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TOWARD A GREENERAND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

OASIS DE VIE Healthcare Center To Open In The Heart Of Beirut

USEK BASSIL MEDICAL BUILDINGPROGRESS - PEOPLE - PLANET

BUILDINGACOUSTICS The Fundamentals

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CONTENTSOctober - December 2018

TALK OF THE TOWN

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Oasis De Vie –Continuum of Healthcare Center in the Heart of Ashrafieh

The “Agosto Experience”

The Training and Development Culture in Lebanon

Apave News at a Glance…

Projects on the Run

Regulatory Watch by Apave

Announcements

FOCUS ON Acoustics in Buildings

Introduction to Building Acoustics

Acoustical Flanking Transmission

Acoustics: The Fundamentals

The Science of Controlling Noise

Noise Control Solutions:Acoustic Louvers

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SUSTAINABILITY & ENERGY

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ECOsys: Provider of Renewable Energy & Power Solutions

Towards a Greener and Sustainable Future

Army Solar Project initiation

Solar Photovoltaic System at Ministry of Energy & Water

ABC Verdun’s Solar Photovoltaic System

ARCHITECTURE & TECHNIQUES

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USEK Bassil Medical Building

MONTREAL:A Brief History of the City’s Architecture

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EditorialSAFE AND SOUND ENVIRONMENTSAcoustics are often neglected as part of building design. However, over the last few

years, good acoustics are receiving more attention in buildings. This apparently complex

discipline requires an understanding of how sound is transmitted and the acoustical

properties of materials and products. In this issue, we ask acoustics and audio experts to

give their views on how to reduce noise transmission in buildings to provide comfortable

living and working environments.

To provide the energy market with sustainable solutions, ECOsys is initiating renewable

energy and power solutions for corporate and government institutions as well as homes

in the region. The installation of a solar photovoltaic system at the Lebanese Army

Directorate of Engineering is a milestone and is set to pave the way for eco-friendly

initiatives in the country and region.

Fascinated by the history of architecture? Well, fall is the perfect season to take a stroll

through Montreal to discover the city’s marvelous buildings introduced in this issue. The

Canadian city is intent on preserving its architectural heritage for future generations.

Moving on to healthcare, an aging population has led to an increased need for a

professional healthcare center in Beirut. Zafer Chaoui, President of Oasis de Vie, presents

the Continuum of Healthcare Center in the heart of Ashrafieh, set to open its doors this

year. This issue also highlights the encompassing design elements of the USEK Bassil

Medical Building at Al Maounat Hospital campus in Jbeil, Lebanon, offering a healthy

environment for staff and students alike.

When it comes to stage design, safety is a top concern. This summer, world class DJ’s

performed on stage at the Agosto Experience and for this event the Mzaar Ski resort

collaborated with Apave for stage structure inspection. This assured the safety of the

festivities and thousands of attendees resulting in a highly successful event.

Apave’s Training Department aims to spread the culture of training among companies in

Lebanon and the 2018 Training Catalogue offers training on over fifty topics. Training

is organized at the Apave Training Center, as well as in-house, and tailor-made to suit

the needs of client. It’s time for Lebanese companies to consider training an investment,

rather than an expense.

General ManagerNassib Nasr

Editor in Chief:Rachid Moubarak

Magazine Editors:Tayma AwaissMary Ibrahim

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:building@apaveliban.comwww.apave.me The Building&Co. Team

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Acoustic & Vibration Engineering Gresam Company SAL, established in 1986, and certified ISO 9001:2015, is specialized in Acoustic and Vibration Engineering Solutions and innovative building materials with their applications. Experience and success have allowed Gresam to grow and expand its core capabilities to provide a complete package from acoustical consultancy, design and all the way to execution.

We are committed to provide state of the art acoustical consultancy services within cost effective budgets to our clients. We provide our consultancy services for both new construction as well as a renovation. Whether the project is in the design stages needing a review of potential acoustic issues or there is an existing noise and vibration problem requiring measurements, recommendations, or an expert opinion, we offer a variety of services based on our expertise and field experiences.

Architectural and interior acoustics is one of the major topics to be considered during the design phase of any project and not limited to auditorium, performance halls, multipurpose hall, classrooms, restaurant, hotels, churches, mosques, shopping malls, meeting room, offices, Mass media studio’s and many other public and private spaces.

A Commercial, large residential building or manufacturer plant may have a serious impact on surrounding residential areas; from cooling system, generator room to a large power plant. Our team are able to provide a cost effective noise and vibration solutions during the design phase in order to reduce the noise to the acceptable limit or they can make a noise survey for an existing site in order to check the level of compliance and deliver a solutions.

Gresam Company SAL: Ivoire Center, Block B,Horch Tabet -Lebanon, Tel: 067 9611487+, E: info@gresam.com

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Talk Of The Town

TALK OF THE TOWN

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OASIS DE VIECONTINUUM OF HEALTHCARE CENTER IN THE HEART OF ASHRAFIEH

As Board Members of the Greek Catholic Welfare Association of Beirut and its Suburbs, and throughout our various careers and

life experiences, we have always found the need for a healthcare center in Beirut dedicated to the continuum of care.

This center has now become the Oasis de Vie - Continuum of Healthcare Center, the first of its kind in Lebanon with a mission

to provide dignified, compassionate and quality continuum of healthcare services in the center of Beirut.

We take pride in opening our doors during 2018 and welcoming patients and communities who require services that Oasis de Vie

(ODV) shall provide.

ODV is a 131-bed subacute healthcare center established by the Greek Catholic Welfare Association of Beirut and its Suburbs.

The ODV project came to life to fulfill the vision of the Greek Catholic Welfare Association and in accordance with the wish of

the late Mrs. Marie Youssef Aftimos, wife of the late Mr. Nemr Hebbe, who donated the land where the project is built.

ODV is located in a strategic area, surrounded by all the tertiary care centers of Beirut. It is designed in accordance with Joint

Commission International (JCI) and other international quality and safety standards. The center operates in compliance with the

Quality and Safety Accreditation Standards of the Lebanese Ministry of Health as well as JCI.

Regarding its structure, the ODV building was also designed and executed in accordance with internationally recognized

standards and codes pertaining to structural integrity, seismic design, and life and fire safety.

The vision of ODV is to offer high quality, person centered, full continuum of care services to community residents who

require supportive care outside the acute care setting. Its strategy is to take a leading role in the health sector, through enhanced

By Zafer Chaoui, President of Oasis de Vie and Board Member of the Greek Catholic Welfare Association of Beirut and its Suburbs

TALK OF THE TOWN

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What’s a subacute care?

Subacute care is health care for people who are not severely ill but need:

- support to regain their ability to carry out activities of daily life after an episode of illness

- help to manage new or changing health conditions

- assistance to live as independently as possible

coordination with other healthcare providers in Lebanon and the region, promoting high standard of professional ethics at

competitive prices.

The continuum of services that ODV provides includes subacute and intermediate medical care, Alzheimer’s/dementia care,

palliative care, hospice care, senior care and social care.

Subacute And Intermediate Medical Care

Recovering from surgery, illness or injury can take a few days

or a few weeks, sometimes even longer. The center provides

primary care during recovery time. The trained staff provides

physical, occupational and speech therapy services for in and

outpatients, as well as other types of healthcare services aimed

at facilitating full recovery.

Alzheimer’s/Dementia CareThe center provides a safe and stimulating environment where

enriching programs and activities trigger joy in the residents

and give them a sense of purpose, while enhancing cognitive

and physical stimulation. For example, an assisted kitchen

was designed especially to stimulate the patient’s memory and

increase their social engagement as they cook their favorite

recipes.

Palliative & Hospice CareThe palliative care services aim to improve quality of life of

patients with life-threatening illnesses and to support their

families.

Every moment of life counts and should be meaningful, quality

being more important than quantity. The center provides hospice

care for people with a short life expectancy who have chosen

to focus on palliative treatment and relief from pain and other

sources of discomfort. The center focuses on the holistic needs of

terminally ill patients: ODV strives to manage their pain and give

them physical, psychological, social and spiritual support in the

final stages of their lives.

Senior CareWith the rising demands and pressures of modern lifestyles,

many families are facing new challenges in the provision of

time and support for their ageing loved ones. ODV is a home

away from home. Residents may be independent or may

need assistance in their daily life. ODV provides the required

services, as well as entertainment through social, fulfilling

activities in which our senior residents are encouraged to

engage.

