retaining walls

Patterned sleeper retaining walls

2012 FINALISTS in Category 1 of the

prestigious CCF Earth

Awards 2009, 2010, 2011

& 2012 – celebrating

“Excellence in Civil

Construction.”

gabion and rock mattress structuressegmental walls

rockfall netting rockcatch fencing new directions

stone strong