handrails guardrailsapave.me/uploaded/news... · the answer depends on how much you know about iso...

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Ap

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HANDRAILSGUARDRAILS

ISO 9001:2015: THE FINAL SPRINTECO WASTEWATER TREATMENT: BKAATOUTA LEADS THE WAY

ACS:A GREEN SCHOOL

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CONTENTSApril - June 2018

TALK OF THE TOWN

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New training center for Lebanese Red Cross volunteers

ISO 45001 – All you need to know

AUB: Munib and Angela Masri Building

ISO 9001:2015: The final sprint

ARCHITECTURE & TECHNIQUES

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Treatment of wastewater: Bkaatouta - Kesrewan

Re-thinking the French sustainable building plan

Apave News at a Glance…

Projects on the Run

Regulatory Watch by Apave

Announcements

FOCUS ON Handrails & Guardrails

Handrails vs guardrails

NF P 01-012 specifications

Industrial handrails and guardrails

NFPA specifications for handrails

DTU39 P5 for glass balustrades

Impact-test according to NF P 08-301

Dangers of faulty guardrails

Let’s have a guess!

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SUSTAINABILITY & ENERGY

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Importance of design and quality control in PV systems

ACS: A green school

Solar PV Plus

Energy Service Companies (ESCOs)

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EditorialSPRING START TO SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS AND SAFETY

Spring is the time for new beginnings, fresh starts. The days start getting longer and

the weather warmer. As the sunshine hits the rooftops, Solar Energy thrives. This issue

highlights sustainable products such as Solar PV Plus storage and Energy Service

Companies (ESCOs) as well as sustainable initiatives. By installing solar panels the

American Community School (ACS)Beirut, are setting an example for the community

and hopefully starting a new school trend. Staying on the subject of sustainability, back in

2010 the United Nations General Assembly acknowledged that clean water and sanitation

are essential to the realization of all human rights through Resolution 64/292. As water

pollution is becoming a major challenge in Lebanon, the village of Bkaatouta’s planting of

reed plants as a sustainable wastewater treatment is certainly a commendable initiative.

And, in light of new challenges arising from the evolution and transition of energy, a

working group “RBR (Réflexion Bâtiment Responsable) 2020-2050” highlights the

importance of the evolution of buildings and real estate within the frame of the French

“Sustainable Building Plan”. The main observation expressed by the working group is

that a building’s performance primarily depends on its use. Isn’t it time to ensure that

buildings are built to ensure inhabitants’ comfort, and that all regulatory requirements

should integrate this principle?

As the days get longer, the clock is ticking and time is running out to update your

organizations ISO certification. This issue provides essential tips to be prepared for the

external audit: as of September all ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004 certificates

will become obsolete and in Lebanon all certified companies should undertake their

recertification audits before 14 May 2018. Getting certified is more important than ever

and implementing the new system will encourage a method of continual risk assessment

and enhance your company’s image. So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to get

certified.

Moving on to safety, this issue sheds light on building features we often take for

granted: handrails and guardrails. Although often decorative and considered a design

element, railings are vital for the safety of your facility. This issue lays out the numerous

specifications to note in order to protect from danger and offer safe solutions.

And, last but not least, the APAVE Training Calendar is once again jam-packed with new

workshops and sessions - check it out at the end of this issue.

General ManagerNassib Nasr

Managing EditorJoelle Wakim Thoumas

PhotographerMichel El Esta

Editorial ConsultantSabina Llewellyn-Davies

Layout & DesignLorem Ipsum

PrintingAl Arz Printing

Edition ApavePublished Quarterly

Distributed byMEDIAREPTel/Fax: +961 495 395www.mediarep.ws

Please feel free to send us your feedback. Our challenge is to highlight topics of importance to our industry and we truly value your comments.

We appreciate your comments at:[email protected]

The Building&Co. Team

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Talk Of The Town

TALK OF THE TOWN

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CENTRE SOCIAL MINERVA AND ISKANDAR NAJJAR

A NEW TRAINING CENTER FOR LEBANESE RED CROSS VOLUNTEERS

The Centre Social Minerva and Iskandar Najjar, located

in the heart of Jounieh, is the first center in the Middle

East intended for the training of Red Cross volunteers. The

municipality of Jounieh offered the land and the Raymond

and Aïda Najjar Foundation donated the building. The

Center consists of 6 floors and a basement with conference

and multipurpose rooms, training rooms as well as an

auditorium with 160 seats. It also has bedrooms that can

accommodate up to 60 people. In collaboration with the

Lebanese Red Cross, the building has been specially designed

to meet the requirements of an intensive training program

and is equipped with the latest learning technologies.

TALK OF THE TOWN

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The Center is in compliance with high fire-safety standards, thanks to the technical assistance

of Apave.

Since 1947, the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC), led by thousands of volunteers, has been

providing urgent relief to vulnerable people and victims of natural and human disasters,

regardless of religion or race.

In Lebanon, its mission is being accomplished through 50 medical-social centers, 46 first-aid

centers, 9 mobile clinics and 13 blood transfusion centers.

And the Red Cross volunteers give their time and effort in order to serve society following

seven basic principles: Humanity - Impartiality - Neutrality - Independence - Voluntary

Service - Unity - Universality.

One of the major challenges the LRC faces is to recruit volunteers regularly and train them

accurately to accomplish different tasks, a very costly program. In 2018, the Raymond & Aïda

Najjar Foundation fulfilled the LRC’s dream of having a national Training Center which will

facilitate the training of about 700 volunteers per year coming from all around the country.

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ISO 45001 –ALL YOU NEEDTO KNOW

Every day, thousands of lives are lost due to work accidents or fatal diseases linked to work

activities. These are deaths that could and should have been prevented, and must be in the future.

ISO 45001 aims to help organizations do just that. Here, Kristian Glaesel and Charles Corrie

tell us how the new standard will bring safety to the front line.

Whether you are an employee, a manager or a business owner, you share a common goal – you

don’t want anyone to get hurt on the job. Improved productivity stems from ensuring people

operate in workplaces that provide transparency and build trust throughout their operation and

supply chain. In addition, responsible practices are becoming increasingly important to brands

and reputations.

ISO 45001 is the new ISO standard for occupational health and safety (OH&S). It has become

one of the most eagerly awaited standards in the world, and is set to drastically improve levels of

workplace safety.

Given that ISO 45001 will become part of the business norm, regardless of whether organizations

choose to adopt it or not, it’s important for companies to stay abreast of the latest developments.

ISOfocus spoke to Kristian Glaesel, Convenor of the working group that developed the new

standard, and Charles Corrie, Secretary of ISO/PC 283, to get the low-down on this highly

anticipated standard.

By Elizabeth Gasiorowski-Denis, Editor-in-Chief of ISOfocus, ISO

TALK OF THE TOWN

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ISOfocus: What is ISO 45001?K. Glaesel and C. Corrie: ISO 45001 is a milestone! As the world’s first International

Standard dealing with health and safety at work, ISO 45001, Occupational health and

safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use, offers a single, clear

framework for all organizations wishing to improve their OH&S performance. Directed at

the top management of an organization, it aims to provide a safe and healthy workplace for

employees and visitors. To achieve this, it is crucial to control all factors that might result

in illness, injury, and in extreme cases death, by mitigating adverse effects on the physical,

mental and cognitive condition of a person – and ISO 45001 covers all of those aspects.

While ISO 45001 draws on OHSAS 18001 – the former benchmark for OH&S – it is a

new and distinct standard, not a revision or update, and is due to be phased in gradually

over the next three years. Organizations will therefore need to revise their current thinking

and work practices in order to maintain organizational compliance.

What are the major differences between OHSAS 18001 and ISO 45001?There are many differences, but the main change is that ISO 45001 concentrates on the

interaction between an organization and its business environment while OHSAS 18001

was focused on managing OH&S hazards and other internal issues. But the standards also

diverge in many other ways:

• ISO 45001 is process-based – OHSAS 18001 is procedure-based

• ISO 45001 is dynamic in all clauses – OHSAS 18001 is not

• ISO 45001 considers both risk and opportunities – OHSAS 18001 deals

exclusively with risk

• ISO 45001 includes the views of interested parties – OHSAS 18001 does not

These points represent a significant shift in the way health and safety management is

perceived. OH&S is no longer treated as a “stand alone”, but must be viewed within the

perspective of running a sound and sustainable organization. That being said, although the

two standards differ in their approach, a management system established in accordance with

OHSAS 18001 will be a solid platform for migrating to ISO 45001.

