A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

Translation from NUCLEOPAREDEDECONCRETO.COM.BR

·      April 30, 2021

·      TESTIMONIALS, HOME SPOTLIGHT, NEWS & ARTICLES

Marcos Domingues, partner and director of Coelho Engenharia, talks about the requirements to obtain maximum performance of the concrete wall system, both in the construction of houses and tall buildings

Detailed developments, detailed planning of the steps, quality forms, qualified professionals, qualified service providers and suppliers committed to ensuring the delivery of the materials are some mandatory "ingredients" in projects with concrete walls. And for those who still want to start building with this construction system, it is also worth looking for professionals and consultants with proven experience in technology or partnering with companies that already dominate it.

Basically, the paragraph above describes the "recipe" for the success of a concrete wall project, explained here by engineer Marcos Domingues, partner and director of Coelho Engenharia, one of the first-time professionals of the construction system, a participant since 2007 of the Concrete wall Group, led by ABCP (Brazilian Association of Portland Cement), and technical responsible for more than 1 million m2 built in Brazil, operating in 12 states in more than 60 cities.

In this exclusive interview for the Concrete wall Center, the director talks about Coelho Engenharia's performance, his choice for the system of concrete walls molded on site and his experience in the market. "I followed the execution of more than 50,000 units, 40,000 in concrete walls, both horizontal and vertical works," said the engineer, former director of Rodobens Negócios Imobiliários.

The concrete wall system began to be adopted at Coelho Engenharia in 2015, with the construction of 402 housing units in Jales (SP). Currently, the company runs the New York Residence development in New Odessa (SP), consisting of buildings of typology T + 11, with 8 units per floor (see video).

Coelho Engenharia has solid experience in the real estate market. Talk a little about the company, the beginning of its activities.

Marcos Domingues – Our history began in the city of S?o José do Rio Preto (SP). It was founded by engineer Rafael Luís Coelho, having partners Vinicius Liossi Coelho and Marcos Domingues Ferreira. It is based on solidity, credibility and trust, characteristics that we have developed over more than 40 years of experience of our competent technical team in the construction market. Based on these values, and acting both in corporation and construction, with emphasis on the segment of popular housing, we make possible the realization of the dream and transformation of the lives of hundreds of families.

It is for this purpose that we work to be a reference in the market, investing in technology, innovation, enabling the realization of intelligent and quality projects that exceed the expectations of each resident and those involved. And we value respect for the environment, so that we leave a legacy that effectively contributes to the social development of the communities where we operate.

Our company carries out the entire cycle of activities that precedes the delivery of the final product. We actively participate in everything from the acquisition of the land to the incorporation of the enterprise. Using the most modern engineering and management techniques, we gradually develop complete solutions to the construction, serving with efficiency and agility the interests of our customers and partners, always offering the best cost-benefit ratio.

Performing quality works, with commitment and seriousness, Coelho has become a great reference in the construction market, which is due in large part to the satisfaction of its customers. To continue with the growing, we are always improving our internal control and execution processes to improve the quality of each of the projects developed. We work with a broad bias of performance in horizontal real estate constructions, vertical and allotments.

What is your presence in the territory? In which cities do you operate?

Marcos Domingues - We have a capacity of national scope. Currently, we are with works in Rondonópolis (MT), Porto Alegre (RS), Canoas (RS), Nova Odessa (SP), Taubaté (SP) and Mauá (SP). Soon, we will launch projects in the cities of S?o Paulo (SP), Americana (SP), Mogi das Cruzes (SP), Jundiaí (SP), S?o Leopoldo (RS) and S?o José do Rio Preto (SP).

And what is the profile of the ventures?

Marcos Domingues – We operate in the middle economic segment or workforce housing, with apartments and houses ranging from 38 m2 to 100 m2.

When and where did the company adopt the concrete wall construction system? And why did the company decide to adopt it?

Marcos Domingues – We started adopting the system in 2015, when we started the construction of 402 units in the city of Jales (SP). Then we did 356 units in Nova Odessa (SP), 160 units in Fernandópolis (SP), 356 units in Rondonópolis (MT) and now we are running 640 units in the city of Taubaté (SP) and 470 units in Nova Odessa (SP).

As I was director of Rodobens Real Estate Business and worked there for 28 years, I am one of the professionals who helped develop the construction system since 2007, in the first study group of the system in a partnership with ABCP (Brazilian Association of Portland Cement), Abesc (Brazilian Association of Concrete services Companies) and IBTS (Brazilian Institute of Welded Screens), a group that went to Chile and Colombia to study and bring the system of light aluminum forms to Brazil. With my arrival at Coelho Engenharia, which was already studying the system, we brought all the know-how and teams that had already worked in the sector.

