The Preconstruction Advantage with MARKHAM

BRENDAN:

G’day and welcome, everybody. Great to have you on board with us today! And we're back with another session of MARKHAM’s webinars, “The Pre-construction Advantage with MARKHAM”.

And if you just give me a fraction of a moment, I'll share the slide deck. We'll try not to kill you by slide deck. We’ve kept it fairly short.

So - introduction and housekeeping. For those of you who've been with us before, you may have met Christine and Alex, and they'll introduce themselves as we go along. You'll find the Q&A and Comments buttons in the bottom of the toolbar on your window there.

And we've got a question we'd like you to think about, and if you want to drop an answer straight into the comments now, while we're proceeding: What's a key challenge for you in the pre-construction phase of a project?

So the agenda today revolves around three topics in the pre-construction phase of any project that you have worked on.

1. Risk transfer and simplification,
2. value engineering and support; and
3. Design and documentation assistance.

Without further ado, let's take it away. Alex, tell the folks about yourself, and get into it!

ALEX:

Hey, everybody. Thanks for joining today in today's webinar. Alex Portelli here from the Australian office. I cover off all Australian states and territories as the design and specifications manager, as well as working in the business development phase for the company as well. Thanks for coming on board again. Love to jump straight into it.

So firstly I want to sort of open with a bit of a question for everybody on this chat at the moment. And it's, What does it look like to work with a company that actually manufactures, designs, installs and warrants their systems in the market? It'd be great to get some feedback on that as we go through.

So basically what we're looking to do: Risk transfer and simplification basically is getting nice and early into projects - be that with structural engineers, architects, D&C design teams, during a ECI process as well. Therefore what we can do is really look at those expectations that are needed for the project moving forward; and work out how we can build them into the constructability of the projects, so holistically.

We want to be able to provide performance solutions right at that design phase. And then make sure that they're able to be implemented right the way through the delivery process. And then aftercare as well, the warranty-wise, so on and so forth. A lot of that is to do with minimizing exposure, with a single source warranty.

So as I mentioned, that importance of working with somebody who not only manufactures, but designs their systems specifically into key parts of the project, therefore is truly able to back what they put forward with with a substantial warranty. What that does for the industry is, it minimizes a lot of that finger-pointing that can happen, when a product is selected; it's implemented by a subcontractor. That subcontractor, you know, might not have followed the TDS to the to the dot; an issue occurs. And then the finger-pointing starts and nobody's there to accept responsibility, basically.

MARKHAM are able to reduce that right the way throughout. Which is why I think it's important to get in nice and early and make sure that what's put forward is actually, you know, going to meet those requirements.

Coordination is another part that we're trying to reduce headaches on. Less moving parts, working with the manufacturer who's designed it, who has their own operations team that deals directly with site. Able to, you know, lock in when we're going to come to site, or the logistics of everything; really makes it a seamless process. You know, right the way throughout for the end user and the builder during the construction phase.

And then still touching base with the architects and structural engineers right the way throughout so that there's no surprises during that important phase of the project. Got anything to add to that, Christine?

CHRISTINE:

No, I think you covered it off well, Alex. I'll jump into the next one and introduce myself. Perfect. Awesome. And so I am the New Zealand counterpart to Alex. So over the last eight or so years I have been working on the design side at MARKHAM; so working primarily with architects and engineers through that council submission phase.

But as the market over here is evolving and moving towards more of a design-build kind of market, expanding more into the design side of major construction companies. So sort of moving right across that band and then collaborating with the further team members at MARKHAM as well at the coalface end.

So, yes, in terms of that: this project here is one of my favourites, even though it's an Aussie one and I wasn't involved. It was happening as I was just coming into MARKHAM. But - Of course every project is unique, but this one was specifically one that stands out because of this little heritage building that you can see to the left that was propped up, and surrounded by a new massive development.

So there was a lot of special consideration for this one. And it was a really cool one to see come together. We were involved in the basement waterproofing for that, and the sealing for the aged care floors. And it was critical to get all of the components right, to make sure that communication was happening, and that all parties were happy; and that heritage building was protected in the middle. So, yes, that's one that stands out for me.

Have you got any further info on this one, Alex, being an Aussie guy?

ALEX:

A little bit. There was some value engineering properties, more so for the concrete placement team. The products that we were able to utilize in this project actually helped them with being able to, you know, minimize the work, wear and tear on their pumping machines, which was helpful.

