New green materials testing lab for Dubai

Dubai Municipality has established a new laboratory for testing green materials. The new initiative will be used for assessing the characteristics of these materials as per the international approved standard specifications, said Eng. Hawa Abdullah Bastaki, Director of Dubai Central Laboratory Department.

She said the initiative is also in line with the Dubai Government's directives on facing the current environmental challenges aimed at transforming Dubai to a hygienic and sustainable city adhering to all environment friendly standards, which will make it capable of providing safe and secure life for its citizens.

"It is also in the light of the decree issued by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum,the Vice-President and Prime Minister UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for applying Green Buildings standards on all buildings and structures from January 2008 onwards and also in the light of the importance of the green materials used in these buildings," said Bastaki.

She said tests will be conducted on green materials such as thermal insulation products, materials resulting from industrial wastes like Fly Ash and materials resulting from recycling concrete of old demolished buildings. "These materials ensure reducing energy consumption, protect environment as per international standards in reducing pollution, preserve natural materials, reduce operational costs, strengthen the performance of the buildings and create a good working environment as well as hygienic accommodation," said Bastaki.

Eng. Ali Elian, Head of Engineering Materials Laboratory Section said the section has qualified and advanced technical capabilities to conduct a number of lab tests as well as on the field tests.

"The Green Materials Lab in the Municipality will be the first of its kind lab in the city of Dubai, which can conduct physical and mechanical tests on thermal insulation materials. It can also conduct fire tests as per international specifications using the most advanced and precise equipments," he said.