Social Club & Other ServicesThe day care / social club, located on the 7th floor, provides

entertainment and life enriching experiences. Interactive

programs create opportunities for new encounters and

socialization among patients and residents. Activities that

stimulate their talents and uplift their spirits are carried

out. Recreational programs include social activities, health

awareness lectures, technology classes, entertainment and

games, group cooking, and beauty salon services.

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TALK OF THE TOWN

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Brief about the charitable Greek Catholic Charity Association of Beirut

and Suburbs:

The Greek Catholic Charity Association of Beirut and Suburbs was founded in 1883 with the

aim of providing help to people in need and senior citizens, without religious discrimination.

The Association has its headquarters at Centre Saint-Antoine in Beirut. It is governed by a

Board of members which meets twice a month. The current board is the 39th since 1883.

The activities and services of the Association cover four main areas: medical services, assistance to

seniors, social assistance and support to children.

We were pleased to work with APAVE during the construction of Oasis de Vie Center.

The APAVE team was highly professional throughout the entire project, partnering

with our engineers and other leaders to deploy the best solutions while adhering to

International Standards and ensuring strict compliance with safety standards and

regulations.

IN NUMBERS:- Land area: 1426 m²

- Total built-up area: 14,630 m²

- Number of basements: 6 used for parking

- Number of upper levels: GF + 9

- Investment in the project: $25 million

- Total capacity: 131 beds

THE TECHNICAL TEAM BEHIND THE PROJECT:

- Consultant: 4b Architects – Said J Bitar

- Contractor: Entreprise Andre K. Hakime

- Project management: AOS

- Technical Control: Apave

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THE “AGOSTO EXPERIENCE”

A UNIQUE EVENT IN THE LEBANESE MOUNTAINS

This summer the Mzaar Ski Resort organized the first « Agosto

Experience » on the 11th and 12th of August at Warde slopes

in Kfardebian. It was a challenge by itself to move people up

to the mountains and to make them live a unique experience:

music, dancing & camping at 2,000 m altitude.

A one-of-a-kind experience in Lebanon and the region, the

event’s venue was spread over 30,000m2, with a music stage

structure of an approximate dimension of 33 x 10 x 12 m³.

The stage was the main attraction with its unique design,

inspired by native Indian theme, made of colorful Styrofoam.

A concept 100% Lebanese, designed by Hiba Kilani, and

executed by Julice Siblini Styrofoam. Scaffolding was provided

by Rabih Salem, sound and lighting by Abdo Abdo, and

pyrotechnics by Nazih Tabbara.

Built at 2,000m on a very tricky land, the scaffolding of the

stage had to be 100% safe. As Styrofoam was hanging from

it the strong wind conditions of the area had to be taken into

consideration.

The Agosto Experience hosted around 2,500 visitors and

eleven of the world’s best DJ’s performed on its stage. In order

for it to be a successful event and exempt of any incident,

Mzaar Ski resort collaborated with Apave for stage structure

inspection to assure safety of the festivities.

The “Agosto Experience” made the headlines locally and

worldwide, on all social media; it will hopefully lead to many

more events, up in our mountains.

By Nicole Wakim Freiha, Marketing & Development Manager, Mzaar Ski Resort

Did you know?

Temporary events are considered to attract a very large number

of persons in a limited time frame. For that reason, life-safety

risks have to be taken extremely seriously. Temporary structures

in this kind of events, such as grandstands and platforms, should

be designed and executed following the related safety standards.

TALK OF THE TOWN

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THE TRAINING& DEVELOPMENT CULTURE IN LEBANON

INVESTMENT V/S EXPENSE

From our experience over the last fifteen years in the training

business in Lebanon Apave can clearly state that trainings are

considered as an expense, by most of the companies in the

country.

Besides the in-house training programs implemented by

multinational companies operating in the country, ISO

certified organizations (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001,

ISO 22000, etc.) constitute the training and development

programs which the majority of firms prepare (or try to)for

their employees, since it is a mandatory requirement in order to

get and maintain these international certificates.

However, when companies start considering their teams’

training and development as a strategic priority, by tailoring an

adapted training program that meets the company’s goals and

objectives, then these programs become a real investment. This

investment can be measured through pre- and post- training

assessment that will allow companies to evaluate trainings’

efficiency and achieved improvement. Results can eventually be

translated into financial return when considering the value of

saved time, increased productivity and increased sales, etc.

“Better be safe than sorry” is also a good reason for

giving more importance to trainings. When assigning roles and

responsibilities, required skills and competencies for a job must

be evaluated and/or provided by the company’s management,

in order to prevent all kinds of risks (safety, financial, social,

etc.) and their potential impacts on the company’s business.

On the other hand, it is no secret that by investing in employee

training and development, their sense of loyalty is increased

and thus results in lower staff turnover, even if we don’t

expect all employees to stay within the same company their

whole career. Ensuring an employee’s development within the

company is also a mechanism for rewarding employees who

have high potential and/or are high-achievers.

Every year, Apave’s Training Department designs a training

catalogue to meet the market’s needs and clients’ demands,

with clear objectives: spread the “training culture” among

companies in Lebanon and share our technical knowledge with

participants. The proposed trainings are the most diversified on

the Lebanese market and tackle a variety of issues that address

employees, as well as managers and decision makers.

By participating in open training sessions, employees and

managers are given the opportunity to network with their peers

at different organizations and across industries, and discuss

ideas and best practices that they can bring back to their

organization.

From safety lifting operations to food safety and security,

environmental and energy management to human resources

management, leadership and communication to facility

management and accessibility for disabled, all enterprises and

industries can find their needed training from over fifty topics,

detailed in the training catalogue, that are organized at the

Apave Training Center, as well as in-house upon a company’s

request.

While we consider upgrading crucial equipment to stay up-

to-date, we should also upgrade our teams and arm them

with the required skills and competencies to follow new

rules, regulations and trends. This is how we can ensure our

organization stays a winner in this increasingly competitive

world.

Check out the2019 TRAINING CATALOGUEin the Announcement section page

TALK OF THE TOWN

Trainings2019

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Architecture & Techniques

TALK OF THE TOWN

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MONTREAL

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CANADIAN CITY’S ARCHITECTURE

Montreal, one of the greatest cultural Canadian cities, was born more than three centuries

ago. It has been constantly growing and thriving due it’s multi-cultural wealth and diversity.

From the beginning, this island has been of an inspiration to all kinds of artists. Montreal is

all about providing a great quality of life, and what’s better than architecture as a platform to

bring that to its inhabitants.

To discover the city’s architectural beginnings, one should visit the old port neighborhood,

purely influenced by the French colonial architecture and constructed by the first immigrants

that came in the 17th century. The cobblestone streets, the rooftops, and the stone buildings

are of full of charm.

To give you a fast historical timeline about how it all began, every century brought its social

changes, and this had a direct impact on the city’s architecture and precisely its skylines. Three

centuries ago, the clergy were in power and it was the era where the churches dominated

the city skyline. After that started the industrial revolution, and the factories replaced the

churches. The post-World War II era saw the arrival of the commercial corporate high-rises.

And, we reach the here and now, where residential towers dominate the modern Montreal

downtown following an ambitious vision to bring the “Montrealers” back from the suburbs

and into the heart of Montreal again.

The year 1967 was of great importance, not just with Quebec’s quiet revolution starting but

also with the city coming back on the world map due to multiple ambitious projects. The first

to name is the Expo67, a World Fair that is considered one of the most successful of the 20th

century with the most attendees to that date and 62 nations participating. Like every world

fair, architecture was present with avant-garde projects both in conception and construction.

The best examples were the Habitat67 by Moshe Safdie and “La Biosphère” by Buckminster

Fuller. The modern cityscape started taking shape from this era and took off towards the 21st

century where the sense of multiculturalism and diversity is omnipresent. Other projects from

that era that became landmarks are Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe’s Westmount square and his

Nun’s Island gas station.

By Nadim Sioufi, Interior Architect andCo-Founder Of ARC.HIVE

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ARCHITECTURE & TECHNIQUESArchitecture Around The World...

Montreal’s architectural story includes a very honorable

architect Phyllis Lambert who worked closely with Mies van

der Rohe. She has been called the “Joan of Architecture”

both for her fierce advocacy of the importance of architecture

and for her insistence on the preservation of historically

important architecture in Canada and internationally. In

1975, she founded Heritage Montreal, a private non-profit

organization that works to promote and to protect the

architectural, historic, natural and cultural heritage of Greater

Montreal, its neighborhoods and communities. In 1979, she

founded the Canadian Center of Architecture. The center

is an international research institution operating from the

fundamental premise that architecture is a public concern.

