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The South Australian Police Headquarters, known as SAPOL, is a purpose built structure engineered to meet the long term operational and security requirements of the state’s law enforcement agencies. Comprised of 10 levels, with a lettable area of around 18,000 sqm, the SAPOL design aims to achieve 5 star ratings in the Greenstar and NABERS sustainability and energy efficiency measures.
The $100 million SAPOL project was designed by KBR and constructed by Built Environs. The concept design, functions and workgroups located within the new headquarters will distinguish the building as the centre for support and leadership of the police service within the South Australian community, with staff from 4 separate locations across Adelaide moving to this new operating hub. |
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The formworker for this landmark project was Mitcon, one of Adelaide’s largest building contractors with extensive experience in high rise construction. With Reidbar Inserts specified by Derrick Ng of KBR, Reid State Engineer Cathy Cantalis was keen to showcase the labour saving possibilities available to Mitcon in using these high capacity connections. Although Reidbar presents engineering simplicity in design, what really captured Mitcon’s attention was a reduction in floor cycle times – a critical KPI for any formworker on a high rise project.
Cathy, a locally trained civil engineer having graduated from the University Of SA in 2002, discussed options with the Manager of Operations for Mitcon, Nick Bairstow. “Reid polyurethane rebate boards for placing Reidbar Inserts save time and money – the rebate boards can be fixed to jump forms or tied up against formwork and used again and again, with Inserts replaced for each pour”, explained Cathy. The Reidbar Insert fits into the correctly sized cylindrical holes in the board, holding the fittings securely in place during concrete pour and preventing concrete slurry entering the threaded end. Once the formwork is removed, the tough polyurethane board can be removed through the use of jacking nuts within it, leaving a clear rebate and good access to Reidbar Insert fittings. When it comes time to screw Reidbar Starter bars into the Insert, the Reid Swiftdrive can be attached to a hand-held drill and used to screw the bar in swiftly, saving much time, effort and even pain in comparison to pull out boxes. |
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| Commenting on the Reidbar Insert and rebate board system, Nick Bairstow explained: “The black rebate boards are ideal for vertical pours, the installation process is very fast, and a clean finish is achieved once the board is removed. Given the congestion of reinforcing in the wall, the black rebate boards were very versatile in providing multiple options in placing the Reidbar Inserts. Where reinforcing was in the way, the 50mm spacing between Insert holes allowed the Insert location to be moved so the system would fit between the reinforcing steel. In addition, the boards were simple to cut to match the length of formwork and could be re-used again and again, even on future projects.” |
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Also pleasing to Mitcon were the benefits derived from using RapidBrace, allowing panels and safety screens to be safely braced in low strength concrete. The award-winning RapidBrace system enables a cast-in bracing connection to develop the full yield strength of Grade 500N 12mm Reidbar in concrete strengths as low as 8MPa. Once again, the Reidbar based fitting ensures simplified design calculations, but more importantly for Mitcon, staff could safely begin work on a new floor as soon as the concrete floor strength reached 8MPa. “It was essential that RapidBrace be utilized to achieve the fastest possible program times, and to enable the earliest possible erection of precast elements upon placement of concrete to suspended floor slabs”, remarked Nick. Particularly in cold conditions, this ability can shave days of waiting time from a floor cycle. The slight cost increase of the RapidBrace over traditional post installed fixings is minuscule when the accelerated construction speeds are considered.
Mitcon’s efforts on the SAPOL project at 100 Angus Street in Adelaide’s CBD further builds on their reputation for quality constructions delivered to schedule. Reid Construction Systems is proud to work with Mitcon and KBR on this key project to upgrade the facilities of the South Australian Police Force. |