< PreviousHVAC POWER 25 30 MEP Middle East | February 2021 www.mepmiddleeast.com KAD AIR CONDITIONINGKAD AIR CONDITIONING KAD Air Conditioning is a manufacturer of centralised air conditioning ducts, fi re-rated ducts, smoke dampers, fi re dampers, VAV, sound attenuators, fl exible ducts, fl exible duct connectors, as well as related duct accessories. KAD Air Conditioning, which is owned by Khalifa Abdulla Ahmed Dasmal and was established in 2002, has become a prominent name in the UAE and across the GCC region for its duct and duct accessories manufacturing. In addition, KAD’s fi re rated duct and fi re damper have been approved by the Dubai and Abu Dhabi Civil Defense authorities. During the past 12 months, the fi rm was involved in the Farid Tower II residential and commercial project, as well as the Fujairah Investment Towers, and an Aster Hospital project. In 2021, the company plans to expand its range of fi re rated ductwork systems, smoke and fi re dampers, VAV, and sound attenuators. Commenting on the fi rm’s strengths, the KAD Air Conditioning’s general manager, Javed Tejani, said: “KAD has state-of-the-art machinery back by qualifi ed and experienced engineers, who assist project teams. Speaking about the fi rm’s focus on sustainability, Tejani added: “KAD’s R&D team constantly aims to develop products that ensure sustainability in the Middle East.” KAD Air Conditioning’s non-coated fire-rated duct is approved for mechanical ventialtion systems HIRA INDUSTRIESHIRA INDUSTRIES Dubai-based manufacturing fi rm Hira Industries, which provides building products for the construction, marine, commercial, oil & gas, and residential industries, has been providing HVAC solutions, acoustic solutions, and thermal insulation solutions in the region for more than 40 years. Hira Industries’ product line includes thermal insulation, adhesive tapes, rubber impact protection systems, ducting accessories, air movement products, and modular installation systems. “Highly Commended” as the Supplier of the Year, at the 2020 MEP Middle East Awards, Hira Industries has been involved in a number of projects, including Expo 2020 Dubai; Kuwait’s Farwaniya Hospital; Lebanon’s Bankmed HQ; Nigeria’s Chelsea Hotel; Kenya’s Ole Sereni Hotel; New Zealand’s Metro Sports Facility in Christ Church and the Holiday Inn in Auckland; and Australia’s Curtin University in Perth. Hira Industries plans to expand its services to East Africa, Europe, and provide its products in multiple locations in America. The fi rm has incorporated sustainability by producing LEED products for a cleaner construction and building system. Along with this, its products do not contain any CFC or HCFCs, ensuring a clean, safe, and green environment. In addition, its products are also fi re resistant and prevent injuries. CAMFIL MIDDLE EASTCAMFIL MIDDLE EAST One of the leading manufacturers of premium clean air solutions, Camfi l Middle East provides commercial and industrial systems for air fi ltration and air pollution control that improves worker and equipment productivity, minimises energy use, and benefi ts human health and the environment. From design to delivery and across the product life cycle, Camfi l Middle East has considered the impact it has on people and on the world around us. The fi rm offers a wide range of premium clean air solutions for commercial and industrial air fi ltration, air pollution control, and turbomachinery applications. Camfi l’s manufactured fi lters meet latest air fi ltration standards as per Eurovent, Ashrae, and the ISO16890. Globally, Camfi l’s divisions adhere to the group-wide Camfi lCairing programme, which integrates sustainability and corporate citizenship into its business strategy. As part of the programme, each year Camfi l companies hosts a ‘Cairing Week’, to focus on community outreach events and internal improvement measures. Through a fresh approach to problem- solving, innovative design, precise process control, and a strong customer focus, Camfi l aims to conserve more and use less. Camfil offers a wide range of premium clean air solutions for commercial and industrial filtration Hira Industries’ product line includes flexible duct connectors and ducting accessoriesHVAC POWER 25 February 2021 | MEP Middle East 31 www.mepmiddleeast.com FUJITSU GENERAL MIDDLE EAST & AFRICAFUJITSU GENERAL MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA Japan-headquartered Fujitsu General Limited is a leading HVAC company, which manufactures and distributes a variety of air conditioning units and humidity control solutions to different markets. Fujitsu General shook up the market when it entered the Middle East in 1972, going on to become one of the region’s biggest-selling air conditioner brand. The brand – which has picked up numerous awards including the Superbrands UAE 2020 Award – is the sole distributor to UAE-based Taqeef, working as a founding partner to develop the world’s fi rst cooling application for desert conditions. In 2021, Fujitsu General is looking to expand in the commercial air conditioners sector. “Through innovation and technology, we deliver a brighter future to ensure the peace of mind for our customers and societies around the world,” said