I am certified to OHSAS 18001. How do I begin the migration?When migrating from OHSAS 18001, several steps must be taken to “prepare the

ground”, so to speak, before the new management system itself can be established. If you

follow the sequence below, you will be well on your way:

1.Perform the analysis of interested parties (i.e. those individuals or organizations that

can affect your organization’s activities) as well as internal and external factors that might

impact your organization’s business, then ask yourself how these risks can be controlled

through your management system.

2.Establish the scope of the system, while considering what your management system is

set to achieve.

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“The Q&A first appeared in the March/April 2018 ISOfo-cus magazine.

Please visit the ISOfocus Web-site (www.iso.org/isofocus ) for more information.”

3.Use this information to establish your processes, your risk evaluation/assessment and,

most importantly, to set the key performance indicators (KPIs) for the processes.

Once you have adapted all the data to the tools of OHSAS 18001, you can reuse most of

what you already have in your new management system. So, while the approach is quite

different, the basic tools are the same.

What do I need to know if I am new to ISO 45001?The answer depends on how much you know about ISO management systems. ISO

45001 adopts Annex SL, thus sharing a high-level structure (HLS), identical core text

and terms and definitions with other recently revised ISO management system standards

such as ISO 9001:2015 (quality management) and ISO 14001:2015 (environmental

management). If you are already acquainted with the common framework, then much

of ISO 45001 will seem familiar to you and you will just need to fill the “gaps” in

your system. If this is not the case, things could be a little more tricky. The standard

is not easy to apprehend when you read it as a normal book. You have to realize all the

interconnections between the specific clauses. My best advice would be to find a good

training course to help you unlock the standard’s full potential. You may also want to

consider employing consultancy services to assist you in the process.

I have an integrated system certified to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. How can ISO 45001 be used with other management systems?ISO’s common framework (the aforementioned HLS) for management system standards

was deliberately developed to facilitate the integration of new management topics into

an organization’s existing management systems. For example, ISO 45001 is based fairly

closely on ISO 14001 as we are aware that many organizations combine their OH&S and

environmental functions internally.

How will ISO 45001 be used?We predict that most organizations will use ISO 45001 to establish an effective OH&S

management system, and just a few will want the extra recognition that comes with

certification. There is no requirement to certify to an ISO management system standard.

Simply having a formal management system in place will bring many benefits of its

own through enforcing best practice. Certification is merely an added endorsement that

demonstrates to external parties that you have achieved full compliance with a specific

standard.

The benefits of ISO 45001 are endless when implemented correctly. While the standard

requires that OH&S risks be addressed and controlled, it also takes a risk-based approach

to the OH&S management system itself, to ensure that it is effective and that it is being

continually improved to meet an organization’s ever-changing “context”. Moreover, it

ensures compliance with current legislation worldwide. All these measures combined

can establish an organization’s reputation as a “safe place to work”, bringing a host of

corollary benefits, from reducing insurance costs to improving employee morale – all

while continuing to meet your strategic targets.

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AUB TO WELCOME NEW ANNEX

THE MUNIB & ANGELA MASRI BUILDING

By Maroun Semaan, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, American University of Beirut

TALK OF THE TOWN

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The American University of Beirut (AUB) will soon welcome a new annex to the Engineering building. This project was part of a

competition led by the American University of Beirut and awarded to Builders Design Consultants (BDC) in an effort to develop

the FEA (Faculty of Engineering and Architecture) district, rework the façade of the Bechtel building, and design the Mikati

Library, as well as the Munib & Angela Masri Building (including the Institute for Energy, Environmental Studies & Natural

Resources). The Munib and Angela Masri Institute of Energy and Natural Resources at the American University of Beirut (AUB)

was established in June 2007.to meet the requirements of an intensive training program and is equipped with the latest learning

technologies.

It has been also achieved in compliance with high fire-safety standards, thanks to the technical assistance of Apave.

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The allotted space for the Munib and Angela Masri building,

at the edge of the FEA District, is one of the best real

estate locations in AUB, almost centrally located on the

lower campus, overlooking the green field, at the crossroads

between the seaside entrance and two major east-west axis

of the lower campus. However, the site is very tight for the

heavily charged functional requirements of the project,

and the initial massing of the Masri building needed to be

manipulated and morphed through until it fit all contextual

and programmatic needs.

The site was the leading factor in the shaping of the project:

due to the importance of this prime location, the new

design needed to communicate this symbolic, monumental

threshold to the FEA District.

Several steps were taken by Builders Design Consultants

(BDC) to shape this project:

1. The first step was to separate the Masri building

from Bechtel to give it its own identity.

2. Next to lighten the mass and to visually connect the

2 entrance levels of the new project, the building was broken

into two parts, opening up the floor at the Lower Promenade

level, and visually linking it to the FEA Way.

3. Then ,the upper part of building was twisted/

rotated towards the view in order to maximize the views to

the sea, partially blocked by the OSB.

4. To further strengthen the connection between the

two entrance levels of the Masri building, accessibility from

(and to) all streets articulated the lower part of the project.

5. The final step was the addition of a skin to tie the

project together and give it a strong identity, as the symbolic

entrance of the FEA district.

Established in Beirut, Lebanon in 1973 by Nabil F. Azar,

BDC offers its consultancy services in several regions &

countries.

* All photos, diagrams & perspectives courtesy of BDC.

TALK OF THE TOWN

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PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

Design Start Date 2015

Status Under Construction

Construction

Completion Date 2018

Site Area 700 m2

Built-Up Area 3,850 m2

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Fawzi is a young and dynamic architect and entrepreneur. With over 15 years of experience in

Architecture, Interior Design, Project Management & Real Estate Consultancy, he developed a skill

and passion for handling complex projects, ranging from Educational, to Commercial, Hospitality and

Healthcare projects.

Having previously worked with big names such as Michael Squire & Partners (London, UK),

Architecture-Studio (Paris, France) and Machado & Silvetti Associates (Boston, USA), Fawzi is

currently a senior architect and the chief operations officer of his family’s practice, Builders Design

Consultants (an Architecture, Design, Engineering, Project Management & Real Estate Consultancy

firm established in 1973, with a portfolio of over 400 completed projects around the Middle East and

Europe - www.azar-bdc.com).

In addition to his Architecture degree from one of the top institutions in the Middle East - the

American University of Beirut - Fawzi also holds an MBA degree from INSEAD, where he got struck

by the entrepreneurial bug and has since worked on several entrepreneurial ventures ranging from

crowd-sourcing design talent, to IT-integrated interior designs office solutions, to targeted real estate.

Outside work Fawzi has a passion for traveling, photography, hiking, archeology, design & arts, and the

odd tennis game when he gets a chance.

(Fawzi can be followed on Linkedin and Instagram).

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ISO 9001:2015:THE FINAL SPRINTAs of September 15, 2018 all ISO 9001:2008 and ISO

14001:2004 certificates will become obsolete. In Lebanon all

certified companies have to undertake their recertification audits

against the 2015 versions of the mentioned standards before May

14, 2018.

1. DOCUMENTATIONAlthough many documents are not mandatory anymore, evaluate your organization’s needs

before thinking of eliminating them. Just because the new standard is silent on such things

doesn’t prohibit you from keeping such approaches if they work for your organization.

2. UNDERSTANDING THE CONTEXT OF THE ORGANIZATION (Clause 4.1).

Identify and understand the context of your organization within a management review

meeting. However, it could also be addressed in your Quality Manual, when it exists, or any

other official document that the management might require.

3. LEADERSHIPIn order to answer one of the main principles of a Quality Management System (QMS), the

standard requires now more involvement of the organization’s management. This will be

looked for by external auditors who will surely ask for some time with top management to

assess their active participation in the implemented QMS.

4. RISKS AND OPPORTUNITIES (Clause 6.1).

When you decided to establish a QMS, you’ve already thought of managing the risks your

organization might face and you have identified them during procedures’ development,

internal audits, improvement actions, etc. So, this is an easy task to cover during the

transition.The hard part is to remember the opportunities. If you haven’t thought of them yet,

have a brief meeting with your team to discuss this issue and make sure you have a full score

on this one.