Today, where does Montreal stand? We see it present in the

global architecture sphere through local firms selected to win

international awards and competition projects. We see that

the province is investing in talented designers and architects

supporting their presence in world fair exhibitions in Europe

and the world. And the great news is the vision of Montreal

being the future city for Artificial Intelligence. We are

witnessing new developments in the institutional, commercial

and residential sectors. Architecture will flourish and the city

has a bright future. This is what everyone senses now; we all

feel it and want to be part of it.

Nadim Sioufi, Interior Architect and Co-Founder Of ARC.HIVE

Nadim Sioufi is an interior architect with more than 20 years of experience in working and managing

projects under international architectural firms such as Lemay+Escobar, GH+A and Rony Fatté

Architects, before co-founding ARC.HIVE in 2015. Nadim holds a DES in Interior Architecture &

Design from l’Académie Libanaise des Beaux Arts (ALBA), where he graduated with honors. He traveled,

taught and worked in several countries before establishing himself in Canada, where he now lives and

works. In brief, for him, the constraints, specifications or limitations of a space define its very spirit and

singularity. His approach to design is always emotionally charged and inspired by his search for new

knowledge in the design processes, mixed in with an incessant curiosity for new materials and techniques.

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USEK BASSIL MEDICAL BUILDING

DESIGNED TO PERFORM AND INSPIRE

The USEK Bassil Medical Building is the new Faculty of Medicine of the Holy Spirit

University of Kaslik built at Al Maounat Hospital campus in Jbeil, Lebanon. The Medical

Building is set over 6,500m2 and composed of four stories and two basement floors providing

classrooms, laboratories, a digital library, a conference hall, administration offices and a

cafeteria. The building is designed to house three faculties: Medicine, Pharmacy and Nursing

giving students the possibility to experience the nearby hospital’s services during their studies.

The construction was accomplished in December 2017.

The design challenge was to create a building that both performs and inspires. The desired

high environmental performance goals have contributed to shape the architecture of the

building favoring a longer shape along the east-west axis, which provides more potential for

passive cooling strategies. The result is a suitable “L” shape able to maximize the benefit of

passive design strategies for ventilation, heating, cooling and day lighting, as well as providing

panoramic views. In fact, the designed 4-floor glass facade of 580m2 showers the interior with

natural light and provides panoramic views for students, professors and academic staff. A

commodious open-space lobby is designed for gathering and for social interaction. Roofs are

designed to be either green or covered by a layer of an eco-white reflective EPDM membrane

to reduce heat gain during the hot time.

By Antoine Dahdah, PhD in Architecture Design and post-doctorate Master in Sustainable Design

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ARCHITECTURE & TECHNIQUES

Passive Design First, Efficiency AfterFrom the outside you will immediately notice a stunning contrast between the glazed and the stone façade that constitute the

two main volumes of the project, while embracing the building’s main entry and lobby. The 4-floor structural glazed façade of

the academic area deluges the interior with natural light, while shading devices on each level limit heat gain in summer. The

solid 5-floor volume hosts the building’s services and the vertical connections giving place to a scenic atrium allowing airflow

and natural ventilation (chimney stack effect). The atrium conceived as a large solar chimney demonstrates how passive design

techniques have an obvious impact on the thermal performance of the building particularly in mild and humid climate. When

there is no wind, the solar chimney creates a stack effect between the inlet stack (lobby area) and the operable skylight opening

in the roof.

Therefore, the building was designed to use different green strategies with their performance in a larger sense taking advantage

of a building’s site, climate, and materials to minimize energy use. In fact, “Passive design first, efficiency after” was the motto

of the project during the design phase. Being aware of the fact that the importance of passive design cannot be overstated since

it can reduce or eliminate the need for auxiliary heating or cooling, which account for about 40% of energy use in the average

similar buildings in Jbeil, the design team paid most attention to the principles of good passive design to lower heating and

cooling loads, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions for the life span of the building. This was possible to achieve by utilizing

natural sources of heating and cooling, such as the sun and cooling breezes. It is achieved by appropriately orientating the

building on its site and carefully designing the building envelope (roof, walls, windows and floors).

Furthermore, it was also essential to incorporate LED lights along with the latest technology of efficient VRV system for

heating and cooling to minimize electrical and thermal energy consumption. When, for the materials selection, the design team

gave priority for the use of eco-friendly and regional materials not only for the external but also for the interior finishes.

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* The building main entrance is designed to be covered by a green flat roof to control heat gain during summer and to provide insulation efficiency throughout the year.

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ARCHITECTURE & TECHNIQUES

In terms of energy efficiency, a well-designed building

envelope/skin was centralised to minimise unwanted heat gain

as well as heat loss and to protect the building from weather

atmospheric agents: in winter the building collects heat as the

sun shines through south-facing glazed facade and retains it

in materials that store heat, to be delivered later on into the

building. In summer, the designed passive design strategies

are set to reduce temperature fluctuations, improve indoor air

quality and make the indoor drier and more enjoyable to work

and study in.

Although we have used an energy saving glass façade (low-e)

to keep radiation out, it was crucial to shade the glazing

surface of the buildings for when the outdoor temperature is

above the shading line. Outside shading devices were designed

to shade the glass from direct radiation, preventing this way

a large part of the heat from getting in. The location and

dimensions of these outside shading devices were decided

based on accurate calculations; solar diagrams analysis and

shade simulation throughout the year.

When the elevation is not glazed but exposed to the sun,

we have utilized a ventilated facade system developed to

protect buildings against the combined action of rain and

wind by counterbalancing the effects of water beating on

walls and keeping the building dry, with high level aesthetic

characteristics and undisputed advantages of heat insulation

and soundproofing.

Briefly, all efforts in the design stage were set to provide a

healthy and comfortable space for users, while maximizing

operational efficiency and minimizing environmental and

maintenance impacts, reducing operation cost and lowering

the carbon footprint produced by the building. The project

integrates the triple-P concept for sustainability into all

aspects: Progress - People - Planet

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Sustainability Concept: Progress - People - PlanetInnovation and transferability – Progress: The integrated design team has worked together

extensively to assure that the chosen strategies are feasible within budget. Energy simulations

have estimated an energy saving of 60% more than the ASHRAE baseline. The roof-mounted

photovoltaic system will provide a total rated capacity of 30.5 KW, producing 250W, for a total

energy of 46122 KWh/year. The PV solar will be mainly used to reduce the building’s CO2

footprint and spread an ecological message to the wider community.

Ethical standards and social equity – People: A 1,100m2 of outdoor space will be provided

along with a 900m2 suitable garden, encouraging students to freely walk around and enjoy

facilities such as the cafeteria, which they share with the hospital’s visitors. Moreover, to foster a

positive relationship, the project also recommends sharing the garden and conference hall with

the community. For this purpose, an underground tunnel is designed to shortcut connections

with the outside.

Environmental quality and resource efficiency – Planet: The project area was partially excavat-

ed and damaged in the 90’s and left exposed to continuous soil erosion. Thus, it was preferred

to restore this area, rather than consume any other natural space for the hospital campus. The

excavated rocks will be entirely used as stone cladding for the ventilated facades, pavements

and the green terraces required for a gradual integration with the mountain. The project also

promotes measures such as rainwater harvesting and reducing CO2 emissions associated with

transportation, storm water run-off, heat island effect and light pollution

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Antoine Dahdah, PhD, Architect

Antoine Dahdah is an architect and green building consultant, based in Rome, with work expertise in

architecture, green building design, sustainable development and interior design. Holder of a PhD in

Architecture Design and a post-doctorate Master in Sustainable Design both from the University of

Rome La Sapienza, Dr. Dahdah held the position of Assistant Professor at the same university for 3

years in the department of Architecture.

Dr. Dahdah is also a LEED accredited professional endorsed by the U.S. Green Building Council. He

is in continuous collaboration in academia and frequently invited to lecture at universities about green

building design. In recent years, Dr. Dahdah has gained considerable international experience in the

field of sustainable design, being involved in different projects in Europe and the Middle East. From his

design achievements in Lebanon is the design of the USEK Green Masterplan and the USEK Faculty

of Medicine built and completed in 2017 in Jbeil at Al Maounat hospital campus.

ARCHITECTURE & TECHNIQUES

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Sustainability& Energy

TALK OF THE TOWN

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PROVIDER OF RENEWABLE ENERGY& POWER SOLUTIONS

ECOsys, an ITG (Information Technology Group) company, is a provider of world-class renewable energy and power

solutions, for corporate, government institutions and homes. It offers solar Photovoltaic (PV) solutions, hybrid energy, wind

solutions, and related electronic components. In addition, ECOsys offers DC Telco power solutions as well as industrial

batteries for reserve power and is a division of Midware Data Systems (Midware) specialized in the provision of IT

infrastructure solutions.

