< PreviousSITE VISIT 40 MEP Middle East | September 2019 www.mepmiddleeast.com prior to a single socket being placed has helped ensure a smooth build; poetically one that has required as much care and attention a doctor would give a sick patient. Thankfully, ACC has experience to draw on, having successfully handed over medical and healthcare facilities in the past. “We have had hundreds of meetings with different parties,” explained Mehiou. “ACC management located the best en- gineering team they have across civil and MEP; part of the team was brought in from Lebanon directly, experts in the medical fi eld. ACC has previous experience in many other countries for advanced hospitals. “By collaborating and co-operating in our team, the engineering department was able to cope with continuous changes. “We worked in close co-ordination with the employer and civil departments, which has led to the success of the project.” Kobeissy picked the MRI room as the build’s most complicated element from a par- ticularly thick catalogue of tricky facets that have required engineers to be at their best when on site. MRI technology, short for magnetic reso- nance imaging, cannot be left idle, which means as soon as it arrived on site it had to be plugged in. That necessitated a serious Arabian Construction Company had to draw on its experience of delivering hospitals and health care facilities in countries The stars of this development were the engineering and MEP departments, they did the best work ever control platform and independent back-up generator in case of a power outage. The rest of the complex is supported by two back-up generators located on the roof which, in case of a lack of power, will take turns fuelling the hospital on eight-hour shifts. Needless to say, in a facility such as this back-up power is top of mind. Elsewhere on the roof, solar panels are in position to convert sunlight into energy that powers the hospital’s hot water supply. In- spectors from Dubai Electricity & Water Authority has already called in to give its rubberstamp to the project, which means much of the checklist has received a tick ahead of the 14 September handover. Mehiou refused to be drawn on whether a particular facet of the construction process had given him the most satisfaction to see completed. Instead he focussed on the bigger pic- ture, and declared the project in its entirety as something all associated with Arabian Construction Company could be proud of. WATCH THE INTERVIEW WITH ACC ON CONSTRUCTION WEEK’S YOUTUBE CHANNELSITE VISIT September 2019 | MEP Middle East 41 www.mepmiddleeast.com around the world to ensure a smooth operation at the Clemenceau Medical Centre development in Dubai. SNAPSHOT OF ACC Arabian Construction Company has grown a portfolio of developments over the past fi ve decades. Notable examples include the likes of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, World Trade Centre Abu Dhabi, and Gate Towers, also in Abu Dhabi. Elsewhere, the fi rm is currently contracted at the Address Sky View site in Downtown Dubai. 50 Years in business 7 Countries of operation 11 Offi ces in Middle East & India 30,000 Employees $1bn+ Annual turnover ACC helped deliver the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. “The project by itself,” was his answer when quizzed on his personal Clemenceau Medical Centre development highlight. Why we are very happy with this project is the challenge in every item. “It started from procurement; then to en- gineering – which as a department had a lot of load and success to deliver – then the construction team on site, they immediately followed up what the engineering department needed and that is refl ected on site. “Then the quality control team; in order to avoid aborted work you need to see the prob- lems coming, and the engineering depart- ment then needs to give a solution before you get to work. “The Health and Safety Environment also; we are very proud that the project has fol- lowed up the steps as described in our manual as ACC. This is the way, not to work haphaz- ard – you have rules that you have to abide by. “The stars of this development were the engineering and MEP departments, they did the best work ever.”CONTACT A MEMBER OF THE TEAM TODAY FOR INFORMATION For sponsorship enquiries: Tom Martin Senior Sales Manager Tel: +971 4 444 3465 Email: tom.martin@itp.com For event enquiries: Teri Dunstan Events Manager Tel: +971 4 444 3227 E-mail: teri.dunstan@itp.com For nomination enquiries: Tom Oxtoby Editor, MEP Middle East Tel: +971 4 444 3419 Email: tom.oxtoby@itp.com For table booking enquiries: Lacie Curtis Table Sales Executive Tel: +971 4 444 3223 Email: lacie.curtis@itp.com BOOK YOUR TABLE TODAY! www.mepmiddleeast.com/awards