United Arab Emirates Civil Defense gives approval to UL’s new cable fire safety and performance laboratory

United Arab Emirates Civil Defense gives approval to UL’s new cable fire safety and performance laboratory

Global safety and science leader UL has received approval for its cable fire safety and performance laboratory in Abu Dhabi.

The approval came from the United Arab Emirates Civil Defense to help the cable manufacturers meet regulatory standards and apply for a Civil Defense Certificate of Compliance.

UL’s laboratory is located in the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD) and is approved to test the safety and performance of fire-resistant cables. This now approved in-country facility enables manufacturers, brands and suppliers of fire-resistant cables in the Middle East to access a local laboratory when applying for a mandatory Civil Defense Certificate of Compliance.

Prior to UAE Civil Defense giving approval to the Abu Dhabi base, UL has been utilising its approved laboratories in the United States (U.S.) and Canada for testing and certification purposes. Once approved, products have then be exported to the UAE market.

The approval of the UAE-based laboratory confirms the facility is an accepted testing and/or certification laboratory and that testing conducted within the facility adheres to International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), British standards (BS) and European Standards (EN).

Sameer Abdul Salam, UL’s senior business development manager for the Middle East and Africa region, said: “The UAE strives to be one of the safest countries in the world, and that is why authorities such as the UAE Civil Defense were established.

“To import, manufacture or sell fire safety products in the UAE and other countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman, manufacturers must demonstrate the safety of their products through testing and certification through an approved testing laboratory and certification body.

“Following the UAE Civil Defense’s extended approval of UL’s Abu Dhabi fire cables safety and performance laboratory, UL can simplify the process for manufacturers looking to import or sell their fire-resistant cables in the UAE and help them build trust in the safety of their products among their customers.”

The approved fire cable safety and performance laboratory is staffed with UL’s experts and has the capability to test flame-retardant and fire-resistant cables, fire alarm cables, building wires with fire resistance ratings and fiber optic component cables with fire resistance ratings and busways. The laboratory can accommodate tests to multiple standards for flame retardancy and fire resistance properties, including IEC, BS and EN.

Hamid Syed, vice president and general manager in the Middle East and Africa for UL, said: “We are very proud of this achievement. Being approved by the UAE Civil Defense will enable us to help manufacturers access the UAE market more easily than ever before.

“By providing testing, inspection and certification services in-country, we can help our customers bring their fire safety products to market quickly and safely. From our in-country laboratory, we can assist them in addressing product risks, safety and performance, and ease logistical challenges — including reducing shipping costs — while helping them supply compliant products throughout the region.”