5 TIPS TO BE PREPARED FOR THE EXTERNAL AUDIT:

TALK OF THE TOWN

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Here’s what Apave can do to help you finalize this transition:

• Train your internal auditors• Train your team on the ISO 9001:2015 standard requirements• Undertake a Blank Audit, with suggestion of improvement actions, when needed• Help you develop the tools needed for a full compliance with the standard

5. ORGANIZATIONAL KNOWLEDGE (Clause 7.1.6)

A few easy steps to seize the organizational knowledge of your company:

• Write down procedures and work instructions

• Organize internal trainings and awareness sessions

• Organize on-the-job trainings

• Have a knowledge database

It’s only when a key employee leaves the company and that processes stop working as they

should, that the management realizes that there was critical knowledge held by that person

only. And, that will cost the company a lot!

Therefore, gain the benefit of the ISO 9001:2015 requirements and secure your organizational

knowledge sooner rather than later; your organization will be better off in the long run.

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Architecture & Techniques

TALK OF THE TOWN

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SUSTAINABLE WASTEWATER TREATMENT: THE VILLAGE OFBKAATOUTA PLANTS REEDS

The technology of using

reeds for the treatment

of domestic waste waters

emerged in Europe in the

1980s and this type of

treatment has increased

since the mid 90s.It is

a reliable and simple

technology which facilitates

the management of sludge

and is usually well accepted

by local residents due to it’s

natural elements, reinforced

by its ability to integrate in

the rural landscape.

A reed bed is a natural,

effective, sustainable and

low maintenance method

of sewage treatment.

Aesthetically pleasing

to the eye, it requires

no electricity and once

matured provides an

By Rachid Moubarak, Municipal Consultant

ecological habitat for a wide

range of species. Reed beds

are subject to Environment

Agency permitting

guidelines and are now

widely used throughout

Europe, Asia, Australia, and

United States.

The chains of filters

planted with reeds in the

village of Bkaatouta with

1,500 inhabitants located

in the high Kesrewan area

were recommended by

the Office International

de l’Eau France. The

study recommended the

implementation of two

successive planted filters (in

series):

The first filter flows vertical

and the second filter flow

horizontal.

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HOW DO REED BEDS WORK?

The Common Reed (Phragmites Australis) has the ability to transfer oxygen from its

leaves, down through its stem, porous speta and rhizomes, and out via its root system

into the rhizosphere (root system). As a result of this action, a very high population of

micro-organisms occurs in the rhizosphere, with zones of aerobic, anoxic, and anaerobic

conditions. Therefore, with the wastewater moving very slowly and carefully through the

mass of reed roots, this liquid can be successfully treated, in a manner somewhat similar

to the conventional biological filter bed systems of sewage treatment plants.

After being recuperated through the village drainage network in Bkaatouta, the wastewater

is first retained in a retention tank before being rapidly flushed into a first upper basin

with a flow of 0.5m3/hr per m2.

In this first basin, water is spread uniformly on all the top surface and it percolates

vertically through a stratum composed of fine aggregates at the top and more coarse

aggregates at the bottom. Water is then recuperated from the bottom of the basin through

a drainage network and is conducted to a second larger lower basin.

Source: Office International de l’Eau - France

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In this second basin, water drops circulate horizontally in a homogeneous filtering

substrate, which allows chemical filtration taking into consideration a certain length of the

path and a certain time.

Following its passage into the first and second basins, water comes out filtered in a way

that it can be reused for municipality watering needs (green plantations) or to be disposed

of in a natural way.

LOCATION:

The map below shows the village of Bkaatouta with its topography and houses; the red

square represents the location of the basins in the valley on the lower part of the village;

blue and green lines indicate the drainage network penetrating the urbanized community.

The dedicated plot surface of the basins is around 10,000 m2. Finally, it is worth noting

that the plant does not have an unpleasant odor since the murky water has no permanent

surface presence in the basins. And, it is environmentally friendly as the entire plant

functions without electricity or any other source of energy.

Source: Office International de l’Eau - France


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EXECUTION PHASE (2016-2017):

The two basins (upper and lower) during excavation.

Retention tank

Soil preparation, pose of waterproof membrane and specific gravel size at the lower basin

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Gravity siphon (reduced model on the right and actual model on the left) which flushes the water periodically into the first basin.

Extracts from the Council of Development and Reconstruction (CDR) recommendations for water treatment plants:


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RE-THINKING THE FRENCH SUSTAINABLE BUILDING PLAN

In light of new challenges arising from the evolution and transition of energy, within the frame of the French Sustainable Building Plan, a working group called RBR (Réflexion Bâtiment Responsable) 2020-2050 highlighted the importance of the evolution of buildings and real estate. The main observation that was expressed by RBR is that a building’s performance primarily depends on its use. Isn’t it time to admit that buildings are built to ensure inhabitants’ comfort, and that all regulatory requirements should integrate this principle?The RBR group believes that the comfort concept should be studied in its different dimensions: thermal, acoustic, air quality, lighting, connection with nature, knowing that these dimensions are highly interrelated when seeking a high level of building’s performance.

By Michel Levron, Journalist

BUILDINGS SHOULD BE BUILT TO ENSURE INHABITANTS’ COMFORT

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INHABITANTS’ WELL BEING

Inside a built unit, the request of comfort relates to the comfort felt by the user, in a real

situation, for a specific building’s use. This reality is linked to the user’s culture, health

etc. Comfort has a social, psychological and subjective dimension. Therefore, comfort is

very difficult to consider in applicable regulations.

It seems essential to keep, for the inhabitant, a margin of freedom so they can find a

common ground between their actual habitat situation and their effective needs. A

constraints-free home is one of the main components of well-being; the availability

of heating options, for example, increases the satisfaction level of people (choice of

temperature level, possibility to open windows, etc.).By providing residents with simple

and well-explained tools, they can become main actors in the performance and comfort of

their homes.

WINTER THERMAL COMFORT:THE INHABITANT’S CHOICE

Surveys have revealed that the need for winter thermal comfort varies from one home

to another. While some people experience a sensation of comfort with a temperature

of 19 °C (which often corresponds to a temperature felt of 20 °C) and adapt their way

of life accordingly (with extra clothing in particular), others do not live the same way,

for example, elderly people or couples with young children. Therefore, an inhabitants’

lifecycle period seems an essential element in determining the desired temperature.

Whatever the home occupancy is, certain specific elements request for additional

heating. Since 2013, French regulations have made great progress in limiting the needs

of buildings and in controlling energy consumption. In the coming years, the evolution

of these regulations will reinforce the performances achieved. As a result, energy

management issues are shifting. Thus, the electrical consumption related to electronic

devices becomes an issue for a high-performance building.

In these circumstances, and in view of the performance levels achieved, it seems

appropriate to leave to the resident a degree of freedom in winter thermal comfort setting.


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COMFORT AND INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Indoor air quality, an important element of the comfort of an inhabitant, has also a strong

impact on health.

It is conditioned by:

• materials in contact with the ambient air (floors, ceilings);

• ventilation and air handling devices;

• devices allowing access to outside air or to ventilate naturally;

• airtightness of the dwelling;

• presence of pollutants of internal origin (tobacco, candles, insecticide ...) or external.

Ventilation can be a source of discomfort when it is poorly implemented: in winter, poorly

designed vents cause cold drafts; in summer, the inhabitant sometimes has the sensation

of an insufficiently renewed air. On another hand, it can be a source of comfort when it

allows airing, removal of odors, creation of air circulation and communication with the

outside by opening windows. Associated with incoming fresh air filtration, it helps to

reduce the concentration of pollutants in the indoor air. Finally, it allows to control the

hygrometry, an essential factor of thermal comfort.

The issues of temperature, air humidity and its renewal should be dealt with all together

and thermal performance and air quality should be sought for in parallel. Tomorrow’s

building will have ventilation engineering focused on technical amenities as well as the

needs of the occupant.

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COMFORT AND ACOUSTICS

Acoustic comfort is essential for the well-being in any

building and noise disturbance can cause discomfort,

attention and learning disorders, and affect health.

To limit the exposure of people to noise, regulations are

issued to building owners (acoustic characteristics), the

contracting authority of transport and the occupants

(neighborhood noise).

For new buildings, regulations include requirements for

acoustic insulation regarding the exterior, between houses

(airborne noise and impact), vis-à-vis the noise of common

areas (laying of coatings absorbers), noise from building

equipment (boiler room, elevators, ventilation ...), noise

from individual equipment (heating, air conditioning).

