Swiss expert criticizes Dubai's fire-door checks

Major Ibrahim Abdulrahman Bin Saif (Dubai Civil Defence), Belimo Automation FZE GM David Stevenson and operations manager Bashar Mansour.
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A senior executive from Belimo Automation in Switzerland has suggested that Dubai’s civil defence regulations requiring the inspection of fire doors on a monthly basis include a check of the fire and smoke damper actuators in order to be more effective and thereby boost health and safety.

“Having a test once a month to check the fire doors is totally meaningless unless you check the fire and smoke damper actuators as well,” said Colin Shepherd. He was speaking at the official launch of Belimo Automation FZE’s new training facility at its Dubai Airport Free Zone offices.

Regular testing of such actuators is critical in order to ensure they function correctly at all times, said Shepherd. Some countries in Europe, for example, required such critical-component testing every couple of days. In this regard, Belimo Automation has a highly cost-effective ringbus system that automates the control and monitoring of fire and smoke damper actuators.

“We have a standard for fire doors, but do not check the void above where the actuators are, which would be relatively easy to stipulate in the regulations. The actuators should at least be part of this monthly check, for any fire-control system is only as good as the last time the actuators themselves were tested,” said Shepherd.

He added that the failure to capitalise on the potential of the monthly fire-door check was due to a prevailing mindset of “saving on the initial cost of the project. What I think is a big problem in the Middle East is that often only the primary cost is taken into account and neverthe total project cost.”

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Specification

“When the contractors get hold of a project, often any overall specification in terms of saving on project costs just goes straight out of the window. Often all they are worried about is how cheaply a project can be delivered. That is a major problem at the moment,” warned Shepherd.

He added that the global trend towards heightened health and safety awareness, in conjunction with pending ‘green’ building design, was helping to boost business for Belimo Automation, especially in the Middle East market. It has supplied fire and smoke damper actuators for the Dubai Metro, Burj Dubai and control valves for the Al Barari luxury villa development, among other major projects.

Based in Switzerland, Belimo Automation took the decision to open a Middle East subsidiary in 2006, which officially opened its doors in April 2007. “This seems like a long time ago, but we have progressed terrifically in a relatively short period, having supplied product to some very prestigious projects, including the supply of thousands of fire and smoke damper actuators for the Dubai Metro,” said Belimo Automation FZE GM David Stevenson. “We have many customers in different countries, and constantly realise that there is a real need and desire for education and training in the market. So with this in mind we decided to commit to the investment in our new training facility and knowledge centre, which caters for contractors, consultants, graduates or even senior partners.