If we could weigh Croatia's centuries-old dream of territorial integrity, it would amount to over 100,000 tons.
More precisely, the Pelješac bridge consists of about 33,600 tons of steel in the construction span, 1,100 tons of diagonal braces, 68,000 tons of concrete built into the bridge, and 130-meter-long piles from the foundation.
"It is an indescribable feeling of pride and happiness. Pride because, on the one hand, Croatia is finally whole after more than three centuries. This achievement is comparable only to the most significant events in the contemporary history of Croatia, such as winning national independence. On the other hand, I am also proud that the company I work for, @INSTITUT IGH, d.d., was instrumental in this project. The task of technical supervision over construction was entrusted to us, together with our partners, @Investinženjering and @Centar za organizaciju građenja d.o.o. , said Mr. @Igor Džajić, a member of the Management Board of @InstitutIGH.
The bridge is dubbed as "one of the civil engineering ventures that will mark our generation", and following yesterday's ceremony is officially opened to traffic. The first cars that had the honour to cross the bridge were Nevera from RimacAutomobili and Niko Pulić, European race car champion, and the spectacle did not finish here. Majestic fireworks illuminated the sky at the height of the celebration.
It is an exceptional bridge in every way. With its length of L=2404 m, the Pelješac bridge is one of the world's most demanding bridges, both from the project's complexity and from the point of complex execution.
"The concept is structurally inventive. It is an integral hybrid construction with hybrid span construction. The cable-stayed span structure and the pylons are elastically fastened to the columns, so the bridge in the central part (75%) of its total length is a frame structure without bearings., said Mr Džajić about one of the most significant and attractive bridges built in Europe recently. Adding, "The bridge is located in an area of high seismic activity and strong winds which peak speed can exceed 180 km/h. Class IV and bridge type C are classified with the highest importance, with an expected service life of above 100 years. "
We would like to thank our team of 25 people (supervisory engineers, supervisory associates, and quality control experts) for their exceptional effort led by the main supervising engineer @Đuro Mihalić, B.Sc.Civ. Eng. Each of them dedicated their professional knowledge, expertise, and leadership to making this moment happen despite challenging circumstances caused by the Covid pandemic. For all of them, we are sure this project will also be a "civil engineering venture" that will mark their careers.
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We are happy to announce that we have successfully delivered the second round of bottle caps as part of the "Plastic caps for expensive medication" project of the Association of Patients with Leukemia and Lymphoma (UOLL). In just over a year, employees of INSTITUT IGH, JSC, collected almost one ton of plastic bottle caps, which we are very proud of.
The Association of Patients with Leukemia and Lymphoma (UOLL), which has been operating since 2013, co-finances the purchase of expensive medication, medical devices and treatment assistance for all their members by collecting plastic bottle caps. The campaign has a positive effect on protecting the environment and the health of the citizens of the Republic of Croatia. So far, they have collected over 400 tons of bottle caps in these nine years and helped numerous patients. The money from bottle caps is used to purchase medication for the most deprived people and develop new products.
You can find out how to participate in this commendable charity campaign on the Facebook page of The Association of Patients with Leukemia and Lymphoma (UOLL).
Separate and donate!
IGH Laboratory for Building Physics has received the prestigious Keymark certificate, making it the only Keymark registered laboratory in the broader area. With this certificate, Institut IGH d.d. can expand the scope of cooperation with global building thermal insulation materials companies, for which this certificate is one of the confirmations that our laboratory meets strict product quality testing procedures.
Obtaining this certificate is demanding and time-consuming, with strict set conditions and criteria. The first step was to pass a challenging interlaboratory comparison in thermal conductivity testing. The Laboratory for Building Physics achieved an excellent result and met the strict condition of ± 1.5% of the maximum permissible deviation from the mean value of the test results reported by leading European laboratories. Moreover, our laboratory achieved + 0.6% for expanded polystyrene and + 1.1% for mineral wool.
After achieving a positive result of the interlaboratory comparison, the next step was to pass a thorough evaluation by an expert evaluator from the Paris LNE, who was hired by the Keymark Expert Group to personally verify and check the level of equipment quality and competence of our experts. The process of proving the competence of equipment and staff was long and thorough, after which the Keymark Expert Group's international auditor positively assessed our equipment's quality and, most importantly, the competence of our experts.
With this achievement, the Laboratory for Building Physics got its place in the register of Keymark-certified laboratories, thus potentially expanding the scope of our services to a broader range of clients to whom we can provide the services of testing building thermal insulation products.
He dedicated his entire professional life to work, development and lasting contribution to the profession's advancement. In addition, he mentored generations of young engineers and developed technical creativity in the Republic of Croatia and the world. His name became a synonym for expertise and contribution to hydraulic engineering. It is no surprise that this year's most prestigious engineering award went to our colleague Stjepan Kordek.
The Croatian Chamber of Civil Engineers (HKIG) recognized all of the above and awarded our colleague Mr Kordek the KOLOS Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the 16th Croatian Chamber of Civil Engineers Day, held in Opatija from 9 to June 11th.
