Middle East's state-of-the-art fire test facility expands scope of testing after being accredited to North American safety standards
The region's first fire testing laboratory announced today that it has expanded its scope of fire testing after being accredited to the applicable North American fire safety standards.
Laboratories typically seek to extend their scope so that they can offer more types of testing or, in this region, so that they can offer similar tests under standards issued by different national or multinational authorities.
"We are now able to provide fire resistance testing for non-load-bearing construction assemblies such as doors, walls, windows, dampers, penetrations, etc., to the applicable international standards (1)," explained Tom Bell-Wright, laboratory founder and CEO.
"One of the things I especially like about being able to offer this kind of testing is that it stimulates local manufacture of these systems. Before we set up this facility, the choice was to have their systems tested in Europe or North America, or not produce them at all."
Thomas Bell-Wright International Consultants, in keeping with all Dubai laboratories, is obliged by Dubai Municipality to maintain a quality system for its laboratory in accordance with ISO 17025 - the laboratory equivalent of ISO 9001 for manufacturing companies. These accreditations are awarded by government or quasi-government bodies such as UKAS, for example in the UK, or ENAS in the UAE.
"To receive this additional accreditation so quickly, is not only a testament to the hard work of the whole team, it speaks volumes for our own commitment to quality," said Jean-Philippe Kayl, Fire Testing Manager for Thomas Bell-Wright International Consultants.
The importance of fire testing is so that authorities can verify that assemblies used in building or industrial locations where fire has to be contained or excluded, meet the specified fire separation time criteria. This allows people to vacate the building, allows time for fire fighters to reach the scene, and minimizes losses, when a fire occurs.
(1) EN, BS, ISO, ASTM, UL, NFPA and IMO
"With fire doors and other products being sourced from all over the world, authorities often don't know whether they actually meet the requirements or not" said Tom Bell-Wright, "however we can tell you absolutely, and now according to whichever standard you choose. Not only that, but manufacturers achieving certification to e.g. US standards can sell their products in any country which accepts those standards."
Furnace picture
Fire is a very real danger in buildings, and the ability to contain it a necessity for the protection of life and property.
Hose Stream picture
One of the principal differences with the North American tests is the Hose Stream test immediately following the fire test. This reflects the different fire fighting philosophy in North America where they seek to fight the fire at its point of origin and save the building, rather than merely preventing spread of fire to adjacent buildings. Fire rated constructions therefore have to be able to stand up to the hose stream, for the protection of the fire fighters inside the building.
-Ends-
About Thomas Bell-Wright International Consultants
Based in Dubai, UAE, the company is a specialist façade consultancy, full scale testing laboratory for curtain walls, and fire testing laboratory. It was the first company to have permanent curtain wall testing equipment in the region, and the first to have fire testing apparatus in the region. It has a range of test chambers and support structures for curtain wall testing, and a state of the art vertical fire testing furnace at their fully equipped laboratory. Since 1993 the company has been associated with more than 300 of the most prestigious and largest landmarks around the Arabian Gulf and neighbouring countries.
Media contacts
Nathalie Viselé
Director
Shamal Marketing Communications
Dubai Media City, United Arab Emirates
Tel: +971 4 3652711
Mobile: +971 50 457 6525
E-mail: nathalie@smc-pr.com
Web site: www.smc-pr.com
Ms Danuta Dunin
Thomas Bell-Wright International Consultants
Tel: +971 4 333 2692
Mobile: +9715 0462 4322
danuta@bell-wright.com
© Press Release 2010