Ammar Abusitta, the sales manager for Fujitsu General Middle East FZE. The Fujitsu General Group has also established its “medium-term environmental plan,” which aims to goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions considerably by 2030. The fi rm is also promoting its “environmental protection programme” to contribute towards a comfortable, safe, secure, and sustainable society in the future. Fujitsu General’s Medium Static Tropical Duct offers high energy efficiency, and easy installation & maintenance DAIKIN MEADAIKIN MEA Daikin Middle East & Africa – which provides aftermarket support for a full range of air conditioning equipment and systems in the GCC, Middle East, and Africa – has been recognised in the HVAC-R space for its contribution to the well-being of society through its technologies and green solutions. At present, the company employs a global workforce of 80,000 employees. With more 100 factories strategically located around the world, Daikin products have been sold and distributed across 150 countries. Winner of the 2020 Superbrands UAE Choice Award, Daikin MEA has successfully completed and has been awarded a number of projects, including a $10.9mn (AED40mn) HVAC deal from Azizi Developments; data centres in the UAE; stadiums in Qatar; and residential compounds in KSA and Egypt. Daikin MEA has also launched products with a key focus on indoor air quality and purifi cation. Its new range of solutions includes fl agship air purifi ers, the residential AHU series, new fi lter technologies, auto- cleaning technologies, and more. The fi rm’s marketing manager, Taleih Halaby, said: “The brand has emerged to be among the top contributers and drivers of the HVAC market in the region, offering the widest range of solutions – from the smallest split to the largest chiller – and landing key projects in the region.” TROSTEN INDUSTRIES COMPANYTROSTEN INDUSTRIES COMPANY Located in Dubai Investment Park, Trosten Industries Company specialises in the manufacturing of centralised air conditioning and kitchen ventilation equipment, with state- of-the-art manufacturing facilities, and more than 17 years of experience in the region. Trosten provides quality HVAC equipment for industrial, residential, commercial, and specialised applications. Through its HVAC engineering solutions, the fi rm helps its customers achieve tangible benefi ts in the form of energy savings. Trosten Industries Company has been involved in a number of projects in the UAE include the Thematic Districts, the Al Wasl Plaza, and the UAE Pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai site. In addition, it has also been involved in projects such as seven metro stations along the UAE’s Route 2020; the Jumeirah Saadiyat Beach Resort in Abu Dhabi; the Royal Atlantis Hotel on Palm Jumeirah in Dubai; the Najmat Tower in Abu Dhabi; the Warner Bros Hotel in Abu Dhabi; the Dubai Hills Mall; and the Etihad Railways, among others. Trosten’s manufactured products also include Eurovent certifi ed air handling units and chilled water fan coil units. Trosten also has a manufacturing plant in Oman, and was involved in Muscat’s Aster Hospital project. Trosten’s manufactured products include Eurovent certified chilled water fan coil units The Daikin Mini VRV-5 with the climate-friendly R-32 refrigerant helps reduce carbon emissions32 MEP Middle East | February 2021 www.mepmiddleeast.com PIPE SYSTEMS Geberit Pluvia drains roofs effi ciently and reliably even under the heaviest rainfall. As signifi cantly less product material and space are required for siphonic roof drainage than for conventional systems, free space is created. This allows for greater design freedom in planning, as well as higher cost-effectiveness during installation and operation, which are good reasons to choose Geberit expertise. Through tried-and tested technology, innovative details and a holistic service, Geberit Pluvia has been setting new standards for many years. While conventional systems simply allow rain to run off through sloping pipes, the compact Geberit Pluvia pipe system fi lls up quickly and extracts the rainwater from the roof using the resultant negative pressure. The Geberit Pluvia roof outlets prevent air from being sucked in and guarantee reliable performance. The result: double the amount of rainwater discharge at half the pipe diameter. There is also greater design freedom in terms of planning since there is no longer any need for pipelines that have to be laid with a slope. Thanks to the high discharge rate of the siphonic system, fewer roof outlets are required. This results in savings in product material and the amount of work needed, while also preserving the roof. Because the pipes are fi lled completely, fewer drains are required. The result: greater fl exibility in planning. Fewer discharge stacks and fewer connections mean lower installation and material costs. Geberit Pluvia pipelines are designed for complete fi lling. This reduces the pipe diameter to the bare necessity. The high fl ow velocity of more than 0.5 m/s when the pipeline is fi lled produces suction, which contributes to the self- cleaning of the system. This ultimately means less time spent on maintenance. Because