Intertek has launched a new in-country service for fire testing and certification of building products in Saudi Arabia, to support the increasing demand for fire resistance testing from customers in the region.
The inspection, product testing and certification company is the first certification body to offer end-to-end fire resistance testing and certification of building materials in Saudi Arabia.
The new service offers testing and certification of building products such as fire doors, walls, glazed partitions, and ceilings. The laboratory, located in Al Khobar, is ISO 17025 accredited and approved by the Saudi Civil Defence, and tests fire performance of load-bearing elements, skylights, and roof assemblies.
Featuring a combination furnace, the facility will allow Intertek to test and certify both vertical and horizontal products such as doors and ceilings.
Due to the growth in the Saudi construction industry, the demand for fire testing of building materials has increased significantly in recent years. The industry currently has 14,300 active construction projects, worth over USD7 trillion.
The launch of the new service will benefit companies based in Saudi Arabia by eliminating the need to ship samples abroad for testing, since Saudi companies will be able to test their building products locally in Al Khobar.
It will also allow companies to demonstrate that their building products and materials meet all the regulatory fire protection requirements according to Saudi Building Code 201 (General Requirements) and Code 801 (Saudi Fire Code).
The facility also tests for compliance with other codes such as the GCC Code, the International Building Code (IBC) and International Fire Code (IFC). Intertek’s unique fire certification capabilities help customers meet global standards such as the ISO, EN, BS, ASTM, UL and NFPA standards.
Cristina Perez Domper, Regional Operations Manager at Intertek Building & Construction for Middle East & Africa, said: “We are excited about being the first certification body to launch this service locally in Saudi Arabia.
“Now, we will be able to provide our customers with a complete suite of fire resistance testing, and local companies can get their buildings materials tested and certified without needing to send products abroad, allowing for a shorter turnaround time.
“We are committed to meeting our customers’ demands for product safety and helping them protect assets and lives through our fire testing solutions and Total Quality Assurance. Certification of their products will also help Saudi manufacturers export to global markets.”