Dubai gets Middle East’s first fire testing laboratory.

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12 Jul 2009

The region’s first furnace for testing and certifying fire rated doors and partitions used in the construction of all commercial, public, office and multi-family buildings, has been delivered to a Dubai laboratory.

“It is remarkable that in spite of all the construction which has taken place in the 16 years we have been in the United Arab Emirates there has never been a local facility for testing fire-rated doors and partitions to international standards,” said Tom Bell-Wright founder and CEO of Thomas Bell-Wright International Consultants.

“We all know that there have been many major fires over the last few years and hopefully the presence of this testing furnace will now make it easier for builders to comply with the regulations and help make our buildings safer to live and work in,” he added.

The company has been providing testing for curtain walls - glass and aluminium systems which form the outside walls of high rise buildings - and similar constructions at their laboratory in Ras Al Khor for the last ten years. About two years ago, the company realised that local fire testing was badly needed. Dubai Civil Defence had started to implement plans for their own fire testing and the company saw an opportunity to provide an alternative private facility.

“An investment such as this in these difficult times may surprise but it reflects our confidence in the UAE economy and its rulers’ wisdom and vision,” said Tom Bell-Wright.

The company bought the furnace from the principal international supplier so that test results are comparable with the most up-to-date anywhere in the world. The fire testing manager is Jean-Philippe Kayl who has been working for the company on the project for over a year and previously ran fire testing for a large laboratory in Europe.

The company has commissioned the furnace under the direction of the manufacturer and the designer of the control system and accreditation under ISO 17025 from both the UK Accreditation Service and the Emirates National Accreditation Service is pending. Testing on a commercial basis should begin this month (July) and interested parties are being invited to visit the laboratory.