Geberit Pluvia pipelines are laid horizontally, the drainage system does not result in any loss of space. Perfectly matched components ensure that the overall system functions fl awlessly. Sophisticated details and a consistently DESIGN FREEDOM The Managing Director of Geberit International Sales AG, Daniel Engelhard, on the efficiency of Geberit Pluvia Because the pipes are filled completely, fewer drains are required The high flow velocity of more than 0.5 m/s when the pipeline is filled produces suction, which contributes to the self-cleaning of the systemFebruary 2021 | MEP Middle East 33 www.mepmiddleeast.com PIPE SYSTEMS high level of material quality reliably ensure durability, safety, and smooth operation. Thanks to the modular construction and the many models of the Geberit Pluvia roof outlet, the system is suitable for almost all installation situations on large buildings and roofs. Required accessories for virtually all applications are available, and can make the system highly fl exible. Whenever complex roof structures or diffi cult geometries pose a particular challenge, the Geberit team is happy to work collaboratively to fi nd a solution. For more than 40 years, Geberit has supported sanitary engineers, plumbers, and building owners around the world in the use of Geberit Pluvia. Thanks to the in-house product development and research in the fi eld of hydraulics, customers have access to Geberit’s comprehensive market and technology expertise. Reliability and trustworthiness are key factors when it comes to supporting complex projects with optimal support services. The Geberit team is on-site to provide help wherever needed. Support in the planning phase: • Consulting for Pluvia system conception • Planning the number of roof outlets according to rainfall intensity • Complete planning on the basis of construction plans • Creation of isometrics with Geberit ProPlanner • Material planning • Provision of BIM content for Autodesk Revit Support in the quotation phase: • Assistance in preparing a quotation • Creation of a material list with Geberit ProPlanner • Offering a complete system (outlets, fastening, pipes, and tools) Support in execution phase: • Construction site training for plumbers and roofers • On-site inspections through Geberit consultants • Support for change planning (including recalculations) • Final project acceptance • Maintenance training Perfectly matched components ensure that the overall system functions flawlessly34 MEP Middle East | February 2021 www.mepmiddleeast.com FUTURE CITIES The fact that the MEP and HVAC sectors within the construction industry have historically lagged in the adoption of technology has been well-documented, with its resulting fallout on the energy effi ciency of the existing building stock contributing heavily to global warming and climate change. Yet, conversely, there is suffi cient evidence that points to the fact that the technologies needed to take the industry a step forward towards sustainability already exists. In order to make buildings “smarter” and bring the “sustainable cities of the future” to life, construction contractors and subcontractors need to take cognizance of existing technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) on sensors, Building Information Modelling (BIM), predictive artifi cial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools, and make the most of Big Data – the time has come to audit our existing buildings and city infrastructure. Speaking at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2021, the chief executive offi cer of the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, said: “The challenge posed by climate change is even more serious, and will have an even more devastating impact on our economies, than the COVID-19 pandemic. “We need to better harness digitalisation and smart infrastructure to connect our city systems, and introduce artifi cial intelligence to fl ag ineffi ciencies and issues. We also need to regulate better building standards, as well as cleaner, greener building material. “We need to address cooling and heating, which is responsible for 50% of a building’s energy consumption. This is where Masdar City has made great progress in terms of energy effi ciency.” Masdar City – Abu Dhabi’s sustainable urban development – has been raising the bar in terms of energy effi ciency and electricity consumption; its buildings have been using 40% less energy than other buildings serving the same function. “We need to speed up the transition to clean energy and look at more innovative solutions – such as distributed solar – to power future cities. In addition to the electricity needs of a city, we also need to address waste management and water conservation with more effi cient recycling and reusing methods,” Al Ramahi added. “We need to advance battery and storage solutions to ensure that renewables can seamlessly integrate with existing electricity grids, or facilitate micro-grid and off-grid communities. We also need to invest in the fuels and technologies of the future.” At ADSW 2021, Siemens Energy inked deals with Masdar as well as the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa, Marubeni