New Boss Appointed at FMG Engineering - The Advertiser 7 October 2014

Adelaide based consulting firm FMG Engineering has appointed Matthew Loftes to the newly created role of chief executive after an exhaustive review of the company.

Formerly the company's chief operating officer, Mr Loftes will work alongside managing director Peter Bayetto to drive the company's growth and development.

"I initiated a warts-and-all client review which confirmed FMG's quality and integrity with a fine reputation developed over 40 years," he said.

"However it highlighted areas in which we can improve and this has become a priority. My emphasis will be to maintain our quality, integrity and to add value for our clients."

FMG has offices in Adelaide and Melbourne and shopfront premises in Tanunda and Mt Gambier. It employs about 150 engineers, scientists, technicians and support staff.

"We have bucked the economic trend with 50 percent annual revenue growth over the last two years, having merged with Burns Hamilton and Partners who have a strong background in commercial development," Mr Loftes said.

Matthew Loftes - Chief Executive Officer

HOW TO MINIMISE CRACKING IN RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES

Temperatures can play havoc with our homes – whether it’s summer, winter, autumn or spring, your house can suffer, both cosmetically and structurally, from changes in the weather.

One of the issues we commonly see in residential properties is cracking.

Cracking is caused by the expansion, or swelling, and contraction of the reactive clay soils upon which they are founded. Expansion and contraction occurs with moisture changes within the soil. The extent of movement and cracking is quite often exacerbated when there are trees and shrubs in the vicinity of the property which draw moisture from the soils leading to shrinkage.

There are a number of ways to tackle the issue of movement and cracking, including maintaining the moisture in the founding soils that support the footings. It is also important that the paving is constructed at the perimeter of the residence as this restricts moisture evaporation and shrinkage of the soils that may result in settlement.

It is also necessary to ensure gutters and downpipes are clear of debris and leaves and that the stormwater system discharges away from the building. Long-term leakage can result in expansion of the soil and a portion of the house to rise resulting in cracking to the structural fabric. A leaking stormwater system attracts roots from nearby trees and shrubs which, during dry periods (such as summer), can again exacerbate soil drying and settlement.

"Surprisingly, irregular watering of lawns can also contribute to cracking – a reminder to keep on top of all your gardening!"

Therefore to minimise cracking in residential properties, you can look to some of the following solutions:

1.    Ensure paving is constructed at the perimeter of the residence and has a fall away from the residence.

2.    Regularly water vegetated areas and undertake maintenance of trees, shrubs and lawns.  If possible avoid vegetation or trees in close proximity to the structure.

3.    Keep gutters and stormwater system clear.  Ensure all downpipes discharge away from the residence.

4.    Ensure falls of surfaces adjacent to your residence are sufficient to convey water away from residence and to avoid ponding of stormwater.

5.    Ensure no objects are placed against external walls which may effectively bridge the damp proof system of your residence and lead to damp issues inside your home.

From the FMG Engineering team.

CREATING WALKABLE COMMUNITIES

FMG Engineering, throughout its 40 years in business, has undertaken a number of urban renewal projects – more specifically, consulting for medium to high density living, café culture walkable communities.

Walkable communities encompass a sustainable living area, close to amenities and services and is created around the idea of minimising traffic with nearby access to transport lines.  

FMG Engineering recently completed this style of project in Barkley Street, Footscray called ‘Banbury Village,’ where the team was engaged by Cedar Woods’ to provide engineering services including housing and civil infrastructure.  

The former Olympic Tyre Factory, previously owned by Sir Frank Beaurepaire (now a well-known and respected name across the tyring industry within Australia) saw the $200 million project commence in 2009, with stages continuing to be rolled out. The village is now home to a selection of houses, apartments and townhouses – meeting varying price points and styles. 

As the previous industrial site housed a number of heritage style buildings, in order to maintain the aesthetic a significant amount of building restoration was required during the lifespan of the project. Two of the sites most prominent art deco buildings were also preserved during the process to showcase the previous history of the site.
The project, due to its size, was broken up into 17 stages with expected completion by end of 2016. FMG Engineering has been involved with the project, being bought in to consult on all 17 stages to deliver solutions and advice on the structural design of Banbury Village. The firm was also on site to provide consultation for three of the stages on the civil side of the project.

When building restoration is undertaken, regardless of if it’s on a small or large scale, you are always bound to encounter a series of considerations that need to be taken into account.

Aside from maintaining certain structures and buildings within the village, FMG Engineering had some issues to resolve including dealing with materials found in the soils, harsh interfaces and the need to meet and uphold community needs and expectations.

FMG Engineering Urban Projects Manager, Angelo Demangos said, the project came with a few considerations that needed to be taken into account.

“Most of the work FMG Engineering undertook was fairly straight forward as it essentially was lightweight framed structures built on concrete footings.”

"The most challenging part was being able to design a footing system that was suitable for the highly sensitive site.”

“We used a software program, which was developed by FMG Engineering, called Code Orientated Raft Design (CORD), to design the footings so that they were able to withstand a large amount of movement. Once the footings were established to meet these requirements, it was all smooth sailing.”

With its close proximity to the new West Footscray rail station, Banbury Village has the ability to provide a local community feeling while maintaining easy accessibility with a short trip to the CBD.

The vibrant new development brings a range of amenities and services to the doorstep of new residents with cafes, restaurants, markets, parks and more.

Banbury Village with its design and façade integrates seamlessly with its surrounds and to deliver a variety of housing options to meet all market expectations.