In recent years, progress in terms of energy efficiency

and sound insulation has sometimes been converging, for

example, openings that have acoustic performances for

airborne noise, and other times divergent, for example,

certain thermal insulators that conduct noise. In addition,

the emergence of new lightweight construction systems,

such as wood construction, can bring new issues in terms

of acoustics.

Progress has been made in terms of sound insulation

related to the exterior; as a result, the inner sounds have

become more important. Therefore, old regulations

concerning acoustic isolation should be reviewed to meet

new detected needs.

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COMFORT AND NATURAL LIGHT: ALWAYS MORE

Natural light is a vital need. While ensuring contact with the outside world, it allows us to

perform tasks that would usually require artificial lighting; by the specter of its radiation,

it contributes to the wellbeing and health of the occupant.

For a long time, a building’s purpose was to protect from the outside (climate, security).

With technical progress, it has been possible to bring in natural light through windows,

roofs, skylights, while ensuring a satisfactory climate protection.

Today, the progress achieved is such that there are no more thermal constraints and that

we must rethink lighting issues.

Regulations require a minimum of glazed area in a building to promote access to natural

lighting. But, the technological possibilities of current glazing encourage us to go beyond

this approach.

Some buildings’ certifications incorporate the notion of “daylight factor”. It is very likely

that, in the specifications and performance of tomorrow’s building, it is preferred to take

into account the light, climatic and thermal performance being largely controlled, without

giving way to an “all-glazed” unit.

Thus, the prejudgment according to which the thermal regulation leads to “thermos”

habitats that almost lack of openings, appears far from reality.

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COMFORT AND “BIOPHILIA”:STAY CONNECTED WITH NATURE

Recent studies show a link between contact with nature

and health of inhabitants, both mental and physical. The

presence of nature appears as a major element of human

wellbeing.

The concept of “biophilia” implies that the human being

maintains a connection with nature, the living world, the

green spaces, the wetlands as well as the outside air and

the natural light.

Such a connection has a positive effect on personal

wellbeing, productivity and social relationships. In

urban areas, the search for this connection with nature

intersects with the objective of preserving and developing

biodiversity, an issue just as important as climate change.

This research leads to consider the building’s integration

in its environment.

Greening the building’s surroundings or its envelope also

plays a role in the control of summer thermal comfort.

As stated by the Economic, Social and Environmental

Council (CESE), in its recent opinion on the quality of

housing, the search for this connection must be taken into

account in any development and construction project,

both from a design point of view and from a use and

maintenance view. There is a source of technical, social and

societal innovations in this issue.

FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF COMFORT AND USAGE SCENARIOS

Taking into account the factors analyzed above leads us to reconsider existing regulations that consist in setting a unique

conventional scenario which has nothing to do with the reality of many buildings.

It is understandable that the regulatory approach is based on a single reference scenario, since its purpose is to establish an

objective measure of buildings. As a result, it cannot predict the uses that are variable and totally depend on the inhabitants’

way of life.

However, not taking into account the diversity of potential uses can lead to the design of habitats that offer no flexibility of use

and for which a non-compliant use has significant negative consequences.

Comfort, well being and health: that’s what tomorrow’s building must offer to its residents. For this, choice must be given to

adapt the conditions of one’s home to heating, air conditioning, ventilation, lighting, opening to the outside and seeking simple

and effective solutions.

Thanks to enhancement in home automation and digital tools, options are compatible with energy expenditure control and eco-

responsible behavior. Thus, a home can be both sober, robust and at the same time appropriate for those who live there.


34

Sustainability& Energy

36

LEADING THE WAY IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY

WHO WE ARE

Yelloblue is a major Lebanese actor in the Renewable

Energy and Energy Efficiency field, supplying innovative

and tailor-made turnkey solutions for the industrial,

commercial and residential sectors in Lebanon and the

MENA region.

Yelloblue was born from the belief that something can be

done to close the gap between the increasing electricity

and water demands and the abundant availability of

sustainable resources, with the sun topping the list.

We are a young and dynamic team who are very proud to

be part of an industry trying to have a positive impact on

the local, regional and global environmental level.

WHAT WE DO

Our core business covers 2 main branches:

• EPC (engineering, procurement and contracting) of

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency projects. Starting

with a thorough assessment of the needs of each project,

we tailor our solutions to meet the specific requirements

and implement them with the highest standards levels. Our

mission continues with preventive maintenance services to

all our installed projects. We partner with our clients.

• Consulting on Energy Efficiency and Environmental

solutions as part of a holistic approach (Energy Audit,

Sustainability Roadmap, Certifications)

HOW WE DO IT

We keep an eye on the international trends and

technological innovations to always offer the most

available optimized solutions from the leading suppliers in

the field.

Our engineering department builds on the lessons learned

and the experience gained from our executed projects to

constantly improve and optimize the design.

37


RELIABLE PV SYSTEMS:THE IMPORTANCE OF DESIGN AND QUALITY CONTROL

By Myriam Habib, Electro-Mechanical Engineer, Yelloblue

Installing a PV system today is not so hard. Technically,

you just need PV modules, inverters and some cabling.

Installing a reliable PV system, however, is not so easy.

It involves exhaustive design engineering and extensive

quality control. This particularly applies to the case of

Lebanon, where the standard power grid is very complex,

unstable and weak.

First comes the investigation. It starts with thoroughly

examining the site and monitoring the demand load

and available sources. This is to determine the site’s

particularities and needs in terms of power type and

consumption, the grid quality and the electrical network

topology.

This investigation will impact the size of the PV system, as

you wouldn’t want to install more than the client’s needs,

and, most of the time, the client thinks he needs more than

he actually does.

It will also dictate the type of inverters that would be

suitable for this project, the PV integration into the

existing network and the PV control system that will be

required to do the job.

Because a PV system can highly affect the network it

is integrated into, this step is very important. It is not

about achieving the highest KWP values. It is about the

engineering mind and ethics at work to deliver a good

system. To note that the impact of the PV system on the

38

electrical network is directly proportional to the system’s

size compared to the demand load.

Second, comes the design of the PV system’s components

and topology, including main equipment selection

and sizing, optimal PV modules installation, strings

distribution, structural design, electrical design, control

system design, feed-in points and how to find the right

balance between cost and quality.

Yelloblue uses IEC and UTE based codes and standards

as general guidelines in electrical design and electrical

protection system. This usually results in higher system

costs. However, PV modules and PV inverters are built to

last up to 25 years, so it is only normal to ensure that the

rest of the system is protected and solid enough to last as

much. This can only be achieved by installing good quality

material, correctly sized and situated protection devices,

and most importantly, not to compromise on electrical

safety.

Third, comes the extensive commissioning of the PV

system, namely the PV control system, to ensure it is

working as designed, and that the calculated savings will be

met. It requires a lot of monitoring and quality control to

verify that all system requirements are met before handing

over to the client.

As a general rule, the commissioning of a PV system is

not straightforward and will always include unforeseen

challenges. This is particularly due to the state of the

electrical networks in Lebanon. In fact, the complexity of

controls, switching, number of sources interfering together

etc. makes Lebanon one of the most challenging countries

for PV control systems to operate in.

Also, particular attention must be paid to old facilities,

where the biggest challenge is deciphering how the

electrical network was built throughout the years.

To conclude, investigation, design engineering, quality

control and commissioning are key factors to delivering

reliable and efficient PV systems. It is very easy and

obvious to forecast savings and good quality… and another

thing to achieve them.

39

By installing solar panels the American Community School

(ACS) Beirut, are setting an example for the community.

ACS knew that the panels could generate up to 25% of

the schools energy needs but they did not know that,

by installing the largest solar project on the rooftop of a

school campus in Lebanon, they would be creating other

‘green guys,’ i.e. schools wanting to join the Go Green

initiatives.

According to their Green School Plan 2020, ACS Beirut

will use the solar panels to create renewable energy,

cut costs and eventually supply excess electricity to the

Lebanese National Electricity power grid. Head of School,

Mr. Greg MacGilpin Jr. said “we will continue to think

about how to reduce or revise our energy consumption,

teach our students the significance of such efforts, and live

lighter, smarter and careful on our earth.”

Currently over 1,160 ACS students and 270 faculty and

staff are benefiting from the renewable energy. Students

are studying the cost and impact of renewable vs

nonrenewable energy and they can use the data from the

energy monitors for other science projects. The new solar

powered water heater pumps in the gymnasium ensure that

hot showers are available for all students and at the same

time reducing the need to rely on old diesel-fueled boilers.