Corporation, and Khalifa University to build a photovoltaic (PV) powered electrolyser facility in Masdar City, establishing green hydrogen production technology and bolstering the AVOIDING A FUTURE THAT COULD BE MORE DEVASTATING THAN COVID-19 The global population is increasing, driving the demand for urbanisation and increased city infrastructure; yet, if the cities of the future are not energy effi cient and are not built sustainably, they could have an adverse effect on the well-being and the quality of life of their occupants Building materials alone are expected to emit 350 giga-tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere by MEP Editor, Anup OommenFebruary 2021 | MEP Middle East 35 www.mepmiddleeast.com FUTURE CITIES “We need to advance battery and storage solutions to ensure that renewables can seamlessly integrate with existing electricity grids, or facilitate micro-grid and off-grid communities development of the UAE’s green hydrogen economy. Commenting on its fi nancial ramifi cations, Al Ramahi said: “We expect that this existing energy source will be cost competitive with other energy sources, sooner rather than later.” Yet, despite the existence of modern technologies and solutions, signifi cant challenges remain, especially in countries where the pressures of urbanisation are acute and investments in clean energy, green building material, and effi cient waste management solutions are scarce. According to the UN, the world’s population is expected to increase by 2 billion people in the next 30 years, from 7.7 billion currently to 9.7 billion in 2050 and could peak at nearly 11 billion around 2100. One of the biggest challenges facing future cities is the fact that they will need to accommodate the global population, while fi nding energy effi cient mechanical, electrical, heating, and cooling solutions for this population. In order to push toward a green economy post-COVID-19, there is a need for the cities of tomorrow to be resilient. Speaking at ADSW 2021, Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Grace Fu, said: “We need to consider three perspectives: Resilience in economic terms, resilience in climactic terms, and resilience in terms of the resources that we have. “If we look at economic resilience, we know that digitalisation is the key enabler. We have never adopted so much technology in such a short period of time ever before. “Despite supply chain disruptions, there is a need to enhance adaptability and decision-making capabilities by harnessing databases that we have at the government level.” The chief executive offi cer and managing director of Hawa Dawa, Karim Tarraf, added: “We need to integrate environmental aspects into decision making and use all the modern tools that we have today – including satellites, IoT, machine learning, Big Data – in order to narrow down the challenges. Future cities need to be a pre-emptive action rather than a reactive entity.” In addition to data ecosystems and the way they interact with policies for future sustainable cities, it is also important to look at the actual building material that is being used to construct future cities. There is a need to balance the sheer scale that is envisioned in building infrastructure of future cities with the carbon-neutral and carbon-negative solutions that are being envisioned for the good of the climate and the well-being of the occupants of these future cities. “Despite the dematerialisation being brought about by digital infrastructures, there’s still a signifi cant amount of actual physical material going into constructing future cities,” explains Allison Dring, the CEO and Co-Founder of the Made of Air organisation. Dring adds: “It is estimated that the building materials for future cities alone are expected to emit 350 giga-tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere. That number clearly shows that building and construction materials alone have the ability to make or break a carbon budget. “Rather than looking at this as a challenge, we should view this as an opportunity – where are we going to get these sustainable materials to build the future cities that our growing populations need? “We need to plan for this future growth in a way that we can sustain ourselves. The fact that urbanisation demands future cities, and that future cities could harm the climate can be balanced out by the idea, selection, and choices of sustainable building materials. “This could be a revolutionary idea; this could be the chance we have to create a sustainable city that is actually able to do something about the climate crisis that we’ve caused.” In addition, there are building materials coming to the fore that can absorb CO2 from the air. If future cities, which need to be built to cater to future population growth, can make environments more sustainable by removing harmful carbon emissions from the atmosphere while focusing on engineered landscapes, forests, recycled water, and effi cient waste management, the construction of future cities could even be benefi cial to the environment rather than be harmful to it. The time has come for governments, developers, and construction stakeholders, including contractors, subcontractors, and