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Thermal insulation systems to be made mandatory for buildings in Dubai

DUBAI Thermal insulation systems are to be made mandatory for the buildings in Dubai soon following the completion of an 18-month trial period.

Ali Elian of Dubai Municipality's Dubai Central Laboratory (DCL), said: " We have been implementing selectively since the order was issued in the year 2001. This phase ended on the first day of 2003. In April, we will make it mandatory."

The official said the civic body has modified the specifications on the Thermal Insulation Systems contained in the Administrative Order No 77 of 2001 after eliciting the opinions of the professionals during a year-long public awareness campaign conducted in coordination with the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa).

Thermal Insulation system is an approved method all over the world for rationalising the use of energy.

Electricity consumption can be brought down by up to 40 per cent through the use of this system, thereby reducing the electricity bills and protecting the environment.

The civic body has sought the Dewa co-operation for the phased implementing the thermal insulation system in residential, commercial and industrial buildings in the emirate.

The municipality operates a fully-equipped special laboratory at DCL for conducting the necessary tests on thermal insulation materials.

Mr Elian is a member of a high-level panel set up jointly by the Dubai Municipality and Dewa to conduct follow up on the orders.

Mr Elian, Head of Engineering Materials Laboratory Section, gave a presentation on the Mechanism of Testing Materials and System at a seminar yesterday. Dr Abdulla Mohammed Al Shamsi, Professor at the UAE University's Department of Civil Engineering and Dr M H Amiri, President of Academia, also addressed the gathering.

The laboratory for testing thermal insulation materials has been set up at a cost of over Dh1 million and employs three highly qualified technicians.

He added: "We have approved 15 materials, both organic and inorganic, for the thermal insulation systems. We don't recommend the use of particular material. It is up to the construction companies and engineers to use the materials that they find good for their projects."

The thermal insulation materials approved by the Dubai Municipality include polystyrene, polyurethane, phenolic, glasswool, rockwool, vermiculite, perlite, aerated block and cellulosic fiber.

Approximately 2,000 new buildings are constructed in Dubai every year.

The mandatory use of thermal insulation system in buildings is being incorporated in the revised Building Construction Bylaws and Regulations.

The directive makes engineering offices and contracting offices in the emirate responsible for ensuring the installation of thermal insulation systems in the buildings.

Standards and procedures on thermal insulation have been made online on the municipality's web site .