The renewable energy market being a young one, our experience in this field has been longstanding and proven in Lebanon

and the Middle East and we have implemented landmark projects. The renewable energy industry is witnessing a strategic shift

to hybrid energy solutions combining multiple sources of power.

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SUSTAINABILITY & ENERGY

ECOsys fields of specialization include:

1. Solar EnergyIn response to the ever challenging energy needs and the global requirements for a sustainable development, we offer custom-

ized and turnkey solar Photovoltaic (PV) solutions, leading to reduced energy costs, based on high-technology products, and a

team of experts in the field.

Our team has the right skills to study, plan, design, and implement the most suitable and cost-effective solar energy solution

for each client, customized to his special setup and needs.

Studying, designing and implementing a photovoltaic solution is complex in terms of combining the different components of

the solution to match the project’s requirements, and it involves the below parameters:

• Optimal module selection: Area/power compromise, efficiency and durability• PV array sizing• Battery bank sizing and design: Optimal battery selection• Inverter selection and sizing• Installation design: Study of the orientation and inclination of the PV panels• Analysis of site conditions and floor loads: Geological surveys, structural analysis, and wind and snow loads• Mounting structure design and selection: Material to be used, proximity to maritime areas• Shading analysis• Cables sizing and design• Protection equipment including arrestors, breakers and residual current devices• System bonding and grounding

• System integration: Hybrid systems, energy management

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2. Wind EnergyWe provide the latest generation of wind turbine generators. Wind power is a clean and sustainable energy source that can be

relied on for the long-term future, and it is the fastest growing source of electricity in the world. Wind is turned into clean and

green energy through the use of wind turbines.

3. Hybrid EnergyHybrid energy is necessary in countries of unstable utility power, where daily grid power interruptions are frequent, and the use

of diesel generators or other fossil-based power sources, is a must. We provide alternative power solutions, through hybrid energy

technologies in order to replace standby power devices that are only used when the primary source fails.

Designing a hybrid energy system, addressing each customer needs, is complex and requires the proper management of multiple

and available energy sources in addition to the grid power, such as generators, batteries, solar systems, etc.

4. DC Telco Power SolutionsWe provide a comprehensive range of direct current (DC) power solutions addressed to the Telco industry, which requires the

highest levels of quality and reliability.

We have successfully implemented a large number of DC stand-alone power systems in different types of Telecom sites includ-

ing telecommunication towers and many others, throughout multiple locations in Lebanon. The excellent performance of such

sites is due to the high standards used in the implementations in terms of products, technology, technical skills, and procedure.

About ITG

Information Technology Group (ITG) is a Lebanese holding company. We combine an array of autonomous affiliates dedicated to

providing a large portfolio of solutions and services in the MENA region, in the areas of hardware, system software, and application

software, in addition to building automation and office solutions. Strong with our proven track record and solid partnerships with leaders

in the ICT industry, we can offer the full spectrum of solutions to most businesses, ranging from office furniture to the full-fledged data

center, in addition to Cloud-based services. ITG derives additional strength and reach thanks to its affiliation with the HOLCOM group

of companies, which has a 50-year history in diligently serving clients in the EMEA region with its 5,700 professionals.

For more info: www.itgholding.com

ContactsMr. George Geha Mr. Elie Maalouf

General Manager Division Manager

g.geha@itg.com.lb e.maalouf@ecosys.com.lb

+961 (1) 595 502 +961 (1) 595 504

www.ecosys.com.lb www.ecosys.com.lb

31

SUSTAINABILITY & ENERGY

TOWARDS A GREENERAND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Climate change is impacting our environment. Water and land resources are becoming scarce in Lebanon due to the growing

urbanization placing additional pressure on power production, and supply systems due to higher cooling demand. To

overcome the problems faced by global warming, the Lebanese energy sector should opt for green energy sources.

Renewable energy production is slowly but steadily increasing in Lebanon. Electricity is generated from thermal and

hydroelectric power plants that are not sufficiently meeting the needs of the population. The very high cost of electricity

produced by generators caused by the national power shortage, is one of the three factors of competitiveness of Photovoltaic

energy in Lebanon. In addition to the ideal climatic conditions (300 days of sunshine per year), and the high production costs

of electricity plants in the country, Lebanon has abundant solar resource with high solar irradiance levels.

ECOsys has proudly installed more than 30 PV systems projects across Lebanon, including a 1.09 MWp solar photovoltaic farm

for Zahrani Oil that is generating up to 1,525 MWh/yr.

Zahrani Oil Installations -

Solar Photovoltaic System• 1.09 MWp• 8,000 m2• 1,525 MWh production/yr• 1,230 tons CO2 offset/yr

ECOsys aims to further its projects in order to let Lebanon rely on renewable energy to decrease the emission of greenhouse

gases thus taking action towards a greener Lebanon, and a sustainable future.

32

ECOsys IMPLEMENTS ARMY DIRECTORATE SOLAR PROJECT

ECOsys implemented a solar photovoltaic system at the Lebanese Army Directorate of

Engineering. The clients were seeking an environmental friendly approach that could cover

their energy consumption while using sustainable and clean energy.

The executed solar system was completed in February 2018 and covers one of the rooftops

of the facility. It has a total capacity of 155.76 kWp, and is expected to produce 238.870

megawatt-hours of energy yearly, leading to a total saving of 155.265 tons of CO2 per year.

The implementation was done by an ECOsys team of 20 specialists, consisting of engineers

and technicians. The main challenge of the project was to esthetically design and integrate the

PV system, as well as the distance between the connection point and the rooftop installation.

Hopefully, this fruitful green experience will pave the way for new eco-friendly initiatives

among other Lebanese Army directorates.

About the Lebanese Army Directorate of Engineering

The Directorate of Engineering was established on April 15, 1977 and was located in Bayda

Building, Ain El Remmene. It was later transferred to Youssef Osta Barrack in Kfarshima as of

January 20, 1982.

For more info: www.lebarmy.gov.lb

Lebanese Army – Solar

Photovoltaic System• 155.76 kWp• 1,200 m2• 238.870 MWh production/yr• 155 tons of CO2 offset/yr

33

SUSTAINABILITY & ENERGY

ECOsys SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM AT MINISTRY OF ENERGY & WATER

In November 2017, ECOsys implemented a solar photovoltaic (PV) system at the Ministry of

Energy & Water. The solar system covered the rooftop of the Ministry’s building in Corniche

Al Nahr, with a total capacity of 135.3 kWp.

The Ministry of Energy & Water, represented by the Lebanese Center of Energy Conservation

(LCEC), is the leading supporter of renewable energy projects in Lebanon that encourages

and incentivizes the private sector in adopting renewable energy.

Rani Al Achkar, Director of Engineering and Planning at LCEC, stated that “the main

objective of this project was to showcase a Ministry that leads by example and to set a path

for sustainability in public buildings in Lebanon, as it’s a first in 10 solar PV projects in public

buildings initiated by the Ministry of Energy and Water and implemented by LCEC.”

The system is fully operational since the beginning of January, and is expected to produce

198.891 MWh of energy yearly, leading to a total saving of 130.16 tons of CO2 per year.

The implementation was done by ECOsys team which consists of twenty engineers and

technicians. The work done during the bidding phase was very interesting and challenging as

the project required a lot of optimization in order to meet the client’s requirements. Now that

the drawings were turned into reality, we are very proud and satisfied with the results. The

main challenge of the project was to esthetically design and integrate the PV system within

the existing crammed rooftop of 830 m2 surface area, which led the team to combine two

different types of mounting structures to fit the total requested capacity.

The project includes:

• Solar panels that have an efficiency of 19.3%• Inverters that are 20 kW with an efficiency of 98.1% • A mounting structure

• A monitoring system

About the Ministry of Energy & Water

The Ministry of Energy & Water supervises the power and water sector in Lebanon,

addressing the issues of water, electricity, oil, minerals, mining and extracting.

For more info: www.energyandwater.gov.lb

Ministry of Energy & Water - Solar Photovoltaic System• 135.3 kWp• 700 m2• 198.891 MWh production/yr• 130 tons CO2 offset/yr

34

ECOsys INSTALLS SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM AT ABC VERDUN

In February 2017, ECOsys, signed a deal with ABC Verdun to install a solar photovoltaic (PV)

system over part of the Mall complexes to cover their energy needs. ABC Verdun needed an

energy source, along with EDL and diesel generators, to power their facilities.

