Certifies Their Power Ventilators to UL 705 Standard for Smoke Control

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26 Aug 2021

UL has recognized Saudi Fan Industries as the first manufacturer in the Middle East and Africa to achieve Certification to UL 705 Standard for power ventilators with additional compliance for smoke control systems.

UL, the global safety science leader, has announced Saudi Fan Industries is the first manufacturer in the Middle East and Africa to achieve Certification in the Category for Power Ventilators for Smoke Control Systems (ZAXH), which includes UL 793, the internationally recognized Standard for Automatically Operated Roof Vents for Smoke and Heat. The tested products also met UL 705 Standard for Safety for Power Ventilators with additional ratings at 300C for F300 mild steel models and 400C for F400 stainless steel models. UL has tested and certified Saudi Fan Industries’ centrifugal single width single inlet smoke fan (HRE) and centrifugal roof mounted up blast smoke extract fan (DV/DVW) for compliance with the applicable requirements of American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Source Classification Codes (SCC), United Arab Emirates Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice and the Saudi Building Codes.

Products evaluated according to UL 705 and time/temperature ratings meet stringent construction and performance criteria set by authorities and customers. In the case of a fire, they offer life-saving benefits, including increasing evacuation time and decreasing the risk of smoke inhalation for a building’s occupants. Additionally, they improve visibility for firefighters by removing smoke and reducing the risk of secondary ignitions and the fire spreading. Products that comply with UL 705 Standard and time/temperature ratings also help to protect a building, its occupants and contents from poisonous fumes and heat damage.

UL investigated Saudi Fan Industries HRE and DV/DVW smoke fans with respect to their operation during exposure to elevated temperatures. Following the completion of these tests, which demonstrated the products meet the requirements of UL 705 and time/temperature rating, these products can bear the UL Mark — providing assurance to customers and end-users that they have been tested to globally recognized safety and performance standards.

“UL helps companies demonstrate compliance to local fire and life safety codes and, thus, further its mission of a safer, more sustainable and secure world,” said Hamid Syed, vice president and general manager for UL in the Middle East and Africa. “As the leading safety authority, we congratulate Saudi Fan Industries on being the first manufacturer in the Middle East and Africa to receive certification for its power ventilators for smoke control systems in category ZAXH. This accomplishment will help Saudi Fan Industries to offer its customers smoke control systems and give them confidence the products have been tested and certified to globally accepted industry standards.”

Saudi Fan Industries, a manufacturing division of Refrigeration House Group, manufactures and supplies air movement and control equipment to customers in Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf region. The organization offers a wide range of fans and ventilator products for residential, commercial, institutional and industrial buildings across several applications, including ventilation and manufacturing processes. Since its establishment in 1999, Saudi Fan Industries has achieved approved vendor status with Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Saudi Electricity Company, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation and Royal Commission.

Majed A. Alkhalaf, group executive director of Saudi Fan Industries’ parent company, Refrigeration House Group, said, “Achieving UL Certification for our products has come at a critical time for our business. Saudi Arabia requires the highest standards of quality for products entering the market, and the UL Mark gives our customers confidence that our power ventilators have passed rigorous testing requirements. Demonstrating our compliance with UL Standards will allow us to win contracts across a diverse range of sectors, from government departments and ministries to privately-owned companies.”

Alkhalaf continued, “This achievement is also a vital step in our expansion plans for Saudi Fan Industries. We already manufacture products for distribution into the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt and Sudan. We hope to widen our operations, targeting distribution into Asia, Africa and Europe in the near future. Having UL certified products will help us to enter these markets, as UL Standards are recognized and accepted globally. Achieving these certifications is challenging, but we are very happy with the results. Throughout the testing and certification process, the UL team has been professional and shared their expertise freely, making the whole process a very positive experience.”