others across the supply chain to invest and contribute towards sustainable projects, which could prove more fi nancially and environmentally sustainable than traditional forms of construction in the long-term. “Moving into 2021, we all hope that the COVID-19 pandemic will be followed with a green recovery. The only solution for the challenges we face is for us to work together to fi x our cities and drive towards a better and more sustainable future,” Masdar CEO Al Ramahi concludes.YOUTUBE 36 MEP Middle East | February 2021 www.mepmiddleeast.com THE LATEST FROM CONSTRUCTION WEEK’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL TOTAL VIEWS 2.2m SUBSCRIBERS 11,900 Frank Ackland MD - Middle East & Turkey, Xylem Frank Ackland talks about the role of digitalisation, new technologies, and innovation in safeguarding global water infrastructure Video link below: youtu.be/dni5lzVUgdg MEP Engineered Online | Epidode 8 Basheer Massad General Manager, BK Gulf LLC Basheer Massad talks about keeping the fi rm's fi nancials robust in 2020; its delayed expansion plans; and its outlook for 2021 Video link below: youtu.be/_DpiX0Hxkig MEP Engineered Online | Epidode 7YOUTUBE February 2021 | MEP Middle East 37 www.mepmiddleeast.com youtube.com/c/constructionweekonlinecomy WATCH TIME (HOURS) 86.7k MEPMEP Remo Hirschi Head of Product Management and Technical Sales Support, Geberit Geberit extolls the virtues of new technologies, and shares its 150-year journey of innovation within the sanitary business Video link below: youtu.be/Sq063OrTwO8 MEP Engineered Online | Epidode 6 Cathy Christer Director for MEP, AECOM Cathy Christer talks about the wheels of change and sheds the light on the consultancy's drive towards digital design systems Video link below: youtu.be/9q0Bgt3nl_M MEP Engineered Online | Epidode 538 MEP Middle East | February 2021 www.mepmiddleeast.com 2021 OUTLOOK People,People, Technology,Technology, and Sustainabilityand Sustainability shaping MEP in 2021 While 2020 was a diffi cult year, 2021 looks to present even greater challenges as many countries deal with a second or third lockdown and the resulting effects these have on the global economy. The engineering and construction sectors were among the key sectors to have been affected last year, with a number of projects cancelled or put on hold. Only projects where work was at an advanced stage pressed on during the lockdowns. Plans for future developments are likely to be affected for at least a year by the fi nancial uncertainty that the pandemic has caused, and disruption and delays in ongoing projects are likely to continue. In addition to the uncertainty of developments moving ahead, organisations of varied sizes and across industries have been forced to implement new ways of working to remain operational and ensure continuity. However, where there is adversity there is also opportunity, and there are important lessons to be learned from the pandemic including the opportunity to do things differently, to adopt a more people- centric approach, a more effi cient design, and to fully embrace technology. Alaa Abdelmohsen Sayed, Partner – MEP at GAJ on collaboration, energy effi cient designs, and investment in techFebruary 2021 | MEP Middle East 39 www.mepmiddleeast.com 2021 OUTLOOK Communication and collaboration Good communication between the client and the design team is absolutely vital to good design and to the overall the success of a project. A continuous fl ow of information and the management of expectations will lead to everyone being on the same page throughout the design and construction process. Projects where this has been a success have a particular drive and energy; the client, designers and construction team take pride in a common goal. Employers across the world are looking at a new operational model based on higher fl exibility, and more agile and remote ways of working, with most leaning towards a hybrid model that enable employees to move seamlessly between on-site and remote work. Yet, while the fl exible workplace is going to be around for a while, there are a number of industries that offer little or no opportunity for remote work. The physical activities associated with the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing services on a construction site require the day-to-day presence of an engineer, and consultancy fi rms have struggled to manage remote working and the delivery of work packages. This new reality has, and will, continue to pose challenges for MEP teams worldwide as they try to manage their construction sites remotely while keeping their workforce connected. With remote workers becoming more distanced there is greater pressure on the need for effective communication, and companies are increasingly turning to project management tools such as BIM 360 to help create real-time collaborative environments. “Where there is adversity there is also opportunity, and there are important lessons to be learned from the pandemic, including the opportunity to do things DIFFERENTLY!” This new reality has, and will, continue to pose challenges for MEP teams worldwide as they try to manage their construction sites remotely while keeping their workforce connectedNext >