It's just another bonus or benefit to the MARKHAM products and systems. Showcasing that, you know, it's not just the builder that benefits, or the asset owner. It's almost everybody can benefit from the MARKHAM system at some point within the project.

CHRISTINE:

Yes I think we got that feedback from the placers, I remember. They were saying it significantly reduced their pump pressure.

ALEX:

Yes.

CHRISTINE:

Cool cool! Awesome. Next slide, Brendo.

ALEX:

So value engineering. I see two parts to this. There's the initial value engineering part where MARKHAM are involved from the outset and are putting forth already value-engineered systems. For example, within the product selection for an expectation - there could be up to five characteristics that the one product is able to produce at the beginning of a project, that minimizes the need to do [hypothetically] five different things throughout the process, while then still being compatible at the back end; for flooring, for example.

The other side of value engineering from my perspective, is when there is a set of documentation already out there. Some initial pricing has been done without the inclusion of the MARKHAM system. And then how we can positively value-engineer that single product, potentially, to save on those [hypothetical] five characteristics for that particular client. So to me, there's sort of two sides to the story.

If we're involved extremely early from the outset, anything that we put forward is already a value-engineered system and should be viewed at that sort of tender estimating stage, and can be explored more deeply with that builder. Or as I mentioned, in the latter part. If they're not included, we can then value-engineer them into that as well.

So in that process, what we've done is we've worked with cost consultants in the past. We've worked directly with estimating teams, at particular building firms. And what we do is we really break it down and understand what the end result needs to be. And then we would insert the correct system or product to produce that value engineering; for the client; asset owner; and then everybody involved, basically. That's all I’ve really got to say on that one. We'll go to the next slide.

BRENDAN:

Just note a question has come in from Robert. [Robert: I assume the perimeter retainer pier walling has the Markham system.] Did you want to mention or discuss that now, Christine? I think it relates to the project that we were just looking at.

CHRISTINE:

Sorry. I was looking at the chat and looking for a question.

ALEX:

Ah yes, so was I.

BRENDAN:

It’s in the Q&A.

CHRISTINE:

Oh, for the Rosewood?

BRENDAN:

Let's go back to that one.

ALEX:

Yes.

CHRISTINE:

So, yes, in terms of that one, our products were utilized in the concrete going across the face of that.

ALEX:

Correct.

BRENDAN:

Such as visible on the right side there.

CHRISTINE:

Yes. So you've got piling to the left.

ALEX:

Finished product to the right.

So just a small case study to discuss. This is a 20-plus-year-old project. What you can see there is the treated versus untreated concrete slab with the MARKHAM system. The left-hand side with the white line is the untreated version. The right-hand side is a treated version. And you can see that there, it's just a concrete pour from internal warehouse to external concrete, the same trucks, forklifts, etc, have been driving across both slabs, for the same period of time.

And it's just going to show the deterioration on the external parts of the concrete versus the, you know, robustness of what the system can produce long term. On the left-hand side. So just a little bit of an indicator there based on the long-term durability and benefits that you can gain from utilizing the correct products and designing the correct products in early, to get those achievements moving forward.

CHRISTINE:

Yes, I've got a couple of things to add on that one, I think you said left-hand side treated in the last sentence? - but it’s the right-hand side treated, just to be clear. It's just mixing up your left and right! And so that dense surface on the right. And also then what we're talking about here obviously is beneficial for an asset owner, but it's also not going to break the bank at construction phase either. This is not two-part epoxy that's going to be massive [$] amounts per square metre. It's a relatively cost-effective treatment that's done once. And then in terms of being able to communicate to an asset owner, that's not going to be needing to be reapplied ever.

So you're going to get that durability but without having to maintain it. So you can see they're going to have to maintain the line marking, but they're not going to have to maintain the durability treatment. So yes, really cost-effective in terms of a long-term asset.

ALEX:

Nice.

CHRISTINE:

Robert's question, again, Waterstops at the joints - correct? [Robert: Is there a waterstop at the joint?] Yes. Back in the Rosewood. Oh, do you mean this one? [Robert I refer to the slab floor joint?]

ALEX:

No, I think that was for the retainer pier walling that has the MARKHAM system and the joints. Yes, could be either.

BRENDAN:

Definitely waterproofing joints in the basement waterproofing system.

CHRISTINE:

At the Rosewood one? Yes. And this one...

BRENDAN:

I don't think it was relevant to the warehouse.

ALEX:

Not necessarily, for slab on ground.

BRENDAN:

But thanks for the questions. We appreciate that, keep them coming in.

