LazyLion
King of de Jungle
Johannesburg - Street lights on parts of the Gauteng e-toll network are much closer together than originally planned in 2008.
This has led to speculation in the electrical engineering sector about how much extra Sanral paid to light up the highways.
Closer masts mean more material, maintenance and electricity have to be supplied, substantially increasing costs.
In addition, Sanral overlooked two companies that had applied for the tender, opting for a contractor that had tendered several million rand higher than others.
An investigation into the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project lighting contract has revealed that when it was awarded in 2008, the light masts were planned to be 68.8m apart.
But electrical engineers working in the street-lighting sector have indicated the masts on some sections of the highway appear to be between 45m and 55m apart.
The Star has found that on parts of the R21, this spacing is even further reduced.
An independent engineering assessment by a certified mechanical engineer and lighting consultant measured the pole distances at three sections along the R21 highway between Pretoria and Kempton Park.
A measuring wheel was used to measure the street light luminaires (lights), and the average distance between masts was found to be 34m.
The tender process for the lighting shows that three main contractors applied for the contract - Light-Be Lighting (R19.6 million), Gen Lux Lighting (R18m) and Beka (R22.8m).
The contract was awarded to Beka.
A lighting company with knowledge of the tender, but which didn’t want to be named, said the pole spacing for the masts by each company was: Beka at 68m apart, Gen Lux at 67m and Light-be at 55m.
Light-Be has since been liquidated. Its director, Anthony Hawley, confirmed their tender offer was for a pole spacing of 55m.
He said Sanral wasn’t looking at a unit price, but as far as he understood, chose the contractor on the best scheme price - or the pole spacing.
The pole distance was worked out according to the light fitting offered, which had to generate a specific level of light across all lanes of the highway.
According to one of Beka’s newsletters, published in 2008, the project required 6 500 luminaires over a period of five years.
“This represents an order value of over R25m, and is the biggest order for streetlight luminaires ever awarded in southern Africa,” the newsletter reads.
“The luminaires will be installed on 20m masts, which are mounted on the F-shape median barriers in the median of the freeway at a spacing of 68.8m and will cover up to six lanes per travel direction.”
Beka specified the luminaire as the Onyx 33 600W, designed by the Belgian Schréder Group, of which Beka is a member.
In an Engineering News article in February 2010, the Onyx luminaire is discussed, and the article states that the distance between the masts was calculated to reduce the energy consumption for each kilometre of highway.
The article says the reflector system of the Onyx 33 allowed for spacing of about 58m between lights. It also says the estimated life for the high-power light source in the luminaires is between three and four years.
In another article, in 2011, the number jumped from 6 500 luminaires over the five-year period of the contract.
Various lighting experts told The Star that the distance between the masts was an important factor because at 34m apart it would double the cost of the lights, masts, foundations, cables, labour, maintenance and electricity needing to be supplied.
In response to questions posed, Sanral evaded answering why the pole distance varies from the tender offer and what the tender costs were.
They said many of the lights were not working due to theft, vandalism and blackouts and they had a 10-year guarantee on the luminaires, which would be replaced for free if they failed.
Wimpie Ludwick, from Beka, referred all queries to Sanral.
Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance chairman Wayne Duvenage said that if there were irregularities “or if Sanral or its agents have appointed a contractor at a higher price, or allowed more lights installed than were required, this would then be another disappointing example of overpayment by society, due to incompetence, maladministration or possibly even corruption associated with the project”.
The DA’s Neil Campbell said it was worrying that there was a lack of conformity on the distance between light masts.
Also, the public didn’t believe the lights were all out because of theft. “The R21, large sections of the N12 and the N3 are in darkness,” he said.
Questions sent to Sanral and answers provided:
Q: What was the pole spacing that Beka tendered at?
A: The spacing of the light masts varies greatly. It is a function of the road cross-section, the height of the masts and the lighting output of the luminaires. All lighting designs (where they are placed, how high they must be, strength of the light, etc) were done by qualified professional engineers in accordance with SANS 10098:2007 and international codes and standards.
Q: What is the current pole spacing of the lights on the freeway?
A: As a rule, most freeway sections will have different mast spacing. It all depends on what the particular requirements are in terms of the design, specified in accordance with the SANS 10098:2007 requirement.
Q: Why is there a difference between what was tendered and the present spacing?
A: Tendering spacing is only used for comparative purposes, it is not an actual design spacing.
Q: What was the price paid to Beka for the lighting tender?
A: The luminaire tender only related to the supply of luminaires (the light fitting, not the masts).
Q: The Star has reliably learnt that the two other main contractors both tendered at more than 34m apart. Why then was Beka awarded the tender?
A: The tenderers all tendered on the same basis. The tender was awarded to the most favourable tenderer.
Q: Does the current spacing mean that double the poles, lighting fixtures, electricity, cables and maintenance costs are being used than was planned?
A: The maintenance costs are as planned, except in the case where theft and vandalism occur.
Q: Has this increased the pricing of the tender?
A: Yes, any theft and vandalism increase maintenance costs.
Q: Why are many lights not working?
A: This is mostly the result of theft and vandalism to the electrical infrastructure. In some instances, there are power failures where the local authority cannot supply power.
Q: Are the lights leaking from overheating?
A: Any luminaires which fail will be returned to the supplier and replaced free of charge. There is a 10-year guarantee.
[email protected]
The Star
http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/gauteng/e-toll-lights-mystery-1.1557490
Streets lights along the R21 near the Pomona off-ramp are not functioning. Sanral claims this is due to theft, vandalism and blackouts. Photo: Itumeleng English
This has led to speculation in the electrical engineering sector about how much extra Sanral paid to light up the highways.