Energy generated from the panels is used on campus and

soon excess energy will help citizens in Lebanon.

Although the 2 year project was completed on time in

October, 2017, ACS and Yelloblue had a lot of work to do.

ACS hired Yelloblue to install the panels on the campus

and manage the project from start to finish, as a turnkey


GREEN SCHOOLACS INSTALLS SOLAR PANELS ONIT’S BEIRUT CAMPUS

By Sheila Bouri, Communications Manager, American Community School

40

contractor for the job. The work consisted of covering eight different roofs with over 2,060 m2 of photovoltaic panels,

on 4 separate buildings which had to be linked together. Since each building is separated by a public road, more than 4

kilometers of cable was used to link the 1,118 panels together.

Other job constraints included timing, safety and weather. With students on the campus 10 months a year, most of the

heavy work had to be organized during school breaks and vacations. Cables could be installed during school hours but

the panels needed to be moved and mounted over the summer for the safety of the students. Yelloblue was able to install

the panels in 2 phases over 2 different summers. Furthermore, since the school receives energy from three different

energy sources, (solar, national grid and stand-by generators) Yelloblue consulted with special research and development

teams from Europe to collaborate in making sure that each power source worked in a safe and efficient manner with the

other.

Once the installation was complete, a soft launch was held in October of 2017. ACS students, staff, faculty and the

community could see the production of energy through a live feed web link organized by Yelloblue. Coinciding with the

spring equinox, ACS held a Solar Panel Celebration March 20, 2018 to share the project with the public.

Today the energy savings can be viewed in a live feed web link:

https://easyview.auroravision.net/easyview/index.html?entityId=12542765

41


The reputation of PV systems have been suffering due to the intermittent energy they

produce. In order to be considered a fully reliable source of energy, a key part of the

puzzle has to fall into place: energy storage. The battery pack may be the least glamorous

component in the power supply network, but it is on the verge of transforming electricity

markets worldwide.

Solar power produces plenty of electricity on sunny days, but not during peak usage in the

evening or when the sky is cloudy. Storage systems such as Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries,

combined with photovoltaic (PV) generation, can address the intermittent power supply

issue of renewable sources without the expense of expanding the power grid.

In recent years, battery storage has been developing differently in Europe and Australia

than in the US. In Europe and Australia, where electricity prices are higher, most

advances have centered around residential and small-commercial uses, known as “Behind

the meter”. In the US, much of the growth is occurring in “Front of the meter”.

With batteries, consumers and small businesses can use as much as 80% of their PV-

generated electricity, compared to 35% without storage. For many consumers, it is now

less expensive to consume self-generated electricity from solar PV with battery storage

than it is to use the electricity from the grid.

PV plus storage for larger photovoltaic farms are expected to play a major role in the new

configuration of power distribution. Energy storage can smooth out the resulting peaks

and valleys by storing surplus energy generated from these sources when the generation

is high and releasing it back into the system when supply is low. It can ultimately enhance

the grid stability.

Now that the industry is betting on Lithium Ion (Li-ion) batteries as the mainstream

technology, prices are going down at a sustainable pace. PV-plus-storage can beat diesel

power prices and ultimately become a serious alternative to natural gas.

Ending on a positive note, in Lebanon, the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation

(LCEC) will issue an Expression of Interest for 3 x 100MW PV farms with storage this

year, hoping it will contribute to energy mix generation.

SOLAR PV PLUSA SERIOUS ALTERNATIVE TO NATURAL GAS

By Antoine Kaldany, CEO, Yelloblue

42

Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) provide implementation and financing of energy

efficiency solutions. Two models are the most popular: shared savings and guaranteed savings.

Other models exist and include energy supply.

Most commonly, an ESCO provides part or all of the financing needed to implement an energy

conservation measure.

The ESCO and client agree how savings are validated and shared.

ESCO Services include:

• energy auditing

• design and engineering

• equipment procurement

• installation, testing and commissioning

• measurement and verification (M&V) of energy and cost savings

• operations and maintenance (O&M)

• continuous Monitoring and Targeting

ENERGY SERVICE COMPANIES:PROVIDING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS

By Fares Kikano, CEM and Co-Founder SMG-Energy/ENEXYS

43


The major challenge facing ESCO Models is that they can be

complex and difficult to support legally and financially:

• Shared saving models are out of reach for small ESCOs.

• Energy supply models require long term contracts.

• Guaranteed savings need ESCO solid track record.

WHY INVESTORS AND BANKS SHOULD SUPPORT ESCOS

Most investors, banks and other lenders perceive the Energy

Efficiency projects as high risk, given their difficulty to

understand business models and validate the project savings

and positive cash flow throughout the project lifetime.

However, ESCOs can:

• prove by example the success of the model and the

guarantees from within each project direct benefits.

• showcase the low risk of successful projects.

• conduct thorough measurements and verification to provide

highly credible data to support the results.

The best way forward is for ESCOs to provide simple

performance driven contracting models starting with solutions

that have proven savings. Also, ramping up to more complex

solutions and models can happen with the growing credibility

and track record which can attract local banks and investors.

44

FOCUS ONHandrails &

Guardrails

46

HANDRAILS & GUARDRAILSALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THESE PROTECTIVE BARRIERS

By Tayma Awaiss, Civil Engineer, Apave

A guardrail, as defined in the Collins Dictionary, is “a railing that is placed along the edge

of something such as a staircase, path, or boat, so that people can hold onto it so that they

do not fall over the edge”. A handrail, is defined as “a long piece of metal or wood which

is fixed near stairs or places where people could slip and fall, and which people can hold

on to for support.”

Guardrails and handrails constitute a protective barrier not only for pedestrians but also

for vehicles. But, what are the regulations related to guardrails and handrails? How to

ensure a sufficient protection? What are the minimum dimensions for a guardrail in order

to be considered as safe? This section will detail all you need to know about guardrails

and handrails in buildings.

LEBANESE REGULATIONS

The Lebanese Standards Institution (LIBNOR), attached to the Ministry of Industry, has

the mission to prepare and publish all national standards. Even though these standards

are still voluntary, they can be rendered mandatory by a decree from the Council of

Ministers, for reasons of public health, public safety or national interest.

Concerning the regulation related to guardrails and handrails, LIBNOR has adopted the

French Norm NF P 01-012 “Dimensions des garde-corps - Règles de sécurité relatives

aux dimensions des garde-corps et rampes d’escalier” which is now known as NL NF P

01-012.

The decree #7964 “Public Safety Law” makes the technical control mandatory for

the construction of new buildings. The missions of the technical controller include the

Mission S, which consists of:

• fire safety

• protection against falling

By this decree, the standard related to the guardrails design is now mandatory in

buildings subject to technical control in Lebanon.

47

FOCUS ONHandrails & Guardrails

Quick Q/A

Where do we need a guardrail?

Guardrails should be provided where the drop height exceeds 1 meter.

What is the height of a guardrail?

• 0.9 meter on stairs’ flights

• 1 meter in all other areas

• 1.1 meters in paths used as exit passageways during fire emergencies

What can ensure guardrail stability?

• Calculations

• Impact test (choc test)

What are the types of guardrails that can be used?

• Steel guardrails

• Concrete guardrails

• Glass guardrails

• Anything that can demonstrate of a certain stability

48

SAFE GUARDRAILSAND HANDRAILS LEBANESE-FRENCH NORMNL NF P 01-012

By Léa Kachouh, Civil Engineer, Apave

* All figures are taken from the NL NF P 01-012 standard

ZSN: The standing area

A ZSN, defined as the space above or below the walking

level by at most 0.45 m, is assigned a square of 0.30×0.30

m. It should be able to fit both feet of a person standing in

balance.

Among several safety concerns in residential buildings and

other constructions receiving public, architects must take

into consideration the protection of occupants from the

risk of falling from height in the design of accessible spaces

above ground floor level like balconies, terraces, etc.

From this perspective, guardrails design is crucial and can

even be fatal, if neglected.

The Lebanese-French norm NL NF P 01-012 covers the

safety regulations of the dimensions and installation of

guardrails, essential whenever the drop height exceeds one

meter.

