It’s an old cliché but the year is flying by at a rapid pace – where does the time go? It seems only yesterday when Expo 2020 opened its doors to the world in October 2021 and already the closing…
IFE GCC UAE Branch Update January 2022
At the time of writing the UAE celebrates its 50th anniversary. The UAE’s Golden Jubilee official celebrations commenced on 6 April 2021 with the year’s theme of celebration being the ‘Year of the 50th’, which came to a focus on…
Rail infrastructure fire safety – building for the future, learning from the past
This article by Sulaiman AlMohammadi (Saudi Arabia Railways) and Peter Stephenson (Warringtonfire), gives an overview of the development of the rail infrastructure in the UK and in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and compares current fire and life-safety guidance in…
IFE GCC UAE Branch Update July 2021
At the time of writing this update the international response to tackling the ongoing Covid pandemic remains positive. The UAE has had an efficient and professionally delivered vaccination programme to protect residents and visitors alike and has the second-best response…
The role of an expert witness
The consequences of fire can impact on a project or within the wider built environment at any time. In fact, the longest part of the lifecycle of a building (design, construction, in-use and demolition/reconstruction) is the in-use phase. Fire-safety issues…
IFE GCC UAE Branch Update April 2021
To say 2020 was a challenging year is, in reflection, a major understatement. However, as we leave the doom and gloom of 2020 behind us, we look forward to emerging stronger and more resilient to tackle any challenges we encounter…
Hotel fire safety
Modern hotels come in various shapes and sizes and are often part of more complex buildings, such as airports or large shopping malls. But their purpose in providing paid lodging on a short-term basis remains constant. Hotel operations vary in…
IFE GCC UAE Branch Update January 2021
As the year closes out and we move into 2021 there is a general feel of optimism for 2021. The year 2020 has challenged us all, whether this has been in our work or personal lives or within the wider…
IFE GCC UAE Branch Update October 2020
The last few months since the previous IFE Branch update have been a period of adjustment for living and working with the Covid-19 pandemic. I personally was locked down in the UK from April through to August before I could…
IFE GCC UAE Branch Update July 2020
Our last IFE Branch update went to press just as the current COVID-19 situation took a turn for the worst. At that time we were celebrating the new decade being kicked-off in the Middle East with a very successful Intersec…
IFE GCC UAE Branch Update April 2020
The new decade kicked-off in the Middle East with a very successful Intersec 2020 Exhibition. With the major projects and construction activity continuing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) it is encouraging to see that Intersec Saudi Arabia took…
IFE GCC UAE Branch Update January 2020
As the year end approaches we look forward with great excitement to 2020. Since the 2014 announcement that the UAE had been successful with the bid for the Expo 2020 the preparation for the event has been unprecedented. We also…
IFE GCC UAE Branch Update October 2019
As the hot summer draws to an end and the region looks forward to the cooler climate of the winter months, it is a good opportunity to reflect on the summers activities which focused around the Annual General Meeting (AGM)…
IFE GCC UAE Branch Update July 2019
At the time of writing the Holy month of Ramadan has come to an end and the region is celebrating Eid al-Fitr also called the “Festival of Breaking the Fast”. The Moon Sighting Committee of the Ministry of Awqaf and…
Fire compartmentation
Readers may recall in Issue 14 of Gulf Fire (April 2019 edition), an article that featured the development of international fire codes and standards. In a similar fashion the use and development of compartmentation can be traced back historically to…
IFE GCC UAE Branch Update April 2019
The first quarter of 2019 is flying past and the local business sentiment remains challenging but significant projects are materializing. To put things into perspective 2018 was the worst year for construction project awards since 2004. In recent years we…
IFE GCC UAE Branch Update October 2021
As October marks the start of the long-awaited Expo 2020 it is exciting to see an interview with Steve Hamm, CEO of the IFE in this edition of Gulf Fire. The interview discusses the new global strategy being implemented by…