League of MEP gentlemen

In the April issue of MEP Middle East, we report on several exciting new developments within the local MEP sector. In ‘Lady of the listings’, Debbie-Jane Watson, quality and performance manager at Rotary-HUMM, reveals how it is the first MEP company in the UAE to obtain simultaneous ISO accreditation for quality, environmental and occupational health and safety management standards.

Watson’s enthusiasm and sheer passion for her job is quite infectious – and a valuable resource for the local MEP sector. That the sector continues to produce such sterling people who are willing to take the industry that one critical step forward in being as proactive and progressive as it can is testament to its maturity.

In a companion piece to ‘Warm-up act’ in our March issue, we report on the closing round-table discussion at the recent IQPC District Cooling Summit, where the idea of a representative MEP body was mooted. “This industry needs a spokesperson, especially with talk of district cooling being regulated by the government. The industry is fragmented at the moment. It is not united like the construction sector, which is well-represented by several associations of its own,” says Khaldoun Tabari, vice-chairman and COO of Drake & Scull International PSJC (DSI).

Tabari goes so far as to say that the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry could be approached with the idea of forming an industry-wide alliance. “We could link up with all the players. We could even canvas first, second and third tier companies. Especially with the credit crunch right now, this would allow us to help our brothers, the sub-contractors, in the MEP sector.”

“I think this is the core issue: How can this group – this community of engineers, manufacturers, developers and district cooling companies – somehow get to the appropriate table with the parties they need to collaborate with on these matters? What do we need to bring them into the discussion, and make that discussion productive for our purposes?” says Khaled Salmeen Al Kawari, the COO of Tabreed.

Of course, there are no easy answers to these questions, as our article points out. On the one hand, there is the problem of getting a representative body up and running in the first place and then, on the other hand, there is the problem of getting DEWA to listen to anything such a body has to say anyway. Also, what assistance and leverage could be supplied by established players such as IDEA and ASHRAE?

The idea of a dedicated MEP industry body ties in nicely with Tabari’s assertion that the newly-listed DSI could use its heightened profile to act as a ‘spokesperson’ for the industry. Tabari grumbles that it is only the major construction companies who enjoy any significant exposure in the mainstream press when it comes to high-profile projects.

The poor MEP contractor is ignored, even if this share of the work can account for up to 80% of a project, as in the case of a district cooling plant. Yet it is always the civil and structural engineering players who are trumpeted as being the ‘main’ players.

So, much food for thought in this month’s issue. Feel free to write in to us if you have any comments, thoughts or experiences you would like to share with our readers.

Gerhard Hope is the editor of Mechanical Electrical Plumbing Middle East.

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