Wednesday 6th November 2019 Celebrating their 13th year, the MEP Middle East Awards will once again recognise the most worthy projects, companies and individuals from the mechanical, electrical and plumbing sector in the Middle East. Visit www.mepmiddleeast.com/mepawards for more information or contact one of our team today. GOLD SPONSORS SILVER SPONSORS CATEGORY SPONSORPRIZE SPONSORMIDDLE EAST MARKET FOCUS MIDDLE EAST CAN EXPECT AN ACCELERATED PERIOD OF GROWTH UNTIL 2023 SPECIAL REPORT FROM MEP MIDDLE EAST Essential information for mechanical, electrical, plumbing and HVAC professionals An ITP Media Group Publication | September 2019 Vol. 14 Issue 09 BUT INDUSTRY NEEDS TO MEASURE IMPACT IAQ NOT TO BE UNDERESTIMATED EARLY MOVERS CAN BENEFIT MOST GETTING AHEAD OF THE PACK INDOOR AIR INDOOR AIR QUALITYQUALITY WHY WEARING A GAS MASK TO THE OFFICE WOULDN’T DO YOU ANY HARM EDITORÊS VIEW September 2019 | MEP Middle East 45 www.mepmiddleeast.com The historic lack of appetite for the indoor air quality market in the Middle East is impossible to disguise. While the value of the worldwide market exceeds $6billion, the Gulf Co-oper- ation Council boasts just a 3% ($180million) share. Indeed, some industry heads say indoor air quality has been “grossly neglected” in this part of the world, with a lack of regulation highlighted as an excuse for the construc- tion industry to effectively ignore technol- ogy that could lead to healthier lives for end users. As a resolution, one leading industry expert said that all new builds should reach a certain indoor air quality standard before they are commissioned, addressing the problems at their source. Given the fact that the quality of air in- side buildings can be up to fi ve times more unhealthy than the air entering our lungs out on the street, it goes without saying that something has to give – and soon. However, with the air we breathe man- kind’s most precious necessity, attitudes are beginning to shift. In this MEP Special Report, we explore the factors that, despite historical trends, point towards a sharp period of accelerated growth for the clean air market in the Middle East and Africa – driven by a marked depend- ency on cooling technology, as well as rising global temperatures. We’ve also recruited Markus Lattner, managing director of membership body Eurovent Middle East, who emphasises the need for wider consideration of air quality in the industry. And fi nally, Sarfrez Dairkee from the Emir- ates Green Building Council provides our in- sight into why indoor air quality has suffered because of a lack of understanding, and offers his view on what needs to change to foster a more positive approach to fi nding meaningful solutions. Short of us all evolving to be able to survive without oxygen and clean air, this is a problem that won’t be going away, and it is encouraging to see manufacturers and developers alike fi nally giving the issue their due attention. Tom Oxtoby MEP Middle East Editor tom.oxtoby@itp.com Indoor air quality market set for period of “accelerated growth” as Middle East wakes up to health benefi ts CARE ABOUT OUR AIR Decision makers across the MEP sector are giving ever more consideration to indoor air quality technology. 46 MEP Middle East | September 2019 www.mepmiddleeast.com MARKET FOCUS he air purifi er market can expect to enjoy a sustained period of growth as concerns surrounding indoor air quality become more widely spoken about and addressed. According to research in a report called ‘Air Purifi er Market’, conducted by Port- News24, the global market is predicted to swell to $6.18billion by 2023, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2%. The Middle East and Africa (MEA) in particular is a region where accelerated growth is forecast, with its dependency on HVAC systems touted as a signifi cant contrib- uting factor. In countries such as Brazil, China and India demand has also spiked in response to greater understanding of the damage poor air quality can have on physical health. Locally, the report cited the burgeoning construction industry and vast infrastructure developments that typify large swathes of the region – particularly in city environments – as key growth variables. But during a panel at this year’s MEP market segment, accounting for more than a quarter of the global share in 2018. “Electrostatic precipitator and ionic fi lters account for 37% of the global air purifi er mar- ket, showing moderate growth during the forecast period.” Major players in the market include the likes of Sharp Corporation, Panasonic, Hon- eywell International, Coway Co Ltd, Daikin, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, Whirlpool Cor- poration, and LG Electronics. Another study