Fire protection high on agenda

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Huge market growth is being seen in the Middle East for fire insulation products in the building and process industries.

High technology insulation materials that protect buildings in a fire are being installed in projects across the Middle East to help save lives in the event of a blaze, according to an international industry leader.

"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, export director of Rockwool Technical Insulation.

According to recent figures from the Emirates Medical Association, there were 2460 fires last year in the UAE killing 40 and injuring 172 people. Dubai recorded 707 fires up to last August, up from 598 last year.

Rockwool Technical Insulation is a global leader in protective technical insulation against fire, heat, cold and noise for the building, process, marine and offshore industries and is part of the Denmark-headquartered Rockwool Group which has a total turnover of US $2.4 billion (AED8.8 billion) with 23 factories around the world.

"Many of 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," Vinken said.

For example, structural steel loses its load-bearing capacity at temperatures above 400 degrees Centigrade.

"One of the most vital properties of Rockwool stone wool is its ability to withstand temperatures of more than 1000 degrees Centigrade," Vinken said.

"If properly used, Rockwool stone wool acts as a fire resistant barrier providing vital extra minutes for rescuing people."

"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 high standard insulation materials are needed.

"The whole Middle East region continues to exhibit huge market potential for high quality products for projects in the building and process industries. Our complete range of fire protection products in buildings will be displayed at The Big 5. We will also demonstrate a programme which can help companies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the process industry."

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