Stjepan Kordek graduated from the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Zagreb in 1979. In the same year, he was employed at the INSTITUT IGH JSC, where he still works. During his years of service, he participated in numerous projects as a designer, chief designer, supervising engineer, project manager, consultant, mentor, and author of publications in the sanitary water supply and drainage field. In addition to his professional work at the INSTITUT IGH JSC, he constantly transferred his experience and knowledge to the younger generations as an assistant at the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Zagreb and lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences in Zagreb.
Throughout his working life, he left an indelible mark on the construction and improvement of the water supply and drainage system in the Republic of Croatia, with particular emphasis on the Krapina-Zagorje County and the drainage of Croatian motorways. The results of his work are known and recognized in the country and abroad. We would additionally emphasize his contribution to the projects of the Tivat sewerage system, drainage of the Soci-Alpika highway, drainage of the Kotor bypass, drainage of the Morina-Merdare bypass, Učka tunnel hydrant network, Pelješac mainland drainage network with access roads to D8 and D414, rainwater drainage of the Remetinec rotor, Zabok reservoir, Prishtina-Hani and Elezit hydro-technical project, and consulting services for Nikola Tesla Airport, Belgrade.
Unfortunately, Stjepan could not take the award in person, so our BIM coordinator Tea Martinac, who specializes in hydraulic engineering and absorbed knowledge under his mentorship, took over for Mr Kordek.
Congratulations to our colleague Kordek on winning the award and having his work recognized by engineering experts.
Works on the project "Plant for sorting separately collected waste (sorting plant) at the location Mihačeva Draga" worth more than 36 million HRK have been successfully completed. This is the first such plant for sorting separately collected waste in Croatia, which will enable greater efficiency and increase the value of useful raw materials.
INSTITUT IGH, d.d. participated in implementing the project by providing Project Management services during the construction in close cooperation with the client City of Rijeka. All works were performed following the required parameters (deadline, price and scope). With the realization of this vital project, IGH has once again proven its expertise in leading and managing projects funded by EU funds providing services such as:
The project aims to increase the recycling rate of municipal waste, reduce the amount of waste disposed of in landfills, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the environment.
The sorting plant was built on a total area of 5,636 m2. It consists of a hall where the recycling plant is located and a canopy where bales are sorted, recycled material stored and the collection vehicles weighed. Solar panels have been installed on the roof of the sorting hall. They produce electricity for the needs of the sorting plant and thus contribute to environmental preservation.
The project for the construction of a sorting plant in Mihačeva Draga was implemented within the Operational Program Competitiveness and Cohesion 2014-2020. It is co-financed by the European Structural and Investment Funds – European Regional Development Fund in 85% of the total value of all eligible costs of project implementation.
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Our experts recently conducted geotechnical exploration work at the place where the new Split student dormitory with 600 beds will emerge. The works included drilling six holes 10-12 meters deep at various locations within the future construction site.
Samples collected by exploratory drilling were forwarded for laboratory analysis to determine the physicomechanical properties of the soil. Although this is only the beginning of the project, once completed, the city of Split will be richer for a modern and safe student dormitory, thanks in part to this research.
Conducting geotechnical field investigations works and preparing geotechnical studies are some of the key services provided by Institut IGH, d.d. The execution of field and laboratory tests are necessary to prepare separate geotechnical projects (conceptual, main, and detailed design) as an integral part of the overall design documentation for a particular building.
Samples of the surveyed works are sent for additional testing to the Laboratory for Materials and Structures of the INSTITUT IGH, d.d. which has been operating since 1949 and is one of the largest and sate of the art laboratories in the region, providing a full range of construction testing services.
See more about the soil samples and the positions where the drilling took place within the Split campus in the video below.
That is a motto which guides us when we provide any specific consultancy assistance to our clients. Our renewables team can undoubtedly relate to that since they have provided many services with that aim. Those include Product Compliance Research, Countries compliance Assessment – New Markets Technical Due Diligence services, on the ground support to the projects for our long-time client General Electric Wind Energy.
So far, they have supported the client in the countries like:
✔ Finland
✔ Lithuania
✔ Kosovo
✔ Afghanistan
✔ The United Arab Emirates
The latest country that our experts visited, and we could add to the list, is South Africa, where our team had series of meetings in order to perform a compliance Assessment – New Markets Technical Due Diligence service.
With information prepared by us, our clients can be sure to make calculated decisions related to their business efforts and avoid potential risks. Wherever in the world, they might be.
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The answer to this question can be manifold. But, we're going to focus on what a bridge actually represents. It is a link between two sides, but it connects the people more than that. We're talking about the bridge over the Dobra River in Ogulin, which was built a bit over 25 years ago. For the citizens of Ogulin, the construction of the bridge solved their long-standing issues of the Dobra River flooding Ogulin and separating the town centre and the western part of the town. In its current state, the city of Ogulin is exposed to frequent flood events due to the high waters of the river Gornja Dobra. In the last 15 years, a total of ten flood events have been recorded with various degrees of material damage, generating average annual damage of 102 million HRK in households and industry.
