QCC Launches Mobile Testing Laboratory in Abu Dhabi

• Vehicular Mobile Lab First-of-its-Kind in the UAE
• Pilot Phase to Offer Testing Services for Municipal and Government Projects in Remote Regions

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 29 September, 2015 – The Central Testing Lab (CTL) of the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC), the entity responsible for developing quality infrastructure and raising awareness on quality standards in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, has launched a Mobile Testing Laboratory (MTL) to verify and enhance material testing capabilities and support the construction and infrastructure sectors in Abu Dhabi.

Comprising two units, one configured for concrete, cement and soil aggregates and the other for testing asphalt, steel and metal, the first-of-its-kind vehicular mobile lab in Abu Dhabi aims to support the Abu Dhabi government’s vision to offer specialised testing services on par with international standards. The pilot phase will cater to municipal and government projects especially in Al Ain and Western Region.

To work in dust, sand and off-road environments that are unique to the region, the lab uses a heavy truck equipped with state-of-the-art testing equipment that can be easily deployed to construction sites. Crewed by two technicians, the facility will ensure compliance of materials with health, safety, environment (HSE) and firefighting standards, as well as validate materials’ durability and performance under extreme temperature, humidity, and pressure.

Sultan Al Mehairi, Director of Information Service and Engagement at QCC, said: “MTL articulates QCC’s mandate to support the government, industry and commerce sectors with best-in-class testing, certification and inspection services as required by regulators in Abu Dhabi. The facility will help us meet the changing needs of the emirate’s booming construction and infrastructure sectors, while reducing the cost of transporting materials from construction sites to QCC’s dedicated labs.” 

He added: “Serving Abu Dhabi’s broader industry needs, this world-class facility will support QCC’s mission to improve quality and ensure the applicability and durability of construction materials under the emirate’s severe weather conditions.  As a technical reference in this area, the ability of the mobile lab to validate the testing on construction sites will pay dividends by ensuring the strict compliance of all involved in the construction sector to applicable standards and specifications.”

His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Muhairi, Acting Deputy Secretary General of Central Testing Lab, QCC, said: “The construction industry is of vital importance to Abu Dhabi having contributed 9.6% to the GDP in 2014 as per the Statistical Yearbook of Abu Dhabi 2015, published by Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi (SCAD). A thriving construction industry reflects the high demand for advanced testing services in Abu Dhabi. At QCC, we are delighted to be the first in Abu Dhabi to take this step towards achieving safety and quality in the construction industry. Bringing this technology to Abu Dhabi will ensure innovative testing and inspection of equipment tailored to the nature of construction sites.”

The Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council was established in 2009 to raise the quality of the emirate’s exports and locally traded products while protecting the interests of consumers and supporting the UAE’s competitive economy. QCC’s mission is facilitated by empowering regulators to establish and implement product safety, legal metrology and conformity schemes. QCC also sets guidelines and benchmarks to identify and verify that the products manufactured and traded in Abu Dhabi conform to the highest quality standards.