from Future Market In- sights predicted that a rising demand for T Middle East Conference, industry leaders stated that companies operating in the Middle East largely ignore indoor air quality (IAQ). Utpal Joshi, Daikin’s head of VRV DC consulting sales, said the issue is best addressed at the source. “If commissioning [of buildings] is done perfectly, then half of the issues can be solved,” he said. “It needs to be done right the fi rst time. Our commissioning of buildings must be reg- ulated in some way. When you are fi rst giving away the building, it should be approved in terms of IAQ.” Suhas Inamdar, head of technical support and planning at Wasl Properties, agreed with the sentiment that IAQ has been something that is “grossly neglected in this region”. “Indoor pollution is generally two to fi ve times more than outdoor pollution,” he said. “Moreover, in cars, which we travel in every day, it is as high as 15 times. This is ‘GROSSLY‘GROSSLY NEGLECTED’NEGLECTED’ something which is not known.” The market can be divided into varying fi lter types; high effi ciency particulate air (HEPA) fi lters, ionic fi lters, and activated carbon and electrostatic precipitators. “The HEPA fi lters segment dominated the residential air purifi ers market in 2018, and is expected to remain dominant over the fore- cast period,” the report stated. “HEPA fi lters in residential air purifi ers help trap air pollutants and aid in providing relief from allergens. “Activated carbon is the other crucial But indoor air quality market set to grow as more But indoor air quality market set to grow as more attention is paid to public health across the regionattention is paid to public health across the region The HEPA fi lters segment dominated the residential air purifi ers market in 2018, and is expected to remain dominant September 2019 | MEP Middle East 47 www.mepmiddleeast.com MARKET FOCUS Our commissioning of buildings must be regulated in some way – when you are fi rst giving away the building, it should be approved in terms of IAQ building automation will help propel growth of the air fl ow monitoring market. It said: “The increasing installation of hu- midity and temperature sensing components is driving the demand for air fl ow monitoring systems in the commercial and residential sectors. “Innovations, such as integration of dis- tributed control systems in air fl ow monitor- ing systems, enable effi cient management of the atmosphere-related data acquired by the sensors and ensure uninterrupted IAQ enhancement execution.” Fact.MR puts the Air quality isn’t an issue that can be left at the door. attractive forecasts down to “remarkable expansion” in the residential sector, and the demand for HVAC systems in general. Experts believe the world’s population will climb close to another one billion to reach 8.3bn by the year 2030, driving the need for residential builds. “Growing disposable income of the popula- tion worldwide is likely to remain a key factor driving demand for air conditioning systems,” said a Fact.MR report. “In addition, falling costs of air condition- ing systems have further proliferated their But indoor air quality market set to grow as more attention is paid to public health across the region Suhas Inamdar says the market has been neglected. adoption among the rising middle-class popu- lation in emerging countries. “Rapid industrialisation, urbanisation and mounting number of data centres are also ex- pected to rub off on demand for air condition- ing systems.” References: 1. https://portnews24.com/5-2-cagr-growth- to-be-achieved-by-air-purifi er-market- by-2023-sharp-panasonic-honeywell/100268/ 2. https://www.wikitimes.co.uk/2019/07/01/ sales-of-air-fl ow-monitoring-system-market-to- soar-through-key-end-use-industries-during-the- forecast-period-2018-2028/ 3. https://pioneerreporter.com/innovative- trends-steer-demand-air-conditioning-system- 2017-2026-reports-fact-mr-study/ 4. https://www.consultingindustry24.com/ global-air-fl ow-monitoring-system-market- research-anticipated-to-grow-at-a-signifi cant- pace-by-2018-2028/48 MEP Middle East | September 2019 www.mepmiddleeast.com KNOWLEDGE PARTNER We’re all guilty of it, putting a prob- lem out of sight and, therefore, out of mind. It is no secret that the air we breathe is polluted – in some major cities toxicity levels are so explicit they are having a serious impact on national health. A serious decline in air quality in Beijing, for example, has led to forced closures of schools, while the sight of commuters sport- ing face masks as they cut through suffocat- ing morning smog is commonplace. While World Health Organisation (WHO) rankings for 2018 put Kanpur (India) as the world’s most polluted city when it comes to