ALEX:

David has actually asked a really good question for the mining industry and durability. [David: In mining main issue is durability. Can't determine effectiveness for some time and can't control exposure environment. Thus, as technical consultant need to have adequate support and technical data to advise client and have concrete supplier made familiar with the products. Then when modify client concrete spec there is minimal resistance.] Yes. Absolutely right. The exposure from the environment on the concrete substrates varies quite heavily. Utilize… Well, usually, it's quite hypersaline. On some cases we've seen sort of ten times the salinity of seawater, is what the concrete substrates are washed down with, which can obviously cause detrimental effects to the concrete.

Moving forward, to answer the question, from a technical consultive point of view, yes, adequate support and technical data is something that we are happy to provide. So that the clients or the concrete manufacturer or supplier understand what it is that the MARKHAM systems are doing.

When it comes to modifying client concrete, there's not any real resistance from the colloidal silicas that we use. Anything and everything that we do only benefits the overall concrete mix, if you will. We have got a lot of case studies in the mining sector as well that we'd be more than happy to share with yourself, David, and whomever else is interested.

But the other beauty of working with MARKHAM is that we have the availability to meet client expectations with certain admixtures. And that's what we're quite heavily doing in the market at the moment, is being able to modify our own products to suit client needs for what they are experiencing. So definitely something that we'd be happy to dive into a little more. And I can put you in contact with our technical development manager if that would suit you.

CHRISTINE:

Yes, In terms of that, David, as far as taking some time to show effectiveness: we do have a couple of case studies in really harsh environments, including one in a mining environment where there's sulfuric acid dripping on top of a slab at Murrin Murrin mine, which we could send you a case study for. We reduced that concrete attack down from ... they were having to replace that concrete slab every 18 months; to now - it's going on six, maybe going on seven years, without needing to be replaced. And that's got the hydrogel admixture and spray-treated product on it from day one. And that concrete is exposed to that dripping acid from the get-go, from day one.

So that's a really good example of that. I'll get Brendo - Can you note to send that through? That would be awesome. And we do have a full time R&D technical guy as well, at MARKHAM. And so he is working... he has worked with a lot of mining contacts. So he's got significant technical data that we can share with that. So, yes, keen to chat.

ALEX:

Awesome. And just back to the slab example. [David: With the slab example what products have you used in the concrete?] What product is in the concrete – is that for the example on the presentation?

CHRISTINE:

Is that this one?

ALEX:

I think so. If so, that's a spray-applied hydrogel product, typically installed at the curing phase of the project. Deeply penetrating up to 150mm, giving really good coverage to that concrete slab and working as one. That’s what was utilised, on that particular slide deck picture. Hopefully that answers your question there, David.

CHRISTINE:

Awesome. Next one.

[David: Was the concrete a special mix?]So for that previous warehouse, no, that was just the spray-applied system. So in terms of the durability of that slab, just the spray-applied hydrogel. In terms of concrete mix design for that one, both were the same. So you've got that comparison side by side.

ALEX:

Yes, correct.

CHRISTINE:

I’m presuming we're talking about that and not the mining one!

So yes, in terms of moving into the design and documentation side, as I said, Alex and I have specialized in that design phase, and we've both got significant experience working with architects, making sure we're collating the documentation that they need for council submission.

And as I mentioned earlier as well, that streamlining throughout the process. So we don't just have, just us in design; we've got people who then install as well at the other end. In fact, I often end early meetings with - specifically for waterproofing - I'll bring in our operations manager, who has got a very good grasp of onsite reality.

We can... obviously you can say, Hey, that looks great on a drawing, but that's not how it's going to be onsite. And so being able to have that end-to-end knowledge - sorry, I'm just plugging in a charger! - being able to have that cache, and the access to somebody who's going to give you exactly how that's going to come together, rather than just how it looks on a neat drawing, is invaluable, I find, to be able to avoid designing in something that's going to be impractical or unworkable.

And having that collaboration from our whole team, where we do work closely together and we all hand on and stay involved as the project moves forward, is really high value, in terms of not having one hand not talking to the other. And being able to collaborate and come up with something. So we don't waste time in reversing things and swapping things out.

ALEX:

I totally agree with you on that there, Christine. That really comes full-circle back to working with someone who's manufacturing, designing, installing, and then warranty. It is really solidifying that across the board, and just going beyond reproach, really.

CHRISTINE:

In terms of that as well, I think something that sets us apart is our willingness to evolve. And so if there's something that, at the documentation phase or at the council submission phase that you say, Actually it would be really helpful if you could provide us this - obviously sometimes those processes like getting appraisals and things can take a long time, but we're willing to take on that feedback and go, OK, if that's going to make a difference, then we'll look into that.

