08 December 2013
The Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA) has set 2014 as the deadline for manufacturers of construction materials across UAE to regulate their products under its mandatory registration, a senior official told Zawya. However, the unified building code will be applicable on products that are not covered under the ESMA regulations, he added.
The new code is part of a venture between ESMA and the Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO), probable by next year, and will extend to construction chemicals like paints, glass, ceramics and flooring products.
Abdulla Abdelqadir Al Maeeni, Director of ESMA Conformity Affairs Department said, "We will monitor not just room air conditioners and central air conditioners, but the refrigerants (chemicals used as coolants in air conditioners) used in them. We are also reviewing the situation in existing buildings, which use central air conditioners and big air-conditioning units as well as duct types. Air conditioning accounts for at least 50% of electricity consumption in the UAE."
Manufacturers of more than 800 construction materials have already obtained optional standards from ESMA. However, this is not mandatory and will have to be certified by the Conformity Department of ESMA by 2014. "ESMA has already issued 5500 conformity certificates to various products and we have about 120 factories in the UAE and Gulf countries for certification", the top official said.
Some construction materials and sanitary products for water pipelines like PVC pipes will have to undergo third-party laboratory tests for conformity with international standards. "Our inspectors will visit local factories to inspect production lines, to ensure that these materials are produced, according to global standards," the director added.
Meanwhile, steel companies like Qatar Steel and Emirates Steel, which have obtained ESMA's voluntary certification, will have to change it to the mandatory registration next year. Already, Dubai Cables, Qatar Steel, Zamil Air conditioning, Carrier, General, Gulf Extrusions Co, SIROCCO,Emirates Steel, National Paints, National Cables Industry, Cobra, Jebel Ali Cement have attained Emirates Quality Marks.
Within the next months,the authority is set to cover retreaded tires and add big tires used for trucks and heavy construction vehicles within the regulations.
© Zawya 2013
The Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA) has set 2014 as the deadline for manufacturers of construction materials across UAE to regulate their products under its mandatory registration, a senior official told Zawya. However, the unified building code will be applicable on products that are not covered under the ESMA regulations, he added.
The new code is part of a venture between ESMA and the Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO), probable by next year, and will extend to construction chemicals like paints, glass, ceramics and flooring products.
Abdulla Abdelqadir Al Maeeni, Director of ESMA Conformity Affairs Department said, "We will monitor not just room air conditioners and central air conditioners, but the refrigerants (chemicals used as coolants in air conditioners) used in them. We are also reviewing the situation in existing buildings, which use central air conditioners and big air-conditioning units as well as duct types. Air conditioning accounts for at least 50% of electricity consumption in the UAE."
Manufacturers of more than 800 construction materials have already obtained optional standards from ESMA. However, this is not mandatory and will have to be certified by the Conformity Department of ESMA by 2014. "ESMA has already issued 5500 conformity certificates to various products and we have about 120 factories in the UAE and Gulf countries for certification", the top official said.
Some construction materials and sanitary products for water pipelines like PVC pipes will have to undergo third-party laboratory tests for conformity with international standards. "Our inspectors will visit local factories to inspect production lines, to ensure that these materials are produced, according to global standards," the director added.
Meanwhile, steel companies like Qatar Steel and Emirates Steel, which have obtained ESMA's voluntary certification, will have to change it to the mandatory registration next year. Already, Dubai Cables, Qatar Steel, Zamil Air conditioning, Carrier, General, Gulf Extrusions Co, SIROCCO,Emirates Steel, National Paints, National Cables Industry, Cobra, Jebel Ali Cement have attained Emirates Quality Marks.
Within the next months,the authority is set to cover retreaded tires and add big tires used for trucks and heavy construction vehicles within the regulations.
© Zawya 2013