air quality, global powers including the likes of London are not immune to its debilitating effects. What most don’t take into consideration is that the issue doesn’t wait at the door for us to fi nish our shift, shopping trip, or dental appointment. Air pollution is as much a problem in the home and workplace as it is on the street. So much so that in 2017 the Institute for Health Metrics & Evaluation estimated that fi ve million people died prematurely from illnesses attributable to indoor air Eurovent Middle East managing director, Markus Lattner, explains why stepping inside doesn’t take us away from the problem of pollution HOLD YOUR BREATHKNOWLEDGE PARTNER September 2019 | MEP Middle East 49 www.mepmiddleeast.com on an international scale. He explained: “It’s getting more and more attention especially in the Nordic countries in Europe, and in some areas like schools and universities as well. “[But] the Middle East hasn’t been focus- ing on it in the past, which is quite natu- ral. The industry is trying to give it more attention as several aspects are crucial and relevant for not only IAQ, but energy effi - ciency as well. “The importance of IAQ cannot be underestimated; 90% of our time we spend indoors. “If you consider how many litres of air we breathe every day, you can imagine how many kilos of dirt, dust and other particles we inhale every year. “That’s why it is really essential to under- stand ventilation requirements and systems and care about better quality in the products and installations applied. “Filtering the air isn’t the only aspect. It’s cleaning air ducts, caring for the right amount of fresh air and fi ltering the recircu- lated air, which is more contaminated than outside air in many cases. “This has to be a must, especially in environments for children and people with weak immune systems, such as hospi- As an association we are driving awareness and want to make sure that IAQ receives the attention it deserves pollution. While the number of fatalities across the GCC was thankfully low – total- ling just 40 deaths – greater awareness of the conditions poor air quality can lead to, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, should be pressing the industry into offering cleaner products and services. But that doesn’t appear to be the case. The worldwide air quality yearly market is worth approximately $6billion, but the GCC boasts just a $180million share. Eurovent Middle East, the membership body for the region’s leading HVACR manu- facturers, seeks to highlight the importance of ensuring good indoor air quality (IAQ) and the central role ventilation and fi ltration technologies play in this respect. Eurovent managing director Markus Lattner says IAQ is still a neglected topic Eurovent Middle East managing director Markus Lattner. tals where the concentration of potential hazardous viruses and bacteria is higher.” At present, the minimum IAQ requirement that needs to be followed by consultants and contractors is ASHRAE 62.1 or, for smaller buildings, ASHRAE 62.2. But these relatively lax regulations are not up to scratch, according to Lattner. “Regulations alone will not be suffi cient to achieve best IAQ, but we see some areas where regulations defi nitely would make sense and have a big impact on indoor air quality,” he said. “Eurovent Middle East has published a position paper on mandatory building inspections focused on HVACR installations. “Such a programme would have immedi- ate effects on IAQ as well, as it would move the market to better quality in products, in- stallations and maintenance. “The new ISO standard for air fi ltration, ISO16890 needs to fi nd its way into regula- tions as well. And then, an IAQ certifi cate for neuralgic buildings, schools and hospi- tals could be implemented together with the industry. “This could have a good impact on the overall awareness of indoor air quality and grow responsibility among the next genera- tions.” Lattner believes there are benefi ts to be gained by fi rms giving greater consideration to IAQ. He said: “It would not change so much for us as manufacturers of IAQ products, as the technology is already in place – but for those who care about good IAQ it could provide interesting benefi ts. “For instance, being one of the fi rst means opinion leadership and trust. And a big advantage of experience in the market. “Next to higher yields and satisfi ed clients, quality will always remain a selling point. “And the more people become sensitive to the issue, the more the market will grow. “As an association, we are driving this awareness and want to make sure that in- door air quality will receive the attention it deserves.” Air pollution is a major challenge both inside and outdoors.Next >