PRODUCT FOCUS: Adopting standards

Fires in the Gulf have sparked concerns over the safety of workers.

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There may have been a slowdown in residential and commercial construction projects in the UAE over the past 12 months, but project spend in the region remains buoyant as governments turn their attention to infrastructure work.

But, as the UAE continues to set new standards in design, new international benchmarks in mega-project construction and ambitious infrastructure work with tight deadlines, the Gulf is also coming to grips with the need for a set of building codes developed specifically for the region.

Until now, the absence of a comprehensive set of building codes drafted for the UAE has not been a real issue. Most codes and legislation adopted in the UAE is derived from British Standards which, themselves, have been adapted by the US and Europe to better suit their local needs.

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With more than 85% of construction contracts awarded to international companies, all working under various building code standards from three key international regions, it’s a complicated system that needs to be straightened out.It’s something the UAE Contractors Association is keen to address. With suppliers, subcontractors and specialists using British, European or even American building codes as a basis, a uniform set of guidelines would help smooth out any discrepancies in the standard and legality of any work carried out, and the quality of building materials used.

Part of that assurance comes from the approval process itself. British Standard building codes have been developed over decades – while testing standards on materials are strictly adhered to. Under British Standards rules, all materials are tested by a third party, impartial to the outcome of the test process. Products either meet the design, performance and test criteria for which they were designed, or they don’t – and specifications can be easily traced by customers for verification.

Contractors themselves are also regulated and, though the temptation to use non-certified products during an economic downturn must be there, the cost of project failure, poor fit and the additional cost of correction work means that sub-standard materials are simply a false economy.A certified product may cost 10% to 15% more than a non-certified product, but it’s better than having to replace it with something that should have been used in the first place.

In general, most international construction firms and suppliers worth their salt have undergone the rigours of ISO certification, which not only looks in to their management systems and procedures, but also the standard and quality of products made.

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The safety implications of using sub-standard fireproof and resistant materials doesn’t bear thinking about, particularly given the nature of high-rise living in the UAE. The potential for catastrophe is a very real threat, and using non-certified products carries little comfort should the worst happen. A supplier may claim that its products meet fire specifications, but without third party approval or company quality standards in place, no responsible developer would be prepared to risk using their products.

However, it’s not only fire safety and materials in which construction standards are being driven.

Ecologically sound developments are the current hot topic and US-based Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is keen to promote greener construction projects around the globe. Sheikh Mohammed’s green building initiative, announced two years ago, highlighted a local desire for a move towards more environmentally friendly construction projects. While greener projects carry a premium over traditional building techniques and materials, LEED says customers are prepared to pay more for energy efficient designs and green building initiatives.

Any unilateral building codes refined and implemented for the UAE would have to mirror these concerns. It’s no easy task, and not something that can be produced in a few weeks. Even if they could be rendered and refined for local adoption in a relatively short period, unilateral approval for them at government level would still take time.

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hough building codes and practices themselves would be based on British, European and US regulations, many architects believe the process of refining the codes and distilling them in to one, cohesive set of UAE Building Codes will take years to implement. The codes would not only have to be carefully worded and adapted, but they would also go through a lengthy approval process at central government level – and then be put in place, policed and appropriate documentation prepared.

In the short term, contractors and suppliers continue to self monitor their processes to ensure the highest standards are maintained within the UAE’s construction sector. It’s a precarious situation but one in which contractors can’t afford to risk non-compliance.