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A One Technology LLC
Designing safety solutions
Strong fire safety rules in place Alertness and precaution can raise defence against flame-induced accidents ■■ Deepa Narwani
B
oth commercial and residential premises have many types of fire protection systems and equipment. These are for the most part, provided to meet the mandatory life safety measures required by law. Fire safety arrangements have become the basic necessity for all properties such as offices, schools, and multi-storey buildings. Installing fire alarms and proper evacuation signage is just the first step of minimising fire damage. Recently, the updated UAE Fire and Life Safety Code was unveiled at the Intersec Fire Safety Conference 2017, which includes updated guidelines related to cladding, such as testing and installation, and maintenance responsibilities of each building development party – such as clients, consultants, and contractors. The Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) launched it and its aim is to reduce the risk of fires spreading. Reportedly, the updated code has also listed specific techniques about how cladding panels are to be installed. The updated chapters include those related to fire doors, cladding in buildings, access for Civil Defence trucks to reduce incident response times and educating consultants, contractors and end-users on the latest modifications, according to reports. The code was developed with public and private stakehold-
ers to ensure the highest standards of safety and prevention from fires. A One Technology LLC is a company that was established keeping in mind the high importance of fire protection, which comprises mainly of fire alarm and fire fighting systems in the UAE and the emerging need for technological input. The company has developed a professional team of technically trained staff providing quick response to the time and need of its valued customers in fire protection. It is among the companies that provide high quality service and is a civil defence approved company in the field of design, supply, installation and maintenance of fire protection systems in residential, industrial and oil field facilities. Another example is the UAE-based firm Thomas Bell-Wright International Consultants (TBWIC) that has many firsts to its credit. It was the first façade consultant, the first laboratory with permanent curtain-wall testing equipment, the first fire-testing laboratory, and is now the first certification body located in the Gulf region. TBWIC has typically added new tests to support the requirements of the latest version of the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice. However, the test equipment currently on order or being commissioned will place the lab among the best in the world by the spring of next year. -deepa@khaleejtimes.com
Thomas Bell-Wright International Consultants
Setting standards TBWIC has added new tests to support the requirements of UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice
Evolution of TBWIC certification mark.
Thomas Bell-Wright International Consultants (TBWIC) was founded in the UAE in 1995, and has many firsts to its credit. They were the first façade consultants, the first laboratory with permanent curtain-wall testing equipment, the first fire-testing laboratory, and now the first certification body located in the Gulf region. TBWIC has typically added new tests to support the requirements of the latest version of the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice. However, the test equipment currently on order or being commissioned will place the lab among the best in the world by the spring of next year. The American test standard NFPA 285, which measures Fire Propagation in building Cladding Systems, has been a staple The company’s Product at TBW for several years. Among Certification division, the new tests to be brought on which supports Civil line is the BS 8414, which is the Defence Product equivalent standard for testing Approval and is only a cladding in the U.K. and Australia, and the ASTM E2307, a test year old, has just crossed of the perimeter fire stops which the 100 listings mark. prevent a fire from moving from one floor to another. By the beginning of next year, TBWIC will be offering testing for extra-large doors, loadbearing walls, floors and ceilings, as well as ducts and many other products and systems for fire performance. The company’s Product Certification division, which supports Civil Defence Product Approval and is only a year old, has just crossed the 100 listings mark. The image shows the evolution of TBWIC’s certification mark, which uses the Arabic translation of ‘certified’ designed into a falcon. Certification is a system of periodic monitoring of production to ensure that the product, which is delivered is the same as the one that was tested. This is not a trivial undertaking – but then everything the company does is in support of creating a safer world for people to live and work. As an example, the certification scheme for fire rated doors goes a step further than what the international certification bodies do. For each project the fire doors are manufactured, the drawings are crosschecked against the drawings of tested and listed fire doors. Then numbered stainless steel labels are laser printed in-house and given to manufacturers to be fixed before the doors are shipped to the site. Any smart phone can scan the QR code, which links to the online certificate to verify the details of the door.
Stainless steel certification label for fire doors from TBWIC.
Specialists in providing services for various types of fire detection and fire fighting systems A One Technology LLC was established keeping in mind the high importance of fire protection, which comprises mainly of fire alarm and fire fighting systems in the UAE and the emerging need for technological input. The company has developed a professional team of technically trained staff providing quick response to the time and need of its valued customers in fire protection. It is among the companies that provide high quality service and is a civil defense approved company in the field of design, supply, installation and maintenance of fire protection systems in residential, industrial and oil field facilities. With a strong backend in place and a sharp customer focus, today A One Technology LLC is not only designing and building safety solutions but is also integrating safety into your life and ensures that your world is safe. The company is therefore creating a sense of future readiness through automated systems that ensure we live and work in spaces that are intelligent and safe. Services offered: `` Design, Supply, Installation, Testing & Commissioning of Fire Alarm and Fire Fighting System, Fire Suppression System and Kitchen Hood System for Onshore, Offshore, Oil & Gas Field, Residential and Industrial. `` Getting Preventive Certificate from Civil Defense. `` Annual Maintenance of Fire Alarm and Fire Fighting System for Onshore, Offshore, Oil & Gas Field, Residential and Industrial. `` Refilling and Certification for the Fire Extinguishers `` Repairing of Fire Pumps and Fire Alarm Control Panel