Closer masts mean more material, maintenance and electricity have to be supplied, substantially increasing costs.
In addition, Sanral overlooked two companies that had applied for the tender, opting for a contractor that had tendered several million rand higher than others.
An investigation into the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project lighting contract has revealed that when it was awarded in 2008, the light masts were planned to be 68.8m apart.
But electrical engineers working in the street-lighting sector have indicated the masts on some sections of the highway appear to be between 45m and 55m apart.
The Star has found that on parts of the R21, this spacing is even further reduced.
An independent engineering assessment by a certified mechanical engineer and lighting consultant measured the pole distances at three sections along the R21 highway between Pretoria and Kempton Park.
A measuring wheel was used to measure the street light luminaires (lights), and the average distance between masts was found to be 34m.
The tender process for the lighting shows that three main contractors applied for the contract - Light-Be Lighting (R19.6 million), Gen Lux Lighting (R18m) and Beka (R22.8m).
The contract was awarded to Beka.
A lighting company with knowledge of the tender, but which didn’t want to be named, said the pole spacing for the masts by each company was: Beka at 68m apart, Gen Lux at 67m and Light-be at 55m.
Light-Be has since been liquidated. Its director, Anthony Hawley, confirmed their tender offer was for a pole spacing of 55m.
He said Sanral wasn’t looking at a unit price, but as far as he understood, chose the contractor on the best scheme price - or the pole spacing.
The pole distance was worked out according to the light fitting offered, which had to generate a specific level of light across all lanes of the highway.
According to one of Beka’s newsletters, published in 2008, the project required 6 500 luminaires over a period of five years.
“This represents an order value of over R25m, and is the biggest order for streetlight luminaires ever awarded in southern Africa,” the newsletter reads.
“The luminaires will be installed on 20m masts, which are mounted on the F-shape median barriers in the median of the freeway at a spacing of 68.8m and will cover up to six lanes per travel direction.”
Beka specified the luminaire as the Onyx 33 600W, designed by the Belgian Schréder Group, of which Beka is a member.
In an Engineering News article in February 2010, the Onyx luminaire is discussed, and the article states that the distance between the masts was calculated to reduce the energy consumption for each kilometre of highway.
The article says the reflector system of the Onyx 33 allowed for spacing of about 58m between lights. It also says the estimated life for the high-power light source in the luminaires is between three and four years.
In another article, in 2011, the number jumped from 6 500 luminaires over the five-year period of the contract.
Various lighting experts told The Star that the distance between the masts was an important factor because at 34m apart it would double the cost of the lights, masts, foundations, cables, labour, maintenance and electricity needing to be supplied.
In response to questions posed, Sanral evaded answering why the pole distance varies from the tender offer and what the tender costs were.
They said many of the lights were not working due to theft, vandalism and blackouts and they had a 10-year guarantee on the luminaires, which would be replaced for free if they failed.
Wimpie Ludwick, from Beka, referred all queries to Sanral.
Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance chairman Wayne Duvenage said that if there were irregularities “or if Sanral or its agents have appointed a contractor at a higher price, or allowed more lights installed than were required, this would then be another disappointing example of overpayment by society, due to incompetence, maladministration or possibly even corruption associated with the project”.
The DA’s Neil Campbell said it was worrying that there was a lack of conformity on the distance between light masts.
Also, the public didn’t believe the lights were all out because of theft. “The R21, large sections of the N12 and the N3 are in darkness,” he said.
Questions sent to Sanral and answers provided:
Q: What was the pole spacing that Beka tendered at?
A: The spacing of the light masts varies greatly. It is a function of the road cross-section, the height of the masts and the lighting output of the luminaires. All lighting designs (where they are placed, how high they must be, strength of the light, etc) were done by qualified professional engineers in accordance with SANS 10098:2007 and international codes and standards.
Q: What is the current pole spacing of the lights on the freeway?
A: As a rule, most freeway sections will have different mast spacing. It all depends on what the particular requirements are in terms of the design, specified in accordance with the SANS 10098:2007 requirement.
Q: Why is there a difference between what was tendered and the present spacing?
A: Tendering spacing is only used for comparative purposes, it is not an actual design spacing.
Q: What was the price paid to Beka for the lighting tender?
A: The luminaire tender only related to the supply of luminaires (the light fitting, not the masts).
Q: The Star has reliably learnt that the two other main contractors both tendered at more than 34m apart. Why then was Beka awarded the tender?
A: The tenderers all tendered on the same basis. The tender was awarded to the most favourable tenderer.
Q: Does the current spacing mean that double the poles, lighting fixtures, electricity, cables and maintenance costs are being used than was planned?
A: The maintenance costs are as planned, except in the case where theft and vandalism occur.
Q: Has this increased the pricing of the tender?
A: Yes, any theft and vandalism increase maintenance costs.
Q: Why are many lights not working?
A: This is mostly the result of theft and vandalism to the electrical infrastructure. In some instances, there are power failures where the local authority cannot supply power.
Q: Are the lights leaking from overheating?
A: Any luminaires which fail will be returned to the supplier and replaced free of charge. There is a 10-year guarantee.
[email protected]
The Star
http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/gauteng/e-toll-lights-mystery-1.1557490
Streets lights along the R21 near the Pomona off-ramp are not functioning. Sanral claims this is due to theft, vandalism and blackouts. Photo: Itumeleng English
