UL discussed building façade and cladding standards at recent Fire and Life Safety in the UAE seminar

•  Experts from UL’s Dubai office examined and discussed new UAE Fire and Life Safety Code and updated standards related to HVAC and building cladding.
•  UL participated in seminar as official ‘Testing and Certification Solutions Partner’.
•  Civil defense officials and leaders from region’s construction and safety sectors joined in event at The Address Dubai Marina on April 23.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 02 May, 2018:  UL, a global independent safety science company, joined in expert panel discussions on the important topic of fire safety for building facades and updates to the UAE Fire and Life and Safety Code at the recent “Fire and Life Safety in the UAE” Seminar.

The event, held at The Address Dubai Marina on April 23, addressed the impact of the new UAE Fire and Life and Safety Code on the construction industry in the Emirates, as well as new relevant standards for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and pre-insulated ducting.

UL, the official “Testing and Certification Solutions Partner” of the event, contributed its extensive knowledge and know-how in the field of fire safety in discussions involving consultants, contractors and property developers. 

Jonathan J. Gonzalez, regional technical lead, Building & Life Safety Technologies at UL – Middle East, took part in two key sessions aimed at educating and enabling the audience.

The first focused on the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 285 standard concerning the testing and certification of cladding in buildings, and the second discussed the UL 181 standard for Factory-Made Air Ducts and Air Connectors.

The fire-safety standard of external cladding is a topic of high importance in the MENA region after several blazes in high-rise residential buildings in recent years.

In many cases the rate at which the flames were able to spread around the towers has been attributed to issues related to cladding.

Helping ensure the safety of cladding, which is applied to the façade of a building for aesthetic, technical and environmental reasons, is one of the most important topics facing construction companies and developers in the region. 

Hamid Syed, vice president & GM, UL Middle East, said: “UL was delighted to take part in such an important seminar with a view to support greater understanding and incorporation of safety procedures in the UAE and the wider region’s construction industry.

“Our role as ‘Testing and Certification Solutions Partner’ allows us to work alongside officials from government entities and private companies to discuss the latest updates to the UAE’s Fire and Life Safety Code so that safety procedures are followed and maintained across the Emirates.”  

Operating out of offices in Dubai and a state-of-the-art lab facility in Abu Dhabi, UL assists manufacturers in the UAE to meet the new testing, certification and inspection standards.