New fire testing furnace for region

Testing on commercial basis will start this month on the region's first furnace to certify fire-rated doors and partitions used in commercial and residentail buildings, said an official at a laboratory.

The accreditation under ISO 17025 from both the United Kingdom Accreditation Service and the Emirates National Accreditation Service are pending.

"It is remarkable that in spite of all the construction that has taken place in the 16 years we have been in the UAE there has never been a local facility to test fire-rated doors and partitions to international standards," said Tom Bell-Wright, founder and CEO, Thomas Bell-Wright International Consultants.

"We know there have been many major fires over the past few years and hopefully the presence of this testing furnace will make it easier for builders to comply with the regulations and help make buildings safer to live and work in," he added.

About two years ago, the company realised that local fire testing was needed.

Dubai Civil Defence started implementing plans for fire testing and the company saw an opportunity to provide a private facility.

"An investment in these times may surprise some but it reflects our confidence in the UAE economy," he said.

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