The UAE has always been at the forefront of ensuring proactive safety regulations in the Middle East. The recent fire incidents have only strengthened the resolve of the nation to prevent any fire incidents and work towards a comprehensive fire and life safety code. We are fortunate to have a proactive team of fire safety experts at the UAE Civil Defence, who are working hard to draft the new UAE code of life and fire safety, expected to be released by the end of this month.
When it comes to exterior cladding, aluminium composite wall systems are a symbol of the bustling landscape of the UAE. An aluminium composite panel consists of two aluminium skin coils sandwiching a central core of plastic plus mineral elements. The content of minerals in the core determines its fire resistance. Alubond USA recently introduced the first A2 fire resistant aluminium composite panels, a first in the UAE; with the highest mineral content in its core, making it the safest product in the market for fire resistance.
The Civil Defence regulations for fire safety, over the years, have incrementally grown to be more comprehensive. It has moved from being just a panel certification process to a three level testing and certification, of the aluminium composite panel, panel core and the entire panel system with accessories and sub-frame. A check at all these three levels ensures there are no let-offs. Alubond USA is the first aluminium composite panel in the UAE market to have tested successfully for the complete panel wall systems, as against just a panel.
While it is important to control the cladding quality in new projects, the challenge of securing old/existing projects from fire mishaps needs to be strategized and mandated. An effective solution practiced in other leading cities is the use of A2 fire resistance aluminium composite panels at regular intervals of the existing building, by replacing the current non-fire rated cladding on the building. Lastly, It is of utmost importance that all the product knowledge; installation practices are percolated right down to the installer for every project. This is currently a challenge, considering the dynamic nature of the construction sector in the UAE. Proactive awareness programmes are the only solution to this growing concern.
Shaji Ul Mulk is the founder and chairman of Mulk Holdings, a global diversified conglomerate and brand owner of Alubond USA
