Speedspace's payoff line – "EXTEND YOUR OPTIONS FAST" – was certainly put to the test when Kumba Iron Ore awarded Speedspace Factory Built Accommodation the R37 million contract to construct a 600-man site camp for Kolomela mine, Postdene Village, in Postmasburg.

The contract, which was awarded in April 2010, with the final completion date of 23 October 2010, requiring a full turnkey solution of prefabricated modular and mobile site accommodation solutions, was awarded based on the successful completion of previously awarded contracts on Kolomela mine, which consisted of the following:

- 2008/09: Supply and installation of 1 700 m2 of mobile modular prefabricated construction offices, which included an induction centre and a medical facility. The prefab site offices were built to Kumba Iron Ore's specifications, complete with office furniture, air conditioning and equipment for portable kitchens.

- 2009/10: The expansion of the existing construction labour camp, to allow for a further 196 people on site. The sixteen off 54 m2 mobile Parkhome sleeper units consisted of six rooms per unit, fully furnished and fitted with air conditioners and fire detection systems. The site ablutions consisted of portable toilet units and shower units, fully equipped, and complete with electrical geysers installed. The electrical and plumbing reticulation was also completed by Speedspace.

The Postdene Village contract presented new challenges to Speedspace – one being the establishment of our own mobile site offices, Parkhome sleeper units and mobile site ablutions, including portable toilets, complete with all the required office furniture and equipment, as well as the relevant electrical and plumbing reticulations. The Speedspace team on site included a project manager, construction manager, supervisors, office admin staff, and ten permanent labourers.

As part of the turnkey solution offered to Kumba, we employed civil, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and other specialised contractors, such as erectors, in order to meet and manage the key completion and handover dates.

We soon realised that the safety standards and regulations required were not like any we had encountered before. The priority that Kumba places on the health and wellbeing of its employees and contractors is reflected in its Zero Harm vision. Kumba is focused on two fundamental drivers: firstly, to improve its status in terms of its safety maturity, and secondly, to stop fatal incidents.

Besides the very uncompromising health and safety challenges faced on site, Kumba's high standards of quality ensured that no one on site could relax or lose focus, and with this heightened sense of urgency, and a positive attitude, the project management team set about the task in hand.

A total of 4 900 m2 of prefabricated buildings were supplied and installed on the Postdene site, comprising the following:

• Fifty off 18 m x 3 m, 54 m2 mobile Parkhome sleeper units.
• Six off 12 m x 3 m, 36 m2 portable ablution toilet units, consisting of ten toilets each.Six off 12 m x 3 m, 36 m2 portable ablution shower units consisting of ten showers, each complete with electrical geysers.
• 1300m2 prefabricated, modular, portable kitchen and dining facilities, complete with coldrooms.
• Reefer containers.
• Storage containers.
• Fully furnished and air-conditioned mobile site offices for camp management.
• Mobile security office.
• Mobile laundry container.
• Temporary tent used for dining.

The project was divided into six phases, each with key milestone dates and a final completion handover date set at 23 October 2010. The project team had to ensure that all sub-contractors and suppliers were managed in terms of their respective disciplines, and the various tasks coordinated within a very short time frame – and still within the prescribed HSE and quality requirements set by Kumba.

Speedspace rose to the occasion, and ensured that each key date was met and that the project was completed on time and within budget.

Kumba presented Speedspace with a certificate of recognition for its commitment and professional approach upon the successful completion of the contract – which basically summarises the end result.

An article about Speedspace's Kolomela contract was also published in Mining Weekly, 3-9 December 2010.