Seminar puts spotlight on UAE’s new fire safety codes

Leading players in the building sector - Alupex, Knauf Insulation and Siderise - will join forces to help contractors and engineers navigate the UAE’s new fire and life safety codes. Alupex is a major brand from Interplast Company, a unit of Group Harwal. It has experience in manufacturing aluminium composite panels for more than 11 years at its factory in Sharjah, UAE. Knauf Insulation is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of insulation products and solutions with more than 40 years of experience in the industry, while Siderise is a leading UK-based manufacturer of firestop and acoustic barrier systems for the curtain walling industry. As the UAE's new fire code comes into force, it is important for contractors, consultants, and engineers to be aware of the latest guidelines related to cladding. These include new requirements for testing and for installation, stated the three big industry players who will be hosting a seminar on Tuesday (May 9) at Marriot Al Jadaf to highlight what the new code means for industry players. At the seminar, the trio will also provide examples of new systems which can be used to comply with the new rules. Pravin Kulkarni, the general manager of Interplast Company, manufacturers of well-known brands such as Alupex, Decoduct, Edison, Duramax and others, will talk about Alupex A2 tested NFPA 285 Wall Assembly and highlight the advantages of using it in the construction of high-rise buildings. David Adams, the managing director of Knauf Exeed Insulation in the Middle East and South Asia, will also address the gathering. Adams said: "As the UAE's new fire code will undoubtedly be enforced, it is important for all parties involved to be aware about the changes." "Industry professionals should aim to ensure that ACP panels on high rise buildings are A2 non-combustible, thermal Insulation on the façade applications should be non-combustible, on every slab level a firestop material needs to be used and all of the components of the façade system needs to be tested as a system," he stated. Chris Hall, the commercial development officer at Siderise, manufacturer of Lamatherm perimeter firestop and cavity barrier, will review the key points from the revised civil defense code in relation to the new requirements and how companies can comply with it. The other key speakers include Abhishek Chhabra, the business development manager at Thomas Bell-Wright International Consultants, a Dubai-based, multi-accredited, privately held engineering firm that has helped the region’s construction industry achieve quality and safety compliances in the region since 1995. Chhabra will provide key insights on the types of fire testing that ensures building and systems meet the designated fire and flammability requirements