5 minutes with Eng Khalid Al Khatib

0.00 Over the last few decades, building design in the region has moved away from low-rise projects to high-rise skyscrapers. How has this change affected NAFFCO’s product offerings?Of course we had to adapt. Fire safety systems and products have to evolve to cope fully with the changes that are taking place in the building industry. We will always keep this at the heart of our vision and mission.

1.10 What are the major considerations involved in designing a fire safety system for a high-rise?It is a combination of passive and active works. The first covers all measures you take when constructing the building to reduce the spread of fire – this includes fire doors, cladding etc. The active element is a combination of tools and devices to detect, fight and suppress the fire as well as facilitate the work of the Civil Defence crews.

2.15 With the boom in high-rise building set to continue in the GCC, what challenges lie ahead for NAFFCO and the fire safety market in the future?I have already mentioned one challenge, which is the awareness issue, and I think this is an ongoing process.We must acknowledge the role that the Civil Defence authorities are playing in this respect. As for the systems themselves, they have to evolve to meet the new challenges. The system design starts with a diligent risk assessment before the building works start and accounts for the local codes, and the risks involved. A well designed system should incorporate approved products which are installed and tested professionally and then maintained and checked on a regular basis.

3.59 How are NAFFCO’s products distinct from the rest of the market?The team at NAFFCO have long held the view that fire safety is an area of no compromise, and have been at the forefront of promoting the awareness of quality “listed” products – products that are designed to the highest international standards and are regularly tested, approved, and certified to those standards. Those are the products that make up our systems.

4.33 What lessons has NAFFCO and the wider market learned from the recent fires in some of Dubai’s high-rise buildings?The government has introduced a code for fire safety in buildings and is working remarkably hard to raise awareness of fire safety measures. On a more corporate basis, I again raise the point of the need for builders to rely on proper risk assessment as part of the design process, and the use of reliable and approved products in the fire safety systems.

Source: Construction Week Online