Fire protection firm sees big rise in Mideast trade

BLAZE PROTECTION: A fire insulation company says it has seen a big rise in trade in the Middle East.

A company that specialises in insulation equipment to protect buildings from fire says it has seen a rapid rise in exports to the Middle East market.

Rockwool Technical Insulation bosses said the region contributed more than 50 percent of total exports in 2007 and they expect the growth to continue as more businesses become more fire hazard aware.

According to recent figures from the Emirates Medical Association, there were 2,460 fires in the UAE alone last year, which killed 40 and injured 172 people. Dubai recorded 707 fires up to August this year, up from 598 the previous year.

The Denmark-based company is part of the Rockwool Group which has a total turnover $2.4 billion and 23 factories around the world.

"With major multi-billion dollar buildings and projects being constructed across the region, there is greater awareness of the need to provide better protection against fires spreading," said Peter Vinken, the company's export director.

"Many of not only the tallest but the most complex projects in the world are under construction in the Middle East and the extra time our products provide to evacuate buildings in a fire emergency can mean the difference between life and death," he said.

The company is exhibiting for the first time at The Big 5 building and construction industry trade fair in Dubai which starts on Sunday.

"We are seeing further major growth in the Middle East with growing demand for insulation products in industry and for fire protection as well as ventilation and air conditioning," Vinken said.

"With new plants being commissioned virtually every few months, large quantities of insulation materials are needed."

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