And often we'll come through with a completed document or a completed appraisal that's going to be helpful for you at that end.

ALEX:

Correct.

CHRISTINE:

Do you want to jump through to the next one, Brendo? I think it's the OJI... Another specific, a very specific approach to a project. This one, for New Zealand, is a large-scale warehouse. It's about 30,000 square metres, in Christchurch. And the client was directing how they would like that concrete slab to appear as they were moving throughout the construction process. So there was a really high spec requirement on that concrete slab.

That sheen isn't the finish. That was as it was just treated, and so that's still wet. But it's a really striking photograph. But moving through the phases - through me, through to my colleague Lachie, to the main contractor handling side, and then through to our install team; who were involved spray treating, installing curing blankets, uplifting. And then we actually had a guy who was there most days, throughout the concrete placing process, he was just scrubbing the floor to keep construction debris off it.

And so, I mean, with a large scale development like that, that was the service level that was required. And so being able to offer that bespoke service was really awesome for the client. And they were really happy with the result.

And we've got another question that I can’t see...

BRENDAN:

I was just going to say...

CHRISTINE:

That’s correct! And Peter's typing...

BRENDAN:

…we’re open to questions and we're very glad if you keep chipping in there. Yes, thank you, Robert, for your comment. [Robert: Design, doc, and install and certify, is a great way moving forward.] That's good.

ALEX:

Yes. I agree with Robert there. We’ve got one back in the chat. [Peter: What is the cost roughly per square meter to lay the product including the cost of the product?]

CHRISTINE:

Cost roughly per square metre? That is going to... it'll differ depending on what it is that you're looking at. We do things very project specific, but say for that large scale warehouse, for the durability treatment that lasted and still going for 20+ years now, that would be - in New Zealand; Alex could say for Aussie if it's different - but roughly in the $5-$6 per square metre range. So we're not talking $50 per square metre.

Something in terms of high-end treatment, including the product as well for a mining environment just for the spray treatment, that'd be up in the... it depends, again, on project and requirement and access. And we've got to factor in all of those things as well. But yes, heading up to more sort of $20.

ALEX:

Yes. We're very project concise specific. What the cost per square is also depends on the particular product you use as well. So for example, in that large warehouse area, I've had clients who are up for a slightly different product to meet certain requirements within the warehouse space. So instead of just a curing-sealing-densifying product, they want something that you can also densify but also protect against chloride ingress or acid ingress, you know; in a battery management facility or something like that. So that the product selection will determine the square metre rate as well. So it really does depend. It is project specific. Best way to sort of work out what's required is, get in early with us and we can provide the pricing proposals for both supply-install or supply-only and that gives you a couple of variations that you can go with while still achieving those high quality, permanent applications with the product.

CHRISTINE:

And David's question there, the warehouse slab. [David: Did that slab have a CONQOR additive and then subsequent surface treatment?] No, it didn't have one of our admixtures in it and the surface treatment. But that mining project that I was referring to, that Brendan's going to send through, something like that will [have admixture]. Or say waterproofing, if it's required for hydrostatic, to resist hydrostatic pressure, then we'd do both [admixture and spray-applied].

Or I've got a couple of enviro-waste projects in New Zealand at the moment where we would do both. It really depends. As Alex was saying, project specific as to what the demands are, and what the requirements are, and what's going to happen with that concrete.

So we're not going to prescribe that one size fits all. That's getting back into that value engineering conversation again. We're not going to recommend something that you don't need for your project.

ALEX:

There you go. And more importantly on that too, being quite risk-averse as well, we're actually not afraid to offer a belt-and-braces approach if we believe that's what the project requires. You know, as I said, we can't really solve all the world's problems all at once. So if that is a requirement based off of, you know, end expectation, we may be suggestive of working with other elements or products in order to be able to meet that expectation.

That's one thing that I am quite passionate about, is requirement versus expectation. Something can be required, but then you're expecting it to perform a certain way, and that's not going to meet the requirements. So it's a very thin line to tread. But that's what we enjoy doing. That's why we come to work every day! By being able to provide that level of care and expectations from our end; to be able to pass it on to your clients and builders and so on and so forth.

CHRISTINE:

And Peter's just asking, Is the product for durability or also for waterproofing? [Peter: Is the product for durability or also for waterproofing as in an exposed carpark top floor?] The answer is yes! So we haven't got into that. We haven't got into our technical side of the product in this webinar. We do have one specifically for durability only, and that's going to start at the lower end.

