Corporate Housing
Corporate housing has changed radically in recent years and Mindust.com has made the necessary changes to meet this new environment. Occasionally we still get requests for standard three bedroom houses with outbuildings, with floor areas to match the level of seniority. In fact we still have copies of those standards in our office for those clients who may care to perpetuate the system or perhaps add houses to an existing housing scheme without upsetting the existing residents. We have a wide range of Corporate houses ranging from 60 m ² to 600 m ². Examples available on request.
Cluster Housing
A cheaper alternative to traditional corporate housing is cluster housing. This housing is basically reasonable sized houses on minimum sized stands (Plots). This reduces the cost of the land and the cost of roads, sewers, storm water, water and power supplies. Savings made on the development may be spent on security walling and gatehouse. Possibly a communal pool, tennis courts and clubhouse. Sketch schemes and estimates available on requested
Hostels & Recreation
Historically existing Mines in Africa have had Hostel Accommodation for their blue collar workers, together with catering and recreation facilities. These facilities are being phased out with Mines preferring to pay a "Clean - Wage" and to enable workers to purchase or rent in the national housing market. In some extremely remote areas where no housing facilities exist the former Hostels have been converted into family units, sold to a housing corporation or trust and then been made available to employees. Further details on request.
Offices
Traditionally a Mine office has been a cellular office design with perhaps a Drawing offices, Survey office and meeting rooms etc. Today we are achieving 30 - 40 % savings on total floor space by using open plan offices in conjunction with modular workstations 80% of all administration work is carried out with computer these days and substantial savings on building costs may be achieved via these methodologies. Where privacy is of the essence a few cellular offices will be required but again with careful planning and integration of Architecture and furniture design huge reductions may be achieved over the traditional offices.
Stores
Most stores buildings use forklift trucks to access and relocate components. However with careful planning of aisle sizes, integrated with available racking and correct choice of forklift the volume of the Mine store building may be reduced by 25 - 30 % at design stage offering substantial capital cost savings. Stock control systems are usually carried out via a computer system many large stores in other industries are serviced robotically. We have found that the economies of scale are not yet available within mining.
Laboratories
The secret of a successful Laboratory building is in the briefing of the Architects at the beginning of the project. Equipment type, sizes, power and lighting requirements, extraction fire protection, durability's of finishes dust proofing, heating and cooling, water, gasses, compressed air, floor trenches, specialized traps, shelving, worktops, air locks, security computer flooring, sample preparation and storage, special foundations for equipment the list is endless and each and every process and piece of equipment must be properly planned for. Another area is clear definition of budgets and responsibilities of supply and install.
Changehouses
Change houses have evolved quite considerably in the past 10- 15 years. 15 years ago they were invariably based on a swimming pool type basket system. Sometimes the baskets would be suspended on cables and raised and lowered by the employee. Other basket change houses had an attended basket room where the baskets would be deposited over a counter and stored on racks until the employee returned from shift.
Basket systems, while still in use in some areas, have largely given way to locker systems which employees see as the most secure system.
Lockers are available in standard sizes, the most popular being 300 x 450 x1800mm high; these
can be partitioned into 2 or 3 compartments.
All materials used must be durable. Heavy duty tiling to floors and skirtings are essential. Wall tiles must be protected by stainless steel angles. Urinal bowls are available in stainless steel but a heavy duty ceramic bowls will suffice. Flushmaster valves are used on urinals as cisterns have high maintenance requirements and are subject to vandalism.
Preferred partitions are vitreous enamelled steel which are extremely robust and hard wearing. The thickness of the partitions can save expensive floor area. They are particularly suitable for showers as the panels are completely sealed against water penetration.
Tiled surfaces are used extensively to avoid painted surfaces, which often fail in this environment. Tiling to ceiling level will avoid maintenance of a painted frieze if the budget will allow. Floor channels should be provided for wash down purposes. Mirrors should be mounted away from the wall to allow ventilation.
Super Economy Standards
This changehouse was built on a shoestring budget. The building is a steel shed with face brick walls up to 2.2m high. See salient features highlighted next to each picture.
Externally
Smelt Houses
Obviously the main accent is on security and careful management of access control must be
considered both for pedestrians and vehicles.
The wire mesh cage is accessed via intercom to internal Security Guard. Guard checks ID
via security viewing panel. Documents are checked when access to cage is given.
Vehicular access is via an automated door. At high level the door may be slatted to aid
ventilation internally.
Closed circuit television cameras are strategically placed to monitor vehicles.
... and of course the gold