Just three months later the system was operational as the inauguration of ABC Verdun mall

was approaching.

The implementation was done by an ECOsys team of specialists, consisting of engineers and

technicians. The main challenge of the project was to esthetically design and integrate the PV

system into the fine architecture of ABC Verdun mall.

ECOsys designed a solar system of 51.84 kWp and is expected to produce 72.6 MWh of

energy yearly, leading to a total saving of 57.9 tons of CO2 per year. The system will not only

reduce ABC’s electricity bills, but also raise ecological awareness. It is important to add that

the estimated payback period is less than 5 years.

ABC Verdun is proud to embrace the solar energy trend, and help reduce the pollution in our

country. This project is very important to our environment and nature. The beautiful design

and accurate execution of ECOsys helped achieve an environmental contribution.

ABC continues to incentivize other businesses to adopt smart ecofriendly solutions, adding to

the fact that it is not the first time ABC cooperated with ECOsys for solar PV systems.

ECOsys’ continuous follow-up and effort to solve the technical and esthetic challenges that

they faced, was crucial to finalize the project within the assigned deadline.

About ABC

Since 1936, ABC Group has been setting the standard for leisurely shopping in Lebanon,

having established itself as a pioneer in the Retail Industry. The first retail store to introduce

the mall concept to the Lebanese market, ABC has been a shopping destination for over

seventy-five years with it’s blend of retail and entertainment attracting more than 11 million

visitors per year. ABC Group operates more than 57,000m2 of Gross Leasable Area (GLA)

including two flagship department stores in prime locations, Dbayeh and Achrafieh–the latter

being the region’s first open-air mall to meet international standards.

In 2017, ABC inaugurated a new mall in Verdun that is almost double the group’s GLA, with

a total of 107,000m2 square meters. ABC Verdun is conceived as a prime urban retail and

entertainment destination.

For more info: www.abc.com.lb

ABC Shopping Center Verdun -

Solar Photovoltaic System• 52 kWp• 324 m2• 72.6 MWh production/yr

• 57.9 tons CO2 offset/yr

35

SUSTAINABILITY & ENERGY

36

FOCUS ONAcoustics in

Buildings

37

38

BUILDING ACOUSTICS

AS COMFORT-RELATED BUILDING STANDARDS INCREASE SO DOES THE NEED FOR ARCHITECTURAL ACOUSTICS DESIGN SERVICES

Architecture is all about designing good environments. And, to

create a good environment the acoustics of a building should be

considered during the design phase. Critical choices need to be

made to help to mitigate the effects of noise disturbance that will

have a major effect on the interior, and, ultimately, the wellbeing

of the resident.

Over the past decade, the building sector has seen an increase

in comfort-related building standards determined by laws and

decrees. As a result the demand for architectural acoustics design

services has risen and experts are now in high demand. Acoustic

specialists consider the various factors, which influence the

acoustics of a building, for example large buildings have different

acoustical properties than small ones due to the echo effect.

When considering the acoustics of a building, obviously the first

item to regard is how much sound will penetrate to the interior

from the exterior. Then, the other parts of the building need to be

considered. Depending on the purpose of the room, from a sound

standpoint, the decision is made how to build it.

An architect also needs to make choices on how to keep internal

noise from leaking across the room boundaries to isolate noise.

How often do you go out to relax over a meal in a restaurant but

end up feeling stressed out as you struggle to have a conversation

over the noise of clattering plates, chatter from the surrounding

tables and loud background music? This is especially the case in

old renovated buildings now used as spaces for trendy restaurants.

Old brick and mortar and high ceilings can sound so reverberant

By Sabina Llewellyn-Davies

and as such used to be considered unusable for many

situations. But, acoustic experts can work wonders and re-

purpose such spaces into restaurants and office spaces.

Advances in Electro Acoustic Technology

As owners and designers aim to create good-looking buildings,

they are often unaware of the latest acoustical products,

which can provide superior room acoustics. There have been

vast advances in electro acoustic technology and as a result

architects have more design flexibility. “Most commercial

buildings do not take acoustics into consideration. An

acoustics engineer/specialist is occasionally called upon but

only for specific projects like restaurants, theatres, movie

theaters, concert halls, night clubs, gyms etc. where sound is

inherent to the function itself,” says Hala Rizkallah, architect/

urban planner. “As electro mechanical drawings are now a

required component in the design and permit of every project,

acoustical reports should become a standard consideration

where necessary,”

Through a combination of passive and active acoustics,

architects and acousticians can control the sounds of spaces to

fit any kind of need. And, industry leaders are acknowledging

the need for acoustics in the design of buildings more than ever

which is good news for residents of buildings… and clients of

noisy restaurants.

39

FOCUS ONAcoustics in Buildings

ACOUSTICAL FLANKING TRANSMISSION

LIGHTWEIGHT FAÇADESAND IMPROVEMENT METHODS

The sound insulation between spaces can often be limited by

the flanking transmission of the curtain wall elements of the

façade. Glazed curtain walling is used for many commercial

and residential projects; it is important to understand the

limitations to sound insulation that the curtain walling

introduces. In this feature, common types of curtain walling

systems and the associated flanking paths are described,

along with typical performance achieved and methods for

improvement. A case study is included to demonstrate how

site measurements can vary with possible improvements on

the flanking paths.

The principle of a curtain wall façade is easy understandable

if we look at Fig. 1. Curtain walling is a non-structural system

that weatherproofs the outside of buildings and supports

no load other than its own weight and the environmental

forces which act upon it. The framework has vertical

elements known as mullions and horizontal sections known

as transoms fixed on the concrete structure of the building,

very often the floor slabs. Mastering the acoustical flanking

transmission is one of the major acoustical topics that have to

be mastered when dealing with this kind of construction.

By Paul Ghanimeh, Founder & Co-Owner,G Universe Sarl

Figure 1: Principle of a curtain wall façade

40

Flanking Paths The flanking paths for sound to pass from one space to another can be considered to be any

route other than through the separating element. For most scenarios this can be broken down to

be the sound through the glazing, through the curtain wall sections (mullions or transoms) and

the method of sealing between the curtain wall sections and the main separating element (floor

or partition). These are shown in Figure 2.

When considering vertical sound insulation through a floor, there is also the additional path of

sound flanking through common mullions, which are not split at the separating floors. This is

shown in Figure 3.

Lightweight FacadesThe acoustical power radiated by the glazing is much smaller than the power radiated at the

linear junction between façade and partition due to the joints between glazing and profile. This

applies to classical glazing and therefore the connection between facades and partition be it

horizontal or vertical for both lateral or vertical flanking is the weak point of interest.

From an acoustical point of view, there are two different situations of curtain wall facades:

Figure 2:Plan view of flanking and direct paths for sound transmission

Figure 3:Section showing the flanking path via a continuous mullion

One-piece hollow section Independent frames

41

FOCUS ONAcoustics in Buildings

Improvement of Lateral InsulationDifferent technical solutions are available to improve the lateral acoustical insulation especially

to improve hollow tube-profiles.

Filling the ProfileDifferent fillings are used in practice; the most common are sand, mineral wool or material

combining mineral wool and damping material. Filling the profile with sand doesn’t look as a

long-term fitted solution because of the presence of small holes needed for hygrometric reasons

in the profile. Filling with mineral wool is a good solution, but, few data is available for the Dnf

value for the same profile with and without mineral wool. Filling with a material combining

mineral wool and damping material is probably the best filling solution.

Figure 4: reference case of single aluminum mullion of 2.5 mm thickness presenting Dnf (C;Ctr) = 44(-4;-4) dB

In a one-piece hollow section, the system consists of a junction of a partition with for hole

tube-profiles and the flanking transmission index can be drastically limited. Dnf,w = 44 dB

(-4,-4) has been measured for a 2,70 m height vertical profile of 2,5 mm.

An independent frames system consists of separated “halve” profiles assembled on the con-

struction site. The lateral insulation index of such a configuration is much higher because of the

separation in the profiles. Such façades can insure a measured Dnf,w = 54 dB (-1,-6), for a

2,70m height vertical profile of 2,5mm thick aluminum profile of 65 mm large has for instance

been measured.

Having double separated (halve) profiles is the most efficient acoustical solution in projects with

high sound insulation requirements and possible partitions at each façade module; however,

such a solution has an influence on the “industrial” preparation of the façade.

That means each module has to be prepared separately and assembled on the construction site.

