1. Project Overview

• Project Name: Al Arabiya News Channel

• Location: Diplomatic Quarters, Riyadh

• Client/Owner: Al Arabiya News Channel

• Architect/Designer:

• Contractor: Riyadh Villas Contracting Company

• Project Duration: 05 Months

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2. Project Background

• Objective: Renovation of existing cladding 

• Building Type: Commercial

• Scope of Work: External Cladding, Service Pipe Encasement

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3. Product and Material Details

• Fiber Cement Board Brand/Type: ACFA Premium Boards

• Thickness/Dimensions: 12mm ACFA Premium Board (2400mm x 1200mm)

• Quantity Used: 226 Sqm

• Key Product Features:

o Durability

o Fire Resistance

o Moisture Resistance

o Sound Insulation

o Fast Construction

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4. Installation Process

• Preparation Work: Since the client was not ready to remove the old façade, we had to design the façade over the existing façade. We had to make cutouts in the Marble façade to take support from the precast wall to fix the framework. 

The framework consisted of Hollow tube profiles and GI profiles.
 

• Installation Technique:

Fixing Methods: 12mm ACFA Premium boards are fixed to the framework with the help of 32mm ACFA Screws @ 250mm c/c. Care was taken, not to screw the boards on the hollow tube profile. Also, care was taken to avoid any board joints falling on hollow steel tubes.

Surface & Joint Treatments: A special Jointing and surface preparation methodology was adopted for the project. 

Jointing was done using 2 layers of jointing tape to reinforce and strengthen the joints. The complete board surface was hacked to make it rough. 

2 coats of waterproofing chemicals were applied to the complete board surface including the joints. After the chemical is dry, primer is applied on the complete board surface. 

o Painting/Finishing Work: A render finish of 6mm thickness was done on the surface as a final finish. First, a coat of 2mm render was applied to the surface. 

Glass Fiber mesh roll was embedded in the render in wet condition. Once the mesh roll is firmly embedded in the first coat, the render's second and final coat is done on the complete surface to get the desired finish.

• Challenges Faced: 

Since the project site was a working building, work could only be done at night. Therefore, very stringent technical supervision was provided at the site during the complete execution of the work. Also, the contractor had a bad experience with the Fiber Cement Board in his other project. He was not confident about the outcome. Since, in this project we were supplying the complete system to the contractor, vendor management for all the accessories was the utmost priority for the timely completion of the project.

• Solutions Implemented: 

The design and solution were successfully implemented and executed, and the site was successfully handed over to the contractor.

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5. Outcomes and Benefits

• Final Appearance: Since the projects fall under the Royal Commission of Riyadh, all the guidelines regarding external finish and looks had to be followed. Since the external finish of all the structures in the area had to be similar, the same guidelines were followed and the external look and finish were almost similar to other structures in the vicinity.

• Performance Highlights:

Weather Resistance

Fast Construction

Cost-effective solution

• Client/Stakeholder Feedback: 

The contractor (Riyadh Villa Contracting Company) was first very skeptical regarding the solution we offered because of their previous experience with cement boards in a similar application. Looking at the technical and commercial support we had given, including the timely delivery of the materials at the site, RVCC showed confidence in us and implemented the solution as per our guidelines and supervision. They were able to hand over the site to their client on time and as per the client's requirements.

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6. Key Learnings and Takeaways

• Lessons Learned: Vendor management, Project planning, Working under a tight schedule

• Innovations/Unique Features Introduced: Double tape for joint treatment for extra strength to the joints, waterproofing chemical applied on the surface to reduce the porosity.