And then all of our products are based on colloidal silica. And what that does is that responds to the ‘free limes’ in the concrete and forms a hydrogel. It blocks the porosity and increases more C-S-H in the concrete. So you're getting more, more of the good stuff, more bonds happening within that concrete. So that densifies it, provides durability, but also the main attack for concrete, anything that's attacking the structural steel within the concrete, it's all coming through on moisture.

So the higher up we go in terms of waterproofing, also the more durable that concrete's going to be. So yes, hopefully that answers that question. It's like a ‘Yes, and’!

BRENDAN:

Did you want to slip in a comment there, Christine, about the TOP-TECT deck waterproofing system as a holistic system?

CHRISTINE:

Oh yes. Sorry, I missed that. I was just answering that ... and yes, we do. Alex is a gun at the TOP-TECT system! So yes, as well as waterproofing below ground, we can utilize the same technology to waterproof carpark roof decks, depending on construction and what you're trying to achieve there. But then you've got a completely UV-stable system for the top. It doesn't wear out with traffic. It's the concrete [that] becomes the barrier.

ALEX:

Correct.

And then David's question regarding spillage material clean up; front end loader; basically wear resistance on the slabs. [David: For a slab that is exposed to high spillage of material and then clean up using large front-end loader has the wear resistance of the slab using MARKHAM product been tested?] Yes, there have been abrasion tests done, to and for the products. Obviously, as you can appreciate, a front end loader, you know, with a metal bucket, can be quite destructive to a concrete substrate. What we have seen in the past is that, we've treated both a structural slab, and then there are elements... or there are clients out there who will do a sacrificial sort of ‘wear slab’ that they, you know, periodically will replace or patch, if necessary. So there's a few ways to sort of look at that. Overall to answer your question, yes, there have been wear resistance tests done. And we can send some details through around that as well.

CHRISTINE:

Yes. We've got some anecdotal evidence or field studies as well in terms of that. So locally, fertilizer storage units where they do have front end loaders scraping out the fertilizers. Fertilizer is harsh on concrete, as well as the loaders doing that.

And local heavy machinery. So earthworks, machinery with... not tires, what are those things called? Tracks! Is that what they called? Yes. So, yes, just metal tracks turning, rotating on that slab. And that's wearing really well, and that is well prior to me starting here. So I think it's about 15 years old now.

David's needing all your case studies, Brendan! [David: Yes that would be good.]

ALEX:

Send them by WeTransfer, I think!

CHRISTINE:

I think we’ll send you a link to our Dropbox!

BRENDAN:

You can go to the free library.

ALEX:

Peter has got something else coming through. That's good. So there's another one in the Questions tab. [Robert: So does it mean, Performance Solutions reports are no longer required by council or certifiers?]

No, I wouldn't say that performance solutions are no longer required. We still see that quite prevalent in the market. I guess it really depends around the building surveyor and what they've asked for. And moving forward. So, yes, there's still ... Performance solutions are still definitely happening out there. I wouldn't say that there's no longer a requirement, at all.

CHRISTINE:

[Peter: I suppose MARKHAM has numerous products so probably best to contact you for the applicable product before specifying anything.] Yes. Yes they have.

ALEX:

I agree with that, Peter, 100%!

BRENDAN:

Yes. I suppose it speaks to what you were saying earlier about coming in at... the whole point of coming in at design phase.

ALEX:

Yes. That's correct. Are you New Zealand or Australia, Peter? - out of interest. Cool.

CHRISTINE:

Perfect. That's a ‘you’ one, Christine! Easy.

BRENDAN:

Very good. Yes. Well, if there’s no more questions for the time being - we will send out the contact details for both Alex and Christine in the follow up email. So do be free to reach out with your project specifics. And, as we've mentioned, there'll be a link for the ... we'll put in the Murrin Murrin mine example. And also we'll put in links for the videos to the case studies, OJI and The Warehouse warehouse. So you will find those interesting, I think; actual on-site view. And anything else we should be covering off, Alex and Christine?

ALEX:

I think that's pretty much it for now. Peter’s… No worries Peter, happy to help!

BRENDAN:

The level of interactions has been excellent, very much appreciate everybody joining into the conversation.

ALEX:

Definitely!

ALEX:

Thank you!

CHRISTINE:

OK we’ll see you again.

ALEX:

All the best, guys.

BRENDAN:

Have a great day!