This article focuses on the single mullion one piece hollow section which is more frequently

used and present possible means of improving the lateral flanking acoustical performances.

42

Figure 5: Lateral insulation index of a single aluminum profile filled with mineral wool and damping material 4 kg/m² presenting Dnf (C;Ctr) = 47(-1;-4) dB

Figure 6: Lateral insulation index of a single aluminum profile filled with mineral wool and damping material 4 kg/m² and 2 mm thick steel sheets presenting Dnf (C;Ctr) = 50(-1;-4) dB

The test result shown in Fig.5 gives a Dnf, w = 47 dB (-1,-4) when we fill the single profile with

a complex of mineral wool and a 4 kg/m² viscoelastic layer. The effect of filling with such type

of material is double. It makes the profile heavier and it damps the vibration of the profile. How-

ever, the effect is not always 100 % efficient because of the eventual presence of stiffeners inside

the tube which makes the contact between the damping material and the metal stud sometimes

difficult.

Profile CoverCovering the metallic stud is also a good solution (see Fig. 6).

43

FOCUS ONAcoustics in Buildings

Figure 7: Comparison of Dnf,w values of the various junction paths

It should be done with a damping material to reduce the vibration of the profile combined with

an “esthetic” layer, which is often a metal sheet (galvanized steel or aluminum) or a plaster-

board panel. Figure 6 shows a Dnf,w = 50 dB (-1,-4) for the same profile as in Fig. 5 covered

by a 4 kg/m² damping material and a galvanized steel sheet of 2 mm thick.

The sound insulation between spaces can often be limited by the flanking transmission of the

curtain wall elements of the façade. If the Dnf,w values for the system are known, the on-site

performance can be predicted, however test data is often not available until suppliers are con-

firmed.

Initial estimates of the flanking performance can be made using typical performance figures, but

these must be used with caution, as there can be significant differences in performance between

two curtain wall sections, which have the same dimensions. It is vital to appreciate the details of

the proposed system and use suitable test appropriately in order to reliably predict the potential

sound insulation performance notably affecting both outside to inside noise transmission as well

as lateral and vertical sound insulation levels requirements.

Effective Flanking Sound InsulationA comparative analysis in Fig. 7 below shows the performance difference in the flanking sound

insulation between untreated single mullion system and improved treatments shown here

reveals that significant improvements can be obtained ranging between 3 to 10 dB in the broad

frequencies between 600 to 5000 HZ can be obtained mostly the major enhancement in the

critical medium frequency corresponding to the mullion sound resonance. Low frequencies are

less affected by this improvement as they depend more on the vibration velocity damping which

is not affected by mineral wool or external lining of the mullion at the junction.

44

ACOUSTICS

THE FUNDAMENTALS

When considering acoustics, sound comes first to mind. A vibration that propagates as an

audible wave of pressure through the air or another transmission medium (water, gas, wood,

glass) except void. For humans, the reception of such waves and their perception by the brain

creates sound. Sound is characterized by its frequency or wavelength, pressure level, speed,

and duration. The frequency is the property of sound that determines the pitch of the sound.

It is the speed of vibration of air pressure or number of wave cycle that occurs in one second

and is measured in Hertz (Hz).

Sound pressure level (SPL) or amplitude is the property that determines how loud the sound

is. It is the size of the vibration, the difference between the pressure caused by a sound wave

and the ambient pressure of the medium the sound wave is passing through. The amplitude

can be controlled by controlling the volume of the radio for example. Sound level is expressed

in decibels (dB) which is logarithmic, thus they should be converted to linear scale before

manipulating them.

If the difference between two sound pressure levels exceeds 10dB, the level of the highest

noise will hide the lowest ex. 95dB+ 75 dB = 95dB. Adding two sound pressure levels of equal

value will always result in a 3dB increase.

The speed of the sound is mainly affected by the property of the material it is propagating

through as well as the ambient conditions. Duration, the same sound will not be supported in

same way depending of the exposure duration. The duration of a sound usually lasts from the

time the sound is first noticed until the sound is identified as having changed.

By Marybelle Chahine, Electro-Mechanical Engineer, Apave

45

FOCUS ONAcoustics in Buildings

Noise In Building Acoustics

The noise is a series of sounds with different frequencies and amplitudes usually unpleasant and

causing disturbance. The range of normal perception for young persons lies between 20 and

20,000Hz and in terms of sound level the lowest variation detected by human ears is around 2

or 3 dB.

In building acoustics, four main noise sources are common:

1. Externally generated noise such as traffic, trains, aeroplanes, neighbors, wind on

the building, rain on the roof…

2. Internally generated noise such as loud conversations, televisions, stereo…

3. Impact noise on the structure such as footsteps, falling objects, furniture

relocation...

4. Noise from services and equipment such as lift, mechanical ventilation, toilet

flushing, lavatory…

46

Harmful Noise LevelsThe sound pressure level indicates how loud it is in the room. Permanent exposure to high

sound pressure levels or high sound peaks can over time damage an individual’s health:

• Noise over 150dB causes eardrum rupture

• Noise between 120dB and 140dB is considered painful

• 110dB is considered the average human pain threshold

• Noise between 80dB and 100dB are dangerous and can cause serious damage

after 8hours of exposure.

• Between 60dB and 80dB noises are considered annoying such as baby crying and

conversations in restaurants

• Noises between 40dB and 60dB are fairly quiet

• Between 20dB and 40dB noises are quiet such as whispering and conversation at

home

• Noise below 10dB is barely audible

Noise can be emitted directly through the air, reflected on a partition, transmitted through a

partition, or transmitted indirectly though partitions and facades.

47

FOCUS ONAcoustics in Buildings

Sound ReductionThe sound pressure level depends on the distance and the obstacles between the source point

and the reception point. Sound pressure is inversely proportional to the distance from the

source (1/d). In an open field, the sound pressure level is reduced by 6dB when the distance

from the source is doubled.

In buildings we can differentiate between two methods of sound reduction: soundproofing and

acoustic treatment.

Soundproofing RoomsSoundproofing can minimize the level of sound that travels in and out of a room. The acoustic

performance of a room is affected by acoustic properties, such as absorption coefficient, of the

installed material and products, the installation method, and joints between partitions. Three

noise types could be reduced with soundproofing: externally generated noise, impact noise

and noise from services. It is to note that to reduce externally generated noise, the treatment of

facades and partitions is essential.

For simple partitions, the heavier and thicker the partition is the higher sound insulation will

be. As for double layered partitions separated by a gap or, for optimized results, by an insulating

material, the first layer will reflect a part of the noise, the light weighted insulation will absorb

and reduce the amplitude of sound waves and the second layer will reflect a part of the noise to

the insulation to be reduced again and will finally transmit the attenuated noise to the room.

According to the mass-law, the more the insulating material is light weighted the more the noise

reduction will be. Windows, doors and ventilation openings are as well considered as the weakest

points for sound insulation. Double-glazing is particularly effective for windows, especially if

the airspace between the two panes is as wide as possible. Solid-core doors are best, particularly

for those that open on to external areas. All gaps and openings around both doors and windows

should be properly sealed; even the smallest openings can leak significant amounts of noise.

Triple pane windows are not necessarily the optimal solution for sound control: if a triple-

pane window has smaller air spaces between the panes a reverberation in the sound waves will

be created and will amplify the sound level and cancels out any beneficial effects a third pane

provides.

When it comes to impact noise the most efficient noise reduction is to isolate the structural

elements from the finishing materials thus lateral transmissions will be reduced. For noise

generated by equipment the contact points between the equipment and the support will be

transporting noise to other rooms; in order to reduce this transportation, it is necessary to

isolate the equipment from its base and thus limiting the vibrations. They can be reduced by

eliminating the equipment noise or by reducing noise transmission.

Acoustic Treatment Acoustic treatment treats sound reflection within the room and thus increases the absorption in

order to reduce reflected noise. By reducing the reverberation, the acoustic treatment controls

the sound level and makes it more intelligible. The absorption of material is characterized by

the absorption coefficient from 0 to 1. The more the structure is porous the more the material

is absorbent and thus the coefficient is close to 1. The thickness and porosity of the material

increases its acoustic absorption.

48

Standards and RegulationsBuilding regulations exist to ensure the safety of people inside the building. High sound

level could have negative influence on human activity; standards and regulations define the

permissible acoustical limits in order to guarantee that the noise level does not cause any

perturbations to the occupants.

The minimum values that should be respected depend of the type of occupancy. Limits

for other occupancies such as schools, hospitals, hotels and offices are defined by different

decrees.