For the installation of guardrails, two zones are defined:

the area where a person can stand comfortably for a long

time known as ZSN “Zone de stationnement normal”, and

the area where a person is able to stand unstable for a brief

time, known as ZSP “Zone de stationnement précaire”.

49


ZSP: The momentary standing area

The momentary standing area is defined wherever a person

can stand, for a brief period of time even on one foot.

The difference of level between the latter and the normal

standing area does not exceed 0.45 m.

From the interior side, for an area with the parallel

dimension to the guardrails exceeding 0.10 m, the

following criteria allow the area to be considered as a

momentary standing area:

1- When the vertical distance from the lowest element of

the guardrail to the upstand is less than 0.05 m, distances

from the interior side of the guardrail to the edge of the

upstand must have the following dimensions.

Other considerations exist for bended guardrails; limits are

then reviewed for the lower part of the guardrail.

If the distance separating the bottom of the guardrail from

the upstand exceeds 0.05 m, allowing a person’s foot to go

through, the upstand is directly considered as an area of

momentary standing.

2- In the French windows threshold, having a space from

the edge of the window to the guardrail at most equal to

0.30 m, is considered a momentary standing area.

50

3- The lowest horizontal bar of steel guardrail, whenever

the bars are spaced more than 0.10 m, is also considered a

momentary standing area.

But also, a ZSP can be located on the outer side of the

guardrail as shown in the figure below. The person’s foot

can pass through the guardrails and be placed it on the

ZSP since there is a gap between the bars at that level.

Guardrails with vertical and horizontal elements

A guardrail having vertical and horizontal bars should have

the following dimensions:

• Maximum distance between vertical bars: 0.11 m

Minimum required height of guardrails

The below considerations are applicable for thin guardrails:

• Height of the guardrails measured from the normal standing

level ≥ 1 m.

• Height of the guardrails measured from the momentary

standing level ≥ 0.90 m.

• Maximum distance between horizontal bars: 0.11 m for bars

located at a maximum height of 0.45 m from the finished

floor, 0.18 m for those located at a height of 0.45m or more.

• On a height of 0.45 m of the finished floor, no bar should be

placed allowing a person to stand on it. The space between

the finished floor and the level of 0.45 m should be filled

with concrete (or other solid material). For a guardrail

having vertical and horizontal elements, the vertical

elements should be separated by a maximum distance of

0.05 m at a height of 0.45 m.

51


The minimum protection height of guardrails can be

reduced when their thickness is increased. The minimum

acceptable height is 0.70 m for a guardrail of 0.60 m

thickness.

Specifications of handrails on stairs

Unlike balconies and terraces, stairs are an area of circulation,

which require a protection from the risk of falling if open,

so also require handrails. They are essential for a convenient

movement of the people and to avoid falling of objects from

one level to others.

In order to fulfill their mission thoroughly, handrails should be

designed with considerations of the limits stated below:

• Height of handrails on stairs’ flights ≥ 0.90 m.

• Height of handrails on stairs’ landing ≥ 1 m, (For stairwell ≤

0.60 m, it can be reduced to 0.9 m).

• Maximum distance between vertical bars: 0.11 m.

• Maximum distance between bars parallel to the slope of the

stairs nose: 0.18 m.

• The maximum distance between the first bar parallel to the

stairs slope and the stairs nose (For stairs that don’t have

stringer): 0.05 m.

0,20

THIN GUARDRAILS THICK GUARDRAILS

THICKNESS E

HEIGHT H 1,00

0,25

0,975

0,35

0,925

0,45

0,85

0,30

0,95

0,40

0,90

0,50

0,80

0,55

0,75 0,70

0,60

An example of a thick guardrailAn example of a thin guardrail

52

Guardrails and handrails with patterns

For guards and handrails with elements other than vertical and horizontal, voids should not let

the passage of a 0.25 m x 0.11 m rectangle, no matter its orientation, as shown on the picture

below.

In conclusion, falling from height can put the lives of people in danger if no precautions were

implemented in open spaces of residential buildings and other types of constructions.

Guardrails with appropriate dimensions are the best means for the protection of people from the

risk of falling and endangering themselves. Also, handrails are crucial for the safe movement of

people on stairs especially in the event of fire.

Also, there should be no horizontal elements facilitating the climbing (ladder configuration).

53


INDUSTRIAL HANDRAILS & GUARDRAILSACCORDING TO NF E 85-015

THE UNIQUE PROPERTIES AND BENEFITSOF INDUSTRIAL HANDRAILS

By Jessica Abdallah, Civil Engineer, Apave

* All figures are taken from the NF E 85-015 standard

Forklift Guardrails Staircase handrails

First of all, let’s start by pointing out the difference between guardrails and handrails

dedicated for the industrial workplace safety. These two products are in fact very different

having each, the unique properties and benefits.

Many building codes use the term “guardrail” to refer to fall protection for raised

platforms and stairways, but the industrial safety industry uses the more specific term

“handrail”, with “guardrail” used only to refer heavy-duty beams of formed steel.

In highway applications, for instance, guardrails are designed to absorb the energy of

collisions from moving vehicles and to keep a vehicle in its lane of traffic. In industrial

plants, guardrails serve to protect workers, equipment, and structures from accidents

caused by moving vehicles or machinery.

Handrails, on the other hand, prevent people from falling off platforms, stairways,

walkways, or landings. Also, referred to as safety railing, handrails’ must have a smooth

surface to prevent worker injuries and to provide people with an accessible handhold in

areas where falls and slips are a risk.

54

A standard handrail shall consist of a top rail, at least one intermediate rail and a toe-

board at the bottom satisfying the following requirements:

• Top edge height of top rail shall be between 1,000mm and 1,100mm above the walking/

working level.

• Mid-rail shall be installed at a height midway between the top edge of the handrail and

the walking/working level.

• Distance between mid-rail and top rail as well as between mid-rail and toe-board shall

be less than 500mm.

• If vertical bars replace an intermediate rail, horizontal distance between these bars shall

not exceed 180mm.

• Height of toe-board, installed at a maximum of 10mm from the walking/working level,

shall not be less than 100mm.

• Distance between vertical stiffeners is recommended to not exceed 1,500mm.

• Top rail shall be free of any obstacle at a distance of not less than 100mm throughout its

length, except for its fixation.

• Diameter of top rail shall be between 25 & 50mm, or equivalent section in a way to

ensure a secure grip.

• Distance between two adjacent handrails shall not be less than 75mm but not more than

120mm.

55


Dimensional requirements for staircase and ladder handrails:

Staircases should be equipped with at least one hand rail if its width is less than 1,200mm,

otherwise, two hand-rails are required. The ladder shall be equipped with two handrails.

Whenever the height to be climbed is greater than 500mm or the void along the flight edge is

greater than 200mm, a handrail consisting of top hand rail, intermediate rail and foot rail must

be installed conforming to the following requirements:

• For stair’s landing, top edge height of top rail shall be between 1,000mm and 1,100mm

above the walking/working level.

• For stair’s flight and for ladder not inclined more than 60°, top edge height of top rail

shall be between 900mm and 1,000mm above the stair nose.

• For ladder inclined more than 60°, the distance between the slope line placed at the

end of the nosing and the axis of the handrail (see dimension x in figure) shall be

according to the following table and the top hand-rail (main courante) shall start at a

height of 1,000mm from the bottom level of the ladder. At landing, top edge height of

top rail shall be between 1,000mm and 1,100mm above the walking/working level (see

dimension Hg in below figure). An intermediate rail shall be installed if the free space

between top rail and stair nose is greater than 500mm.

60

70

65

75

250

150

200

100

0(DEGREE)

X(MM)

56

• Distance between mid-rail and top rail as well as between mid-rail and foot-rail shall be

less than 500mm.

• Diameter of top rail shall be between 25 & 50mm, or equivalent section in a way to

ensure a secure grip.

• Top rail shall be free of any obstacle at a distance of not less than 100mm throughout its

length, except for its fixation. In case of a punctual obstacle this distance of 10mm can

be reduced to 50mm over a maximum length of 500mm (see below figure).

• Foot rail/ toe-board of a stair shall have a vertical height, measured from nose to top

edge of foot rail, between 50mm and 150mm (see below figure).

Side view Top view

57


Material properties:Handrails shall typically be designed with three key considerations: strength, corrosion

resistance and joint connections.

• The materials used must have sufficient strength and ductility characteristics so that the

load of failure is 25% greater than the ultimate load (necessary condition to avoid non-

ductile fractures).