We adopted the technology because we understand the great gain, when there is repetition, with respect to the duration and the reduction of re-process stages, with quality and also by the reduction of 80% of debris compared to traditional systems, besides the fact that the forms are recyclable, contributing to the environment. We have no doubt, whenever it is possible we opt for this construction system.

Evaluate the company's experience in building concrete-walled floor houses. What were the challenges in terms of design, planning, manpower, suppliers, logistics, controls and learning curve? What measures have been taken in the company to overcome these challenges?

Marcos Domingues – It was the company's strategy to seek in the labor market professionals who already arrived "playing", with experience. We have done so and today we have a very competent team and trained not only for this system, but for all others, such as structural masonry and concrete structure, because we have professionals who came from large companies and already have enough experience with the various construction systems. Of course we are always concerned with monitoring the evolution and improvement of processes with good practices, always meeting Brazilian standards and working with consultants and professionals trained and consolidated in the market.

Is the New York Residence (New Odessa, SP) the first tall building of the company to be built with concrete wall?

Marcos Domingues – No, we made two +15-story towers in Rondonópolis (MT), totaling 356 workforce segment apartments.

What was the difference or change in the process in relation to the houses made with concrete wall?

Marcos Domingues - Each type of work has its particularity. We learn from time to work on prevention so we don't have technical assistance problems after delivery. However, the care with vertical works is greater, especially with regard to the structure, which requires more careful procedures, and logistics, with supply of material and distribution on the floors. In vertical (buildings) we work with transport equipment (crane and rack), which have their peak schedules. We need to think about how to make the most of them and not cause impacts on the work.

What care should the builder take when building concrete-walled units?

Marcos Domingues – Unfortunately, there are many companies in the market operating without the proper technical support. They start construction in the concrete wall system and end up burning the system for lack of knowledge and mastery of technology. I say this because they do not work with quality forms and not with all the subsystems that we have today in the market, developed over the years: hydraulic, electrical, waterproofing systems, coatings and others, besides not working with professionals in the industry and already trained.

In horizontal work (houses), it is very important the infrastructure to walk in front, to ensure accessibility in the execution of the walls. But the main care is to work with a form of quality and have an active planning not to lose the balance lines and create a gap between the structure that walks very fast with other services and thus lose one of the great advantages of the system, which is reduction of work time.

And what care should the builder take when building tall buildings with concrete walls?

Marcos Domingues – Basically they are the same as in the execution of houses, but because it is a vertical work, the care with the structure and safety are doubled. The other stages of services should have the same rigor, both in horizontal and vertical works.

What are the points of attention for the builder?

Marcos Domingues - 1) Quality projects; 2) Planning; 3) Guarantee of supply; 4) Trained professionals; 5) Own monitoring team (engineer, master, technicians and others); 6) Qualified service providers.

What recommendations and tips would you give to other builders interested in adopting the concrete wall system?

Marcos Domingues – Look for professionals and consultants who have proven experience in the construction system or partner with companies that already dominate the system.

If you could make a panel like "What did we hit x what we missed," what would you put?

Marcos Domingues – To work with the system (concrete wall), it is necessary very detailed design, planning in execution, forms of good quality, trained and qualified labor. The forms require flatness, square, good locking systems and can not have any warping.

• Where we went wrong: in the past, punctually, we try to reuse forms of low durability. The learning was fast: "it's not worth it", it generates a lot of rework.
• Where we got it right: we always have very detailed projects, properly planned procedures and we use trained labor, with experienced managers and system mastery; and today we use suppliers of good-quality forms.

* Marcos Domingues, partner and director of Engineering at Coelho Engenharia, works in the sector since 1986, always in leadership positions in the areas of Projects, Budgets, Planning, Feasibility Studies, New Technologies, Supplies and After-works. He worked for 28 years at Rodobens Negócios Imobiliários, a pioneer company in the concrete wall system in the country and member of the Concrete wall Group, led by ABCP, Abesc and IBTS. He was director of the Society of Engineers of S?o José do Rio Preto from 1997 to 1999.

Two developments (horizontal and vertical) in concrete wall

Works of one of the multi-storey buildings of the New York Residence, in Nova Odessa (SP), and the horizontal condominium Vale dos Bandeirantes, in Taubaté (SP)

Tags: Rabbit Engineering, tall buildings, affordable housing, Marcos Domingues