Regulations don’t specify the minimum sound insulation required between two rooms of the

same apartment. The sound insulation between a room in a residential apartment considered

as emission room and another reception room, should be at least equal to the below

mentioned values in accordance with French Regulations:

*A-weighted decibels dB(A) are an expression of the relative loudness of sounds in air

as perceived by the human ear. In the A-weighted system, the decibel values of sounds

at low frequencies are reduced compared with unweighted decibels.

Emission LocationReception room

of a different apartmentRooms

53 dB(A)*

40 dB(A)

53 dB(A)

55 dB(A)

58 dB(A)

Wet areas50 dB(A)

37 dB(A)

50 dB(A)

52 dB(A)

55 dB(A)

Apartment rooms except parking spaces

Parking spaces

In other cases

Common areas in the building

Common circulation inside the building

Emission and reception rooms are only separated by a door

49

FOCUS ONAcoustics in Buildings

Lebanese Decree on SoundThe Lebanese Decree 1/52 in its Appendix 10, specifies the permitted sound pressure level

depending on the location of the building:

The sound pressure level shall not exceed 90dB(A) during working hours, the below table

shows the maximum exposure duration to high noises:

Finally, citizens have a right to be protected against noise pollution. Excessive noise can affect

people’s health and quality of life, which is why there are laws limiting the amount of noise

that businesses are allowed to make.

Location7am till

6pm

55-65

50-60

40-50

60-70

45-55

35-45

6pm till 10pm

50-60

45-55

35-45

55-65

40-50

30-40

10pm till 7am

45-55

40-50

30-40

50-60

35-45

25-35

Maximum soundpressure level dB(A)

Downtown commercialand administrative buildings

Residential areas in the city

Residential in villages or next to hospitals

Residential areas near commercialareas or main roads

Residential areas near secondary roads

Industrial Areas

Sound Pressure Level dB (A)

Exposure Duration (hours)

95

4

100

2

105

1

110

0.5

115

0.25

50

BUILDING ACOUSTICS

THE SCIENCE OF CONTROLLING NOISE

We’ve all had noisy neighbors at some point in our lives. Whether they are constantly moving furniture around or simply

partying till the early hours of the morning, these neighbors, particularly due to the weak acoustic insulation in dwellings in

Lebanon, are the reasons behind these disturbances.

Building acoustics is a branch of architectural acoustics that consists in controlling airborne and structure borne sound

transmission between the various building partitions. The solution will depend on the characteristics of the sound-emitting

source and what type of space requires sound insulation. For example, recording studios and concert halls will have stricter

noise criterion (NC15-NC20) than restaurants or commercial offices (NC40-NC45). Residential apartments sit somewhere in

the middle (NC30). It is well documented and proven that bad sound insulation (high background noise) reduces productivity

in the workplace and leads to a reduced quality of life at home.

Most of the wall partitions used in buildings in Lebanon are made of plastered CMU blocks. However, they are less effective

in sound insulation and are less resistant to earthquakes than lightweight partitions (although plastered CMU blocks perform

better in the insulation of low frequency noise due to their higher mass). They are also thicker than the drywall alternatives,

which reduces the overall livable surface area and also require more time to build. For larger projects, where every second

and centimeter counts, the choice of building with CMU blocks will have a very large impact on the project completion time

and gained surface area. The downside of lightweight partitions is the material cost per meter squared that is higher than

CMU. The reason why in Lebanon CMU is still the preferred choice over lightweight partitions is due to the cheap labor cost

compared to Western countries.

Regarding the floor and ceiling concrete slabs between the different building floors, very little attention is usually given on

the insulation of impact noise. This can be done by simply placing an anti-vibration mat under the finish surface (tiles, wood

parquet, etc.) in order to decouple the latter from the rest of the building structure.

There are many tools available today to calculate the sound insulation in buildings and help provide valuable data on the

performance of different building elements and types of constructions (lightweight vs CMU, floating floors, suspended

ceilings, etc.) as well as the sound impact of an entire building on its surroundings. Figure 1 and 2 illustrate the sound

attenuation performance of two types of wall partitions, a 10cm CMU block wall and a 10cm gypsum board + mineral wool

partition. Figure 3 shows the impact of a machine room in a building on the building limits. Ultimately, building acoustics are

an important consideration in the design and construction of buildings, and can have a significant impact on residents.

By Fouad Bechwati, Acoustics & Audio Consultants, 21dB

51

FOCUS ONAcoustics in Buildings

Figure 1. Sound Reduction from a 10cm hollow block wall

Figure 2. Sound Reduction from a 10cm light-weight partition (Gypsum + Mineral wool)

Figure 3. illustration of a sound Impact of an insulated machine room on the surrounding area of a residential apartment

52

NOISE CONTROL SOLUTIONS

ACOUSTIC LOUVERS

Noise pollution can affect both physiological and psychological aspects of the human life;

to create healthy and comfortable environment it is necessary to reduce noise levels with

effective noise control solutions. Acoustic louvers are used when it is necessary to reduce or

attenuate excessive noise. Acoustic louvers suit limited spaces and fit into small areas due to

their thin depth, but, tend to be rather large in surface area.

Acoustic louvers are suitable for the following:

• Building ventilation

• Fresh air intakes for ventilation systems

• Mechanical equipment screens

• Acoustic treatment of movable or fixed access openings

• Cooling tower

• Acoustical enclosure ventilation

• Pump room ventilation

Acousystem Liban design and supply acoustic louvers to reduce noise emissions from

building ventilation systems and roof-mounted plant and equipment. Acoustic louvers permit

the flow of air while shielding the environment from noise. This means they can satisfy a wide

range of performance requirements, such as sound attenuation also in restricted areas, in full

compliance with compatible pressure losses, combined with an aesthetically pleasant aspect.

For example, the Acoustical Louver type: AC-PLUS-1 provides sound reduction, air flow and

pressure drop.

By Eng. Pierre Geara, Chairman of Acousystem/Acoustair Lebanon

53

FOCUS ONAcoustics in Buildings

Example of acoustical louver available on the lebanese marketAcoustical Louver type: AC-PLUS-1

600 900 1200 1500 1800 2100 2400

400 550 850 1150 1450 1750 2050 2350 25%

600 1100 1700 2300 2900 3500 4100 4700 33%

800 1650 2550 3450 4350 5250 6150 7050 38%

1000 2200 3400 4600 5800 7000 8200 9400 40%

1200 2750 4250 5750 7250 8750 10250 11750 42%

1400 3300 5100 6900 8700 10500 12300 14100 43%

1600 3850 5950 8050 10150 12250 14350 16450 44%

1800 4400 6800 9200 11600 14000 16400 18800 44%

2000 4950 7650 10350 13050 15750 18450 21150 45%

2200 5500 8500 11500 14500 17500 20500 23500 45%

2400 6050 9350 12650 15950 19250 22550 25850 46%

2600 6600 10200 13800 17400 21000 24600 28200 46%

2800 7150 11050 14950 18850 22750 26650 30550 46%

3000 7700 11900 16100 20300 24500 28700 32900 47%

3200 8250 12750 17250 21750 26250 30750 35250 47%

3400 8800 13600 18400 23200 28000 32800 37600 47%

3600 9350 14450 19550 24650 29750 34850 39950 47%

Net Area (cm2)

Width(mm)Height

(mm)Freearea

54

Apave newsat a glance…

Projects on the run

55

CHRIST-ROIACCOMMODATION FOR ELDERLY PERSONS

The Christ-Roi ( ) project located in Zouk Mosbeh was established by the

Congregation des Soeurs de la Croix. The project consists of accommodation for elderly

persons, individuals who are not totally capable of self-care and are subject to primary

medical assistance. The project also features an adult day care center.

The project is an extension of an existing building and is comprised of

Bloc A: Ground Floor and 2 Upper Floors.

Bloc B: 2 basements, Ground Floor and 3 Upper Floors.

The project is currently under construction and is subject to technical control under the

Decree #7194 related to public safety.

APAVE’s mission is to ensure fire and life safety in the building as well as structural stability of

the building including seismic design.

APAVE NEWS AT A GLANCE

56

APAVE PERFORMANCE TESTS

THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT CHEKKA. SUEZ-LIBAN

APAVE’s mission was to analyze the water flow at each stage, and then to verify all measuring

instruments and flow meters, assess sound levels and pollutants inside the plant and in

property limit, and maintain a performance test of the deodorization tower.

Water analysis:

A simultaneous assessment of the water and sludge treatment was carried out for seven

consecutive days during the summer period. At each sampling point an average daily sample

was taken each day and sent to be analyzed by different laboratories.