• The joint connections must be designed and dimensioned so that the strength and

ductility characteristics of the assembly are not degraded.

• The material to be used must be able, by their nature or through a complementary

treatment, to resist corrosion.

Structural Design Requirements:It will be necessary to verify that the handrail system will support the loads specified by

the applicable code, either by structural calculations or by performing an impact test

(static and dynamic).

Verification by structural calculation:The handrail system must be able to support a uniformly distributed load of 300N/ml,

applied horizontally all along the top rail.

The applied load will produce two critical cases that shall be considered separately, under

both serviceability and ultimate limit states:

- A concentrated load applied at the top of the post (stiffener):

Serviceability limit state: Fmin=300 N/m x L

Ultimate limit state: Fmin=1.5 x 300 N/m x L

Where: L is the maximum spacing between posts

- A concentrated load applied to the most critical point on the top rail.

Serviceability limit state: Fmin=300 N/m x L

Ultimate limit state: Fmin=1.5 x 300 N/m x L

Where: L is the maximum spacing between posts

As regards to the results:

• The load leading to the failure mode should be 25% greater than the ultimate load

(necessary condition to avoid non-ductile fractures).

• The maximum deflection at serviceability limit state shall not exceed 30mm without

having any residual deflection.

• The residual deflection shall not exceed 10% of the maximum deflection obtained at the

ultimate limit state.

• Failure of support systems must not occur.

Verification by impact test:In absence of any design calculation, the stability and strength of the handrail system

must be checked by performing static and dynamic impact tests.

58

THE AMERICAN CODEHANDRAILS ACCORDINGTO THE NFPA 101

By Joy Beaini, Civil Engineer, Apave

* All figures are taken from the NFPA 101 code

Handrails are one of the most important components

of a stair; therefore, their design must be taken into

consideration in the construction of any building. Unlike

the Lebanese-French code NL NF-P-012, the NFPA 101

code gives remarkable details concerning the staircases’

hand rails.

Handrails on staircases must be installed at a height

within 865 mm – 965 mm above the surface of the tread

measured vertically to the top of the rail from the leading

edge of the tread.

Where children at the age of five and under are a

major users such as in kindergartens and preschools, a

complementary handrail at a height between 710 mm

-810 mm is recommended. Due to their progressive

characteristics and their less developed balance and

walking skills, children generally prefer to use, and can

successfully use, handrails that are located at shoulder to

head height.

A handrail on the external side should be extended

horizontally at the required height not less than 305mm

beyond the top riser and continue to a slope for a depth of

one tread depth beyond the bottom riser.

Handrail extensions allow the stair users, who want to hold

the handrail continuously while traveling along the stair, to

59


Handrail brackets and other forms of support are essential

but need to be designed to allow the hand to slide along

the handrail without stumbling upon obstacles that would

force the release of the hand’s grip.

As shown below, the handrail has been positioned above

the horizontal extension of the supporting bracket by the

required minimum 38 mm. Note how the fingers of the

hand have adequate space to point downward in a natural

grasping position without bumping into the handrail

bracket.

In handrail design, it is useful to remember at all times the

effectiveness of a simple round profile that allows some

locking action by fingers as they curl around and under the

handrail.

grasp the handrail at their side, rather than ahead, before

beginning to move vertically on the stair, and to continue

to grasp the handrail at their side until vertical movement

on the stair has been completed.

Handrails in the staircase should continue for the full

length of each flight of stairs. At turns, inside handrails

shall be continuous between flights at landings. Ends shall

be returned to the wall, as shown in the picture on the

right.

New handrails shall be continuously graspable along their

entire length and shall be installed to provide a clearance

of not less than 57mm between the handrail and the wall

to which it is fastened, as shown in the figure below.

60

GLASS BALUSTRADES ACCORDING TO DTU39 P5 CONSIDER SAFETY IN CHOICE

By Tayma Awaiss, Civil Engineer, Apave

There are different types of glass in the market but what

is really important is to know where to use each type and

how to use it. The types of glass are numerous; a glass can

be annealed, tempered, laminated etc.

Annealed glass Traditional annealed glass will break off into large, sharp

shards when broken. This can pose obvious safety risks.

Care should be taken when choosing locations to install

annealed glass.

Tempered glassTempered glass is also called toughened glass. Unlike

annealed glass, tempered glass breaks into small, square

pieces when broken. This makes it less likely to lacerate a

person that comes into contact with it.

Laminated glassLaminated glass is two or more lites (pieces) of glass

permanently bonded together with one or more plastic

interlayers (typically PVB). It is a type of safety glass that

holds together when shattered. In the event of breaking, it

is held in place by the interlayer between its two or more

layers of glass. The interlayer keeps the layers of glass

bonded even when broken.

61


Following these brief definitions, it is evident that laminated glass is the only type of glass

that can be used as a guardrail according to the code. Tempered glass can sometimes play the

role of a guardrail but they should always be doubled by a residual protection. The residual

protection, as the name suggests, is an additional element added to the guardrail in order to

provide an extra level of safety. For example, the residual protection can consist of a toe board

of 15 cm and 2 horizontal bars placed respectively at 45 and 100 cm in front of the tempered

glass (other equivalent solution can be accepted).

In order to justify the “guardrail” properties of the glass used as a balustrade, an impact-test

should be done according to FD DTU 39 P5 (Annexe A).

The glass that are known to have the qualities of a guardrail, and therefore that do not need

an impact-test, are the laminated glass, supported on all sides with a minimum penetration of

glass into groove of 15mm, having the following dimensions:

ATTENTION

Do not confuse between the laminated glass and

the glasses commonly known as “double glazing” or

“triplex”.

The laminated glass is a one glass unit while the

double glazing and the triplex consist respectively of

two and three glass window panes separated by an

air space to reduce heat transfer across a part of the

building envelope. That means that a double glazing

(also called insulating glass) can be composed of a

two laminated glasses, for example.

GLASSCOMPOSITION

NORMAL WIDTH(MM)

MAXIMUM AREA OF GLASS PANEL(M2)

33.2*

6.8

0.50

44.2

8.8

2.00

55.2

10.8

4.50

66.2

12.8

6.00

*33.2 represents a laminated glass made up of 2 pieces of glass having a thickness of 3mm each

separated by 2 PVB interlayers.

In case of insulating glass, only one component of the glass should be laminated. This

component should be placed on the opposite side of the potential impact.

62

2. Glass supported on one side, from the bottom

IMPACT-TESTING ACCORDINGTO NF P 08-301By Tayma Awaiss, Civil Engineer, APAVE

impact testing is used to determine the impact resistance, strength and breakage

characteristics of a range of glass items in order to ensure that they are fit for their

intended use.

Soft impact bodyThe soft body has a weight of 50 kg and represents a person hitting the glazed balustrade

with a certain energy.

The energy and the location of the impact on the glass is specified for each type of glass

fixation in the “DTU 39 P5 – Annexe A (informative) Résistance aux chocs et méthodes

d’essais des garde-corps Vitrés – Tableau A.1 – Essais sur garde-corps vitrés.”

Examples of impact point location and energy depending on the glass fixation.

1. Glass supported on two sides (from the bottom and from the top) with a height that

does not exceed 1.20 meters from the finished floor level.

63

Test specifications:

• Weight of body: 50 kg

• α ≤ 65°

• H and L values depending on the energy value needed

600 1.20 ≥ 2.08

700 1.40 ≥ 2.43

900 1.80 ≥ 3.11

1200 2.40 ≥ 4.16

E(in Joules)

H(in meters)

L(in meters)

Extract from the NF P 08-301 – figure 4.Example of a testing device for a soft impact body of 50kg.This testing device can be replaced by any other device that can provide a pendulous fall with the same energy.

Hard impact bodyThis test is conducted using a model of a table or chair legs hitting a glazed balustrade

with certain energy.

The energy of the impact on the glass is specified for each type of glass fixation in the

“DTU 39 P5 – Annexe A (informative) Résistance aux chocs et méthodes d’essais des garde-

corps Vitrés – Tableau A.1 – Essais sur garde-corps vitrés.”

The impact location is generally the center of the glass panel or at a 25 cm distance from

a glass angle.


64

3 0.6 ≥ 1.05

10 1 ≥ 1.75

E(in Joules)

H(in meters)

L(in meters)

Test resultsThe balustrade is considered to have passed the test if the glass panel was not crossed

and was not projected away from its supports during the test. Otherwise, the balustrade is

considered to have failed the test; therefore, it cannot be used as a guardrail.