Cedar Woods’ Banbury Village won the Best Medium Density Development and a Commendation for Urban Renewal at the UDIA Victorian Awards – with an increase in these medium to high density developments, FMG Engineering continues to remain at the forefront of this work.

The Banbury Village project comes after recent successes as FMG Engineering undertook stage 1 of Bowden Urban Village, an upcoming medium to high density development in Adelaide, South Australia, further highlighting FMG Engineering’s expertise in this area.

Images by Banbury Village  

FMG ENGINEERING TAKES ON THE ULTIMATE CUBBY HOUSE CHALLENGE

The FMG Engineering housing department recently undertook and provided design advice for client Madisson Projects to create a cubby house designed for the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. The project, nicknamed the “Grubby”, was destined for auction at the annual show to raise awareness and funds for the hard working ‘Kids Under Cover’ charity. 

The team was excited by the prospect of such a seemingly ‘fun’ project but soon realised that small challenges do not necessarily mean simple.  The ambitious layout designed included landings, a cargo net level, a climbable peg board wall and ladders – all required to meet a tight budget and weight limit.  The dedicated team completed the finished product whilst meeting the brief with minimal compromises and was well received at the show.  FMG Engineering together with Madisson Projects raised a staggering $6,500 at auction which is the best result of all.

John Whitehead
FMG Engineering, Project Engineer – Urban Projects

AIR TIME

TUNE IN WITH FMG ENGINEERING

 

Have you missed out on any of our recent FMG Engineering interviews? You can still tune in through our website. Simply visit FMG Engineering at http://www.fmgengineering.com.au/ and check out our News and Media tab!

 

Want to ask a question? Feel free to leave a comment below and we'll get back to you. 

Image via Digital Trends

EXTREME WEATHER AND HOW IT AFFECTS YOUR HOME - PART II

This time we look at what you should do if mould is present in your home. Stay with us for the solutions and tricks to manage and eliminate mould.

What should you do if you detect mould?

The first step should be to identify and eliminate the source of moisture. In cases of flood it is important to ensure that drying out of the area is carried out as soon as possible as stated earlier, if not undertaken successfully within 48 hours it is likely that the onset mould growth has occurred.

In the event of a water leak, mould growth will be advanced but again, the first step is to eliminate the source of moisture. Prior to drying, great care should be taken to avoid moisture being left behind after the operation and it is strongly recommended that a de-humidifier is used constantly to draw out all trapped moisture.

Care should be taken during clean-up of the mould (face masks, protective gloves, ventilation) as mould in its “dead” state will continue to release spores into the atmosphere.

For small areas of mould growth on non-porous surfaces, it is recommended to use a non-ammonia soap or detergent on the entire area affected by mould.

To prevent the re-occurrence of mould, the surfaces should be disinfected with a solution of water and bleach and allow to dry naturally after application.

In the extensive cases of mould growth it is strongly recommended that a specialist contractor is contacted for further advice.

An extreme case of mould in a residential property

How do you prevent mould?

It is impossible to eliminate airborne mould. Scientists warn that living in an environment free from mould would be detrimental to our immunology systems as we need to be exposed to the mould to build immunity.

Following the prevention measures below will help to reduce airborne mould from your home.

·           Prevent humidity by opening windows for an hour daily

·           Prevent or eliminate leaks and treat water damage within 24-48 hours

·           Regularly clean places that accumulate humidity such as showers, taps and pipes and the associated floor areas

·           Limit carpets and plants in your home

·           Use air purifiers to reduce humidity

·          Porous materials such as wood, fabric, mattresses and carpets are likely to be contaminated in extreme events and are very difficult to clean. In the event that objects of this kind become contaminated, it is advised to dispose of them.

If you have a question on mould in your residential or commercial property, leave us a comment and we'll get back to you.
(Image via news.domain)

EXTREME WEATHER AND HOW IT AFFECTS YOUR HOME

Following recent unseasonal and extreme weather events in South Australia, FMG Engineering has experienced a significant increase in enquiries regarding dampness and mould in residential properties.

This year, February 13 and 14 produced rainfall totals not experienced since 1969 and have been recorded as the sixth wettest 24 hours since weather recording began in Adelaide in 1839.

As a result of the heavy rainfall many residential properties in the state experienced flooding and with flooding comes dampness and the potential for mould.

 

What is Mould?

Mould is a fungal growth that forms and spreads on various kinds of damp decaying organic matter. There are many species of mould, some toxic and varying in colour and texture.

Mould needs three things to grow;

·     A source of moisture (flooding, leaking, pipes, showers or roofs, dampness from groundwater in cellars).

·     A source of food (organic matter such as paper, leaves, wood or dirt).

·     Moderate (warm) temperatures.

Most building surfaces can provide adequate nutrients to support the growth of mould. Moulds are small air borne organisms that can form and multiply quickly in ideal conditions within 24 hours. When mould is growing in a home large numbers of spores can be released into the air, be easily inhaled by the residents and may lead to health issues such as asthma.

How do you know if you have a mould problem?

Mould in many cases will be visible; however it is not always detected. In some cases, mould may be growing out of view behind walls or under floors. The following are indicators that may help to determine if mould is present.

·     Damp earthy or musty odours

·     Unusual clusters of spots on surfaces. Mould comes in many colours and can be white, black, grey-brown or green-grey.

·     Water stains or discolouration to walls, floors or ceilings may indicate mould growing behind or within a material.

·     Surface abnormalities such as peeling, cracking or bubbling of paint or wallpaper.

·     Surfaces of walls, ceilings and floors feeling damp.

Stay tuned for part 2 of dealing with mould in your home

(Adelaide Images via abc.net)