Electrical measurements:

The assessment of the electrical measurements was carried out for two consecutive days

during the summer period. It was held at the Low Voltage switchboard, and at all the main

electric boards (pre-treatment, oil treatment, pumping, sludge treatment, ventilation and

deodorization…).

Consumption of reagents measurements:

The consumption of reagents was counted daily either from the values recorded on the

supervision after verifying their authenticity, or by direct measurements on each distribution

station. This consumption was calculated per m3 of treated effluent.

Acoustic and ventilation measurements:

APAVE’s service aims to assess the risk existing in the different areas of the plant and to

validate the performance of the installation. These measurements took place at the limit of the

plant in four points defined by the client, and inside the plant at the 5 premises specified in a

common agreement between the consultant an APAVE specialist.

AFNOR MIDDLE EAST Certification Body

AFNOR MIDDLE EAST is the subsidiary of the international group AFNOR.

Domain of activities:Certification (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 22000, ISO 50001, OHSAS...)

Training

Social Responsibility of Organization (SRO)

Standards & Reference Books

Service Quality

AFNOR MIDDLE EASTNohra Bldg., Furn El Chebbak, PO Box: 16-5806, Beirut Lebanon - Tel: +961-1-295010, Fax: +961-1-295145

www.lb.afnor.org - lebanon@afnor.org - LinkedIn: AFNOR Middle East

AFNOR MIDDLE EAST operates in the following countries:Lebanon Egypt Syria GCC Jordan Iraq Yemen Sudan

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58

REGULATORY WATCH BY APAVESTAY INFORMED ON THE LATEST STANDARDS AND REGULATIONSWITH APAVE

Security on the Internet and other networks is a subject

of growing concern. Organizations around the world, in

both government and industry sectors, are seeking ways

to address and manage cybersecurity risks, including via

baseline cybersecurity measures that can be implemented

as requirements or guidance.

This document provides background on why having a

risk-based, prioritized, flexible, outcome-focused, and

communications-enabling framework for cybersecurity

is important. It then describes the objectives of a strong

cybersecurity framework and includes mapping to existing

standards that can be used to achieve these objectives.

When it comes to recruitment, finding the right person

for the job not only fills an employment gap, it can have

a significant impact on the organization as a whole.

Recognizing this, HR departments are now often

strategic partners within a company, so measuring the

impact of their expertise not only demonstrates their

value, but allows for continuous improvement as well.

Recently published, ISO technical specification ISO/TS

30411:2018, Human resource management – Quality

of hire metric, identifies metrics that can be used to

evaluate the link between the new person’s work and

the success of the organization.

Iso/Iec Tr 27103:2018

Standard On «Information Technology -

Security Techniques - Cybersecurity And Iso

And Iec Standards»

Iso/Ts 30411:2018,

Human Resource Management –

Quality Of Hire Metric

59

Maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction is a significant challenge for

many organizations. One way of meeting this challenge is to put in place and use

a customer satisfaction code of conduct. A customer satisfaction code of conduct

consists of promises and related provisions that address issues such as product and

service delivery, product returns, handling of personal information of customers,

advertising and stipulations concerning particular product and service attributes

or performance. A customer satisfaction code of conduct can be part of an effective

approach to complaints management. This involves complaints prevention, internal

complaints handling and external dispute resolution.

This document provides guidance to assist an organization in determining that its

customer satisfaction code provisions meet customer needs and expectations, and

that the customer satisfaction code is accurate and not misleading.

Quality> Iso 10001:2018

Standard On « Quality Management - Customer Satisfaction - Guidelines For

Codes Of Conduct For Organizations »

APAVE NEWS AT A GLANCE

60

AnnouncementsTRAINING CALENDAR

61

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Upcoming

trainings2018

11 12

15 16

17 18

22 24

29 31

1 2

5 6

7 9

12 13

14 16

29 27

COURSE TITLE

Initial Training for Security Officer

Scaffoldings General Stability & Assembly

Intervention en Espaces Confinés

Managing Lifting Operations: Authorization for Riggers - Level 2

Customer Relationship Management

Gaz Combustibles – Installation dans les Bâtiments

On Site Activity for Scaffolding Erection & Inspection

Contracts Management using FIDIC Suite of Contracts

Introduction to Lashing

ISM –ATEX (Level 2)

Leadership

DURATION (DAYS)

2

2

2

3

3

2

2

3

2

3

3

Oct

Oct

Oct

Oct

Oct

Nov

Nov

Nov

Nov

Nov

Nov

MONTH FROM TO

TRAINING

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

Internal Audit of Quality Management Systems

ISO 14001:2015 Management Systems Auditor/ Lead Auditor Conversion Training Course – IRCA Certified

DURATION (DAYS)

5 full days

2 full days

3 full days

October

October

November

MONTH FROM TO

22 26

24 25

14 16

UPCOMING 2018 AFNOR MIDDLE EAST TRAININGS

62

TRAININGS2019

22 23

5

6 8

21 22

7 8

19 22

4 5

9 10

15

22 23

2 3

16 17

23 24

18 19

25

11 12

30 31

12 13

29 31

26 28

1

11 12

13 14

7 9

COURSE TITLE

Health & Safety on Site: Accident Investigation

Lightning Protection Systems

Implementation of Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems ISO 45001:2018

Confined Spaces

Authorization Certificate for Electrical Safety of Personnel

Scaffolding: Fitting, Inspection and Basis of Design

Health & Safety on Site: Control of Temporary Works hazards

Electrical Installations : Low Voltage

Event Safety & Crowd Management

APAVE SAFETY WEEK : E-Rally

Health & Safety Risk Assessment

Health & Safety on Site: Musculoskeletal Hazards & Risk Controls

Initial Training for Security Officer

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

First Aid Rescue Plan Training

Managing Lifting Operations: Authorization for Riggers - Level 1

Fire Safety and Personnel Assistance Officer

Managing Lifting Operations: Authorization for Riggers - Level 2

Fire Safety in Buildings – Decree # 7964

Vertical Transportation System (Elevators)

Accessibility in Buildings

Managing Quality in Construction Projects

Gaz Combustibles – Installation dans les Bâtiments

Facility Maintenance and Management

THEME

SAFETY

AND

SECURITY

CONSTRUCTION

DURATION(DAYS)

2 half days

1 full day

3 half days

2 half days

2 full days

4 half days

2 half days

2 full days

1 half day

2 half days

2 half days

2 full days

2 half days

1 full day

2 half days

2 full days

2 half days

3 full days

3 half days

1 half day

2 half days

2 half days

3 half days

Jan

Feb

Feb

Feb

Mar

Mar

Apr

Apr

Apr

Apr

May

May

May

Jun

Jun

Jul

Jul

Sep

Jan

Feb

Mar

Mar

Jun

Aug

MONTH FROM TO

TALK OF THE TOWN

63

24 25

13 15

17 18

21 22

28 30

15

19 20

4 6

27 29

11 12

9 10

20 21

4 5

5 6

1

13 15

24 26

17

12 13

2 3

6 8

26 28

17 19

21 23

18 20

COURSE TITLE

Green Buildings

Energy Management Systems ISO 50001:2011

Renewable Energies

Environmental Management Systems ISO 14001:2015

Energy Efficiency in Buildings

Accreditation Standards for Hospitals

Human Resources Management: Workforce Planning

Implementation of Quality Management Systems ISO 9001:2015

Customer Relationship Management

Human Resources Management: Recruitment Process

Human Resources Management: Training & Development

Human Resources Management: Performance Appraisal

Introduction to Project Management

Introduction to ISO/IEC 17025:2017

Basic & Intermediate Food Safety

Food Safety Management Systems ISO 22000:2018

Food Safety Systems Certificate 22000

HACCP Methodology

Time Management

Management Skills

Leadership

Presentation & Communication Skills

Business Etiquette

Building & Implementing Effective Strategy

Conflict Management

THEME

SUSTAINABILITY

MANAGEMENT

FOOD SAFETY

SKILLS

DEVELOPMENT

DURATION(DAYS)

2 full days

3 half days

2 half days

2 half days

3 half days

1 full day

2 half days

3 half days

3 half days

2 half days

2 half days

2 half days

2 half days

2 Full Days

1 half days

3 half days

3 half days

1 full day

2 half days

2 full days

3 half days

3 half days

3 half days

3 half days

3 half days

Jan

Mar

Apr

May

Aug

Feb

Feb

Mar

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Feb

May

Jul

Sep

Feb

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

MONTH FROM TO

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

www.apave.meinfo.liban@apave.com