An informal celebration of the 25th anniversary of the bridge's construction was an opportunity to unite the people responsible for its construction at the time. The designer, dr. sc. Petar Sesar, on behalf of Institut IGH, Mr Igor Džajić, who was the Head of the construction site at the time, working for Viadukt, now a member of IGH Management Board on one side. And the clients, Mr Ivan Kolić, the Mayor of the City of Ogulin at the time, Ms Vesna Salopek Košutić, project manager for the city and her husband Mr Marinko Košutić who was an informal "witness of the time "and photographed the progress of the project.
Although they have new jobs and responsibilities today, the Bridge over Dobra is one of those special projects for all the parties involved. The reunion at the bridge was spent reminiscing and telling anecdotes, so even though it had been over 25 years, everyone agreed it seemed like it had been yesterday.
The design of the bridge was developed by Institut IGH based on an earlier solution, developed by perhaps the most well-known bridge designer in Croatia, the late professor Tonković, Viadukt was the contractor, and the client was the town of Ogulin. So, although this was neither the largest nor the most complex bridge IGH has designed or Viadukt had built, its construction speciality makes it an exciting project even today.
As mentioned, until 1996, an old, steel truss bridge stood in its place. It was constructed during the Austro-Hungarian Empire and so worn-out that all traffic other than pedestrians was forbidden over it already in 1990. The bridge was 42 meters long, 5 meters wide and over 30 meters above the Dobra River. Constructing the bridge in the exact location while at the same time removing the existing one was a challenge for the designers and construction workers. A solution was found in prefabricated longitudinal girders, made of two parts and then connected using a wet joint. After prestressing, they were placed over the old bridge, using a specifically made carriage whose wheels drove over the longitudinal steel girders placed right next to the gusset plates of the transverse girders of the old bridge. After this dragging procedure over the old bridge and a few additional and complex engineering works, the old bridge could be removed entirely, in one part from the place where it had stood for precisely 111 years. Transport and removing the old bridge in a special vehicle was a sentimental experience for many Ogulin residents.
Construction of the new bridge continued, and in November of 1996, the new bridge was officially opened for traffic. With 6 meter-wide carriageways and 1,1m wide arches on each side, the total bridge width of 12,5 meters. It is 43,2 meters long. The structural system of the load-bearing assembly is an arched beam: a prefabricated, prestressed concrete girder with a reinforced concrete arch. The two arch beams are placed along the very edge of the bridge and are interconnected with transverse girders. The arches are interconnected with cross-beams 0,4 meters long. The bridge furniture was designed under modern bridge durability and traffic comfort requirements.
During the recent reunion, we could see that, even after 25 years, the bridge still fulfils its central role, which is to connect and last. Of course, as with any infrastructure, there will be a time when the bridge will require certain repairs. But, let's leave that part for another time.
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The need to help each other is deeply ingrained in human nature. In the current (Russian-Ukrainian) conflict, which seems to involve the whole world, Institut IGH and its employees are launching a new humanitarian action.
Action for the youngest has always been our driver. In cooperation with the Croatian Red Cross, we coordinate the needs for the most vulnerable.
In addition to financial support, we will also collect material assistance for everything needed. All of our branches will be involved in this humanitarian action.
First, the Consortium consisting of Institut IGH d.d. and EPTISA ADRIA d.o.o. , signed a contract with Vodovod i kanalizacija d.o.o. Split, for supervision of construction works of the Split-Solin agglomeration, namely for contracts 1 - 6 (Wastewater Treatment Plant, Network and Remote Monitoring and Control System).
The total value of the contract is HRK 33,686,524.00 (VAT exclusive), while the share of Institut IGH, d.d. is HRK 13,533,583.00.
The services will include:
Upgrading, reconstruction and optimization of water supply system by:
✔ Reconstruction of 4,282 m of pipelines
✔ Construction of 60,652 m of pipelines
✔ Construction of 14 pumping/hydrophore stations
✔ Construction of 14 reservoirs with a total volume of 20,350 m3
Upgrading and reconstruction of wastewater drainage systems by:
✔ Construction of new gravity pipelines 89,504 m
✔ Reconstruction and rehabilitation of 15,468 m of pipeline
✔ Construction of pressure pipelines 14,758 m
✔ Construction of submarine outfalls 4,283 m
✔ Construction of 7 retention pools
✔ Construction and reconstruction of 5 rain overflows
✔ Construction or reconstruction of 33 pumping stations
✔ Replacement of equipment of 2 pumping stations
Upgrade of wastewater treatment plant Stupe
Improvement of the SCADA system (Remote Monitoring and Control System)
The second contract was signed with the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Medicine, and relates to the services of preparing the necessary technical documentation for the project of complete renovation-Šalata 11 building. This includes:
the preparation of project documentation (conceptual, main, and detailed design with costs estimate),
service of preparing part of the procurement documentation for the execution of works in accordance with the Grant Agreement for operations financed from the European Union Solidarity Fund, all for the purpose of rebuilding infrastructure and equipment in the field of education damaged by the earthquake.
The total value of this contract is HRK 1,285,500.00 (VAT exclusive)
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