November 06 – Abu Dhabi, UAE

The Steel Alliance Against Counterfeiting (SAAC) – an industry initiative of 17 global steel products manufacturers committed to combating counterfeit steel products, has pledged its support for more stringent regulations controlling the use of key building materials in ongoing revisions  of the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice 2016. According to the UAE Civil Defense Department, the code, which is undergoing its first significant revision since 2011, will be released within the next few months.

The updated version of the UAE fire safety code will contain more detail on specifications for cladding, mandatory requirements for owners and clarify responsibilities in construction, maintenance and repair work. It will also include comprehensive material tests and outline new consultant responsibilities ranging from material usage to regular site inspections.  

Dr. Carlo Farina, Managing Director, Friedrich Geldbach, Gmbh, said: “Steel has always been a key component of building infrastructure and we are likely to see demands for it to grow as major infrastructure projects continue to gather pace in this region. It is critical that industry players work together with policy makers and regulators to co-develop solutions that enhance the sector and evolve safety and security protocols. We strongly believe that steel materials require a greater level of recognition at a regulatory level.”

As part of increasing consultant accountability for material usage, the new code will require consultants to seek and present no objection certificates (NOC) from the UAE Civil Defense Department, a move aimed at ensuring that all contractors are sufficiently qualified.

Anaïs EIDEN, Group Senior Legal Manager, Intellectual Property and Innovation, Vallourec, said:  “The members of the Steel Alliance Against Counterfeiting believe that the new Fire and Life Safety Code will result in consultants being more cautious and accountable when it comes to sourcing building materials. The use of counterfeit steel products increases the risk accidents both during construction and throughout the lifecycle of the building structure.”

Andrey Burtsev, Vice-President of sales, Interpipe, said: “Along with Dubai’s ongoing projects in real estate and energy in preparations for Dubai Expo 2020, it is increasingly important to ensure that we regulate the materials supply chain to protect the integrity of our structures and ensure the safety of the people.”

 

The construction boom in the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has led to increased competition among suppliers, resulting in unlawful conduct and negatively impacting product quality. The SAAC works to address and eliminate two forms of illicit practices, namely:

·         The fraudulent branding of non-certified steel products with the brand of well-known, certified suppliers often sold together with falsified certificates

·         The refurbishment of used steel products to appear and be sold as new

In that context, the SAAC advocates for the adoption of more stringent rules regarding the control of the steel products, in the revised UAE fire safety code. In particular, the SAAC supports increased authenticity checks of the of mill test certificates (MTC), to mitigate the use of counterfeit products. These controls are critical to guarantee the quality of the steel products and ensure compliance with the safety standards required within the construction sector.

The Alliance, which was first launched during the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) last year, will participate in this year’s event from November 7-9, 2016.

-Ends- 

About Steel Alliance Against Counterfeiting
The ‘Steel Alliance Against Counterfeiting’ is a non-profit industry initiative that was first launched in November 2015 during the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC). Its members are reputable manufacturers of steel pipes, flanges and fittings. SAAC’s primary objective is to act as a strong and coherent voice for the industry against trademark counterfeiting. For further information please visit our website: http://fight-fake.org

About Interpipe
Interpipe is a global producer of steel pipes and railway wheels, based in Ukraine. The company’s products are marketed in more than 80 countries around the world, through a network of sales offices located in our key markets of Ukraine, the CIS, the Middle East, North America, and Europe. In 2015 Interpipe supplied 600,000 tons of pipe and wheel products. The company employs 11,500 people worldwide. Interpipe is one of the UAE and the Gulf construction industry’s major steel suppliers. The company’s project portfolio includes the King Abdulaziz International Airport and the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in KSA, the Mall of Qatar and the State Audit Bureau Headquarters in Qatar, in addition to numerous residential and commercial buildings in the UAE.

Contact details for the mass media:
Lucy Novak
Phone: +380 67 565 00 42
Ludmila.novak@interpipe.biz

© Press Release 2016