End of testFollowing such tests, the glass integrity will not remain the same even if the glass was not

physically damaged. The glass sample should be intentionally fractured after the tests in

order to avoid re-using it in the future.

Extract from the NF P 08-301 – figure 3.Example of a testing device for a hard impact body of 0.5 kg or 1kg.This testing device can be replaced by any other device that can provide a pendulous fall with the same energy.

Test specifications:

• Weight of body: 0.5 kg or 1 kg

• H and L values depending on the energy value needed

65

FAULTY GUARDRAILS STORIESBy Charline Saikaly, Civil Engineer, Apave

Paris

The railing of a room window suddenly fell and dragged

a woman to a seven-story deadly fall. The guardrail was

weakened, held only by three pitons instead of four, and had

oxidized fixations. In fact, the neighboring apartment railing

fall, which occurred 4 years earlier, should have been an alert.

The accident could have been avoided if the balcony railings

were well maintained and checked often.

Virginia - United States

Other than guardrail design and maintenance, railing spacing

is an important condition to check in order to procure the

safety needed, for babies in particular. For instance, in 2011,

a two year old toddler who was playing on the balcony of the

Virginia Beach Hotel, USA, where her family was staying,

slipped between the balusters of the railing and fell five

stories to her death. Recent versions of the Virginia building

code, allow no greater than a four-inch gap between railing

balusters. However, the hotel was built in the 1960s and the

code allowed 6 inch spacing. Railing spacing is one of the

unsafe conditions that inspectors find, but it’s one of the

more vexing problems for inspectors because in most cases,

as in the Virginia Beach hotel, the code allowed the detail at

the time of construction.


66

Quebec

Balcony railing should ensure the safety of people who lean

on it. However, a tragic accident happened in 2015 due

to a faulty railing. Two men fell off the third-floor balcony

while leaning on the railing and died from the impact. The

building inspectors that were sent to inspect the balcony

found that certain screws meant to keep the guardrail in

place were too short and others rusted, not permitting

sufficient anchorage to adequately maintain the guardrail.

New York – United States

Another tragic incident happened to Jennifer Rosoff who

fell off the 17th floor balcony after the railing gave way.

She fell 140 feet to the construction scaffolding at the base

of the building. Detectives believe that she was sitting on

a defective balcony railing, causing her to fall to her death.

In fact, the police said that they saw the railing, bent down

hard at the corner.

67

In conclusion, there’s no question that guardrails are put in place to save lives, but they can also be

extremely dangerous when they are not up to code or don’t perform properly. All manufacturers are

obligated to make products that are safe for the public. When one is injured due to faulty product designs

or lack of maintenance, someone should be held accountable.


68

LET’S GUESS !Which of the following guardrails is potentially correct?

1 2

3 4

5 6

*The glass used is an 8 mm tempered glass

1/ Correct 2/ Correct 3/ Not Correct 4/Correct 5/ Not Correct 6/ Correct

69

Apave newsat a glance…

Projects on the run

70

Hamra Car Park Building:The concerned project is

located in Hamra area in

Beirut.

It consists in the

construction of a Car Park

building comprising:

• A lower ground floor

• An upper ground floor

• 7 upper floors

The total built up area is

around 23,363 m².

Typical missions:

• Mission S: Life & Fire

Safety

• Mission L: Solidity of

Works – Structure/

Building Envelop

• Mission PS: Solidity

of Works - Seismic

Protection

Wooden Bakery Factory – Chekka:The concerned project is

located in Chekka area.

The Project consists in the

construction of Wooden

Bakery Factory building

comprising 3 levels with

a total built-up area is

around 3,750 m².

Typical missions:

• Mission S: Life & Fire

Safety

• Mission L: Solidity of

Works – Structure/

Building Envelop

• Mission PS: Solidity

of Works - Seismic

Protection

71

APAVE NEWS AT A GLANCE

REGULATORY WATCH BY APAVE

ISO 45001 is the new ISO

standard for occupational

health and safety

(OH&S). It has become

one of the most eagerly

awaited standards in

the world, and is set to

drastically improve levels

of workplace safety.

The standard offers a

single, clear framework

for all organizations

wishing to improve their

OH&S performance.

Directed at the top

management of an

organization, it aims

to provide a safe and

healthy workplace for

employees and visitors. To

achieve this, it is crucial

to control all factors that

ISO/IEC 17025:2017,

General requirements

for the competence of

testing and calibration

laboratories, is the

international reference

for laboratories carrying

out calibration and

testing activities around

the world.

In order to reflect

the latest changes in

market conditions and

technology, the new

edition of the standard

encompasses the

activities and new ways

of working of laboratories

today. It covers technical

changes, vocabulary

and developments in IT

techniques and takes into

might result in illness,

injury, and in extreme

cases death, by mitigating

adverse effects on the

physical, mental and

cognitive condition of a

person – and ISO 45001

covers all of those aspects.

While ISO 45001 draws on

OHSAS 18001 – the former

benchmark for OH&S –

it is a new and distinct

standard, not a revision

or update, and is due to

be phased in gradually

over the next three

years. Organizations will

therefore need to revise

their current thinking and

work practices in order to

maintain organizational

compliance.

consideration the latest

version of ISO 9001 on

quality management.

Laboratories already

accredited to ISO/IEC

17025:2005 will need to

transition their processes

to the new version within

a three-year period from

the publication date of the

new standard.

STAY INFORMED ON THE LATEST STANDARDS AND REGULATIONSWITH APAVE

New edition of ISO/IEC 17025 published ISO 45001 is here!

72

AnnouncementsTRAINING CALENDAR

73

Upcoming

Apave trainings2018

14 15

17

5 7

18 19

25 26

27 28

30 31

COURSE TITLE

Health & Safety on Site: Musculoskeletal Hazards & Risk Controls

Lightning Protection Systems

Fire Safety in Buildings – Decree # 7964

Health & Safety on Site: Work Equipment Hazards & Risk Controls

Managing Lifting Operations: Authorization for Riggers - Level 1

Low Voltage: Protection and Implementation

ISM –ATEX (Level 1)

DURATION (DAYS)

2 half days

1 full day

3 full days

2 half days

2 half days

2 half days

2 half days

May

May

June

June

June

June

July

MONTH

SAFETY TRAINING

COURSE TITLE

Facility Maintenance and Management

Vertical Transportation System (Elevators)

DURATION (DAYS)

3 half days

3 half days

MONTH

May

July

FROM TO

29 31

17 18

CONSTRUCTION TRAININGS

COURSE TITLE

Energy Management Systems ISO 50001:2011Operation and Maintenance of WasteWater Treatment Plants

DURATION (DAYS)

3 half days

3 half days

MONTH

May

July

FROM TO

8 10

3 5

SUSTAINABILITY TRAININGS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

74

COURSE TITLE

Human Resources Management: Workforce Planning

Implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Human Resources Management: Recruitment Process

Human Resources Management: Training & Development

DURATION (DAYS)

2 half days

2 half days

2 half days

2 half days

MONTH

May

May

June

July

FROM TO

2 3

21 22

20 21

19 20

MANAGEMENT TRAININGS

COURSE TITLE

Basic & Intermediate Food Safety

DURATION (DAYS)

1 half day

MONTH

June

FROM TO

1

FOOD SAFETY TRAININGS

COURSE TITLE

Business Etiquette

Building & Implementing Effective Strategy

Conflict Management

DURATION (DAYS)

2 full days

3 half days

3 half days

MONTH

May

July

July

FROM TO

23 24

10 12

24 26

SOFT SKILLS TRAININGS

COURSE TITLE

ISO 9001: 2015 Auditor / Lead Auditor Trainings Course IRCA Certified

The OHSAS Management Systems Auditor LeadAuditor Conversion Training Course

Internal Audit For Quality Management Systems ISO 9001:2015

The ISO 14001:2015 Management Systems Auditor Lead Auditor Conversion Training Course

DURATION (DAYS)

5 days

3 days

2 days

3 days

May

September

October

November

MONTH FROM TO

7 11

3 5

25 26

14 16

UPCOMING AFNOR MIDDLE EAST TRAININGS

Nohra Bldg. , Tahwita HighwayBeirut, Lebanon Tel: +961 1 283 072+961 1 295 010

[email protected]

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