Al Futtaim Element Non Fire Facade Testing

Non-Fire Facade Testing

As a UKAS accredited facility in the Middle East, Al Futtaim Element’s Facade Testing & Advisory Services (FTAS) Division is truly a world-class facility and, as such, is unique in the region. We provide building envelope system, component and material testing services to the Middle East region and beyond.

We can provide our clients with both standard and non-standard types of testing solutions. The Facade Testing & Advisory Services Division does not do system design and is therefore able to provide legitimate third party services to the industry, in the form of advisory, reviews, inspections and investigations.

We service clients from countries across the Middle East region including the UAE, Lebanon, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Egypt and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We have also performed testing and provided advice to clients outside the Middle East, including India, the Far East and Europe. We mainly focus on testing and advisory services for building envelopes.

The most common types of standards used at the lab are ASTM, BS EN, ISO and CWCT as specified by clients and their projects.

Laboratory testing to ASTM, CWCT & BS EN standards

• Air Leakage
• Water penetration (static, cyclic, dynamic and hose)
• Structural wind resistance (static and cyclic)
• Seismic movement
• Thermal cycling
• Operational cycles
• Load tests
• Impact resistance
• Balustrade tests – point & uniformly distributed load tests & impact tests
• Fragility / robustness tests

The following systems and components are tested at our laboratory facility.

• Curtain walls

- Single, double and triple-storey samples

- Stick system, unitized, planar-glazing type, cable truss, space frame & fabric systems

• Double skin façades
• Windows & Doors Pre-cast panels / Metal panel systems / Composite panel systems
• Skylights / roofs Balustrades
• Blockwork walls
• Glass / Glazing systems
• Partitions

On-site testing to ASTM, CWCT & BS EN standards

• Air leakage
• Water penetration (static and hose)
• Structural wind resistance (static and cyclic)
• Load / pull-out tests Impact resistance
• Balustrade tests – point & uniformly distributed load tests & impact tests

Additional testing

• Glass stress analysis
• Glass impact testing to BS EN 12600 and ANSI Z97.1
• Test for partitions to BS 5234
• Strength test for panels to ASTM E72
• Bespoke tests