Insulation industry news from Global Insulation
US: Owens Corning has received asthma and allergy friendly certification for its Pure Safety insulation product. It says it is the first such product to earn the certification from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). The product has less dust than comparable products and is mould and mildew resistant.
"We saw an opportunity to address the needs of over 70 million people with asthma and allergies. Caring about indoor air quality is just one way Owens Corning is committed to leveraging our building science expertise and insulation systems to create better, more sustainable and more comfortable homes," said Julian Francis, president of insulation, Owens Corning.
The Asthma and Allergy Friendly Certification Program was created in 2016. It is administered by the AAFA and Allergy Standards Limited. The program independently tests and identifies consumer products that are more suitable for those living with asthma and allergies using the Synthetic Home Insulation Products Standard, which addresses a product's effect on indoor air quality and capacity to resist mould growth.
Unigulf helps Arabian Fiberglass Insulation Company gain fibreglass certification from Dubai Civil Defence
27 June 2016UAE: Unigulf Group has helped the Arabian Fiberglass Insulation Company (AFICO) to gain certification from the Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) for its complete range of fibreglass products. The certification now offers AFICO access for its products to a wider range of contractors, according to TradeArabia.
"We worked closely with AFICO towards acquiring the DCD certificate for its entire range of insulation and acoustic products," said Prakash Chablani, the managing director of Unigulf Group. "At a time when the DCD is tightening the fire safety guidelines in the Emirate, the approval reinforces the need to conform with rules and regulations.”
AFICO is a joint venture with US-based Owens Corning and a member of Gulf Insulation Group under Zamil Industrial Company. Established in 1981 with operations in Dammam, Saudi Arabia the company is now one of the single largest manufacturers of fibreglass insulation in the region.
The DCD certification process includes a range of quality control tests and inspections of production plants as well as consistent testing of products. It also includes technical product tests conducted by third-party laboratories and inspections to test factory safety procedures and to evaluate the knowledge and skills of the technicians involved in the manufacturing process.
UAE: Kingspan Kooltherm and Kingspan KoolDuct products have ben awarded Dubai Central Laboratory (DCL) Product Conformity certification. The insulation products were manufactured at Kingspan’s plant in Pembridge, UK. DCL Product Conformity ensures that manufactured products adhere to requirements set by the Dubai Municipality.
"Having DCL Product Conformity means that the the Kooltherm range and KoolDuct products, alongside the PalDuct portfolio, carry the maximum potential for specification within projects across Dubai," said Sarmad Fakhri, managing director of Kingspan Insulation to Construction Week Online.
Saudi Arabia: Building Component Solutions Co. (BCOMS) has earned the FM Approvals Class 4480 certificate of compliance from FM Approvals for the company’s metal-faced, combustible core, interior wall/ceiling and exterior wall assembly building panels, as well as the FM Approvals Class 4471 certification for BCOMS insulated roof panels.
FM Standard 4480 evaluates insulated wall or wall and roof/ceiling panels, interior finish materials or coatings, and exterior wall systems for their performance with regard to fire resistance. BCOMS also gained FM Standard 4471 approval for the performance of metal roof panels. FM Approvals is a provider of testing and certification to determine product compliance with industry standards for hazardous locations and product performance.
“We are extremely proud to receive the FM Approvals certification, which assures customers that our products have been objectively tested and conform to international standards,” said Nasri Majzoub, general manager of BCOMS.
BCOMS is a supplier of sandwich panels based in Saudi Arabia, producing more than 1.5Mm2/yr of sprayed polyisocyanurate (PIR) foam and mineral wool sandwich panels. Its export markets include the Middle East, North Africa and Asia.