Dubai Central Laboratory conducts consultative meeting with 200 government clients to strengthen green building program

Dubai Central Laboratory conducts consultative meeting with 200 government clients to strengthen green building program

MAPEI sponsors high-profile gathering and outlines company's contributions to sustainable development of Dubai

May 11, 2010
The Dubai Central Laboratory (DCL) department of Dubai Municipality has recently concluded a consultative meeting wherein more than 200 current and potential clients of DCL joined key government officials in discussing challenges and opportunities in promoting Dubai's sustainable development. MAPEI, global leader in the production of adhesives, sealants and chemical products for buildings, participated as sponsor of the event and provided a presentation of the significant contributions of its premium range of products to Dubai's green building initiative as well as the special properties that make MAPEI the ideal solution for the region's climatic conditions.

DCL announced during the event that it is deploying new testing equipment to ensure strict compliance of contractors to Dubai Government's green building regulations. Moreover, the test facilities will be further expanded to include advanced tests for detecting heavy metals in paint and coating by using ICP, Volatile Organic Compound through Gas Chromatography, Light Reflective Values of external surface and coatings, and solar reflective index for external coating.

Speaking at the event, Eng. Hawa Abdulla Bastaki, Director of DCL, discussed the expanding range of DCL's services: "The Engineering Material Laboratory section of DCL received accreditation for 25 more tests from Dubai Accreditation Centre as per ISO 17025, and this makes a total accreditation of 51 tests. This accreditation covers tests related to materials such as thermal insulations, asphalt, soil aggregate, concrete, steel etc. We are also in the process of implementing new services, including testing of car tyres, timber and timber products, ceramic tiles, paints and coatings."

"As per the directions and vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Dubai Municipality and other departments in Dubai are implementing green building regulations to address the emirate's long-term environmental challenges," added Eng. Bastaki.

Laith Haboubi, Business Development Director, IBS-MAPEI, said: "MAPEI's participation at the meeting was in line with the company's commitment to support Dubai Government in its efforts to protect and conserve the environment and ensure a clean and healthy living community. MAPEI is fully prepared to address all environmental requirements of the emirate as we have more than 150 products that are recognised to contribute to LEED certification and comply with most environmental and green building certification systems. Moreover, as Dubai moves ahead with its green building program, MAPEI will continue to focus on a parallel initiative to develop environmentally conscious products that complement the government's environmental advocacy."

The meeting was also attended by Eng. Salem Mohammed Bin Mesmar, Assistant Director General for Environment, Health and Safety Affairs; Eng. Khalid Abdelrahim Abdalla, Director of Customer Relations; Eng. Ali Ahmed Elian, Head of Engineering Material Section of Dubai Central Laboratory; and representatives from the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). An open forum was also held during the event wherein DCL received suggestions and ideas from customers, contractors and consultants.

Selected consultants and contractors were also honoured during the event for their contributions to Dubai's green building program. Certificates were distributed to all recipients by Eng. Bastaki.

About Mapei

Founded in Milan in 1937, Mapei is today the world leader in the production of adhesives and complementary products for the installation of all types of floor and wall coverings. The company is also specialized in other chemical products for building: from water-proofing to special mortars, from admixtures for concrete to products for the restoration of ancient buildings.

Mapei Group’s production may be summarized as follows: previewed sales in 2009 are 1.7 billion euros and the total number of Mapei Group employees is 6100.

The Group now counts 63 subsidiaries with 56 production facilities in operation in the 5 continents in 25 countries.

Mapei’s UAE subsidiary is Innovative Building Solutions LLC (IBS-Mapei). As part of its long-term commitment to the Middle East, the company commenced production in February 2009, at its 40,000 square metre facility at Dubai Investments Park.

Free medical check up conducted for 200 DCL employees

Free medical check up conducted for 200 DCL employees

More than 200 employees of Dubai Central Laboratory (DCL) benefited from the free medical check up drive offered by the Public Health Services Department at Dubai Municipality as part of the activities of the Second Medical Day organized at Safa Park. The drive under the slogan "Your Health, Our Concern," organized in cooperation with a number of private companies, was part of the care given by DCL to its employees' health and the corporate values of the Municipality, which considers the employees as its real asset.
Eng. Hawa Bastaki, Director of Dubai Central Laboratory Department said the department took this initiative for the second consecutive year aimed at educating its employees on the importance of conducting regular medical check ups in order to ensure their fitness so that they enjoy a happy life.
She said that it is also aimed at enhancing the level of job satisfaction, productivity and work quality. "Through these check ups, the employees' health status is constantly being followed up and the right treatment is provided in case any illness is found," said Bastaki.
She said that the department transported all its employees to Safa Park using Municipality buses so that there is a changed atmosphere than the office premises. "All the necessary tests were carried out for employees including that of blood pressure, sugar and osteoporosis," she said.
Bastaki said that this time the drive was distinguished with the fact that there was a lady beauty expert from one of the international companies specialised in medical examinations for lady employees in order to ensure their health and vitality skin complexion.
She said that that department has been conducting many activities for its employees, the latest among them being the Sports Day and Ramadan Forum. "These activities were aimed at strengthening the social relationships between the employees and creating team spirit among them," said Bastaki.

Dubai Crown Prince loads DCL progress and employees' skills

Dubai Crown Prince loads DCL progress and employees' skills

Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum loaded the progress achieve by Dubai Central Laboratory (DCL) during the past years and the skills accomplished by its employees that match international standards.

He expressed his satisfaction on the lab's international glory, which has come through international recognitions on its professional and technical capabilities, the certificates it issues, its credibility, the skills of its employees and the advanced equipments it uses.

Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum was speaking after a visit to the DCL, which was part of his visits to the different departments, establishments and authorities in the emirate of Dubai to get a brief on their work progress.

Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality, the director and employees of the Central Lab received Sheikh Hamdan, who was visiting the lab for the first time.

The Crown Prince listened to a presentation on Dubai Central Laboratory Department by its director Eng. Hawa Bastaki, who explained the vision, mission and strategies of the department as well as the tasks undertaken by its employees and the international recognitions received by the lab for its credibility in conducting tests in different fields.

She said that the strategic map for 2007-2011 aims at enhancing the customer loyalty towards the central lab, strengthening financial competency and effectiveness, development and diversification of services to the customers as well as its role in serving the society and preservation of environment, public health and safety by sticking to the rules and regulations and achieving legal and transparent environment.

It also include cooperation with the partners and suppliers, outstanding performance in the field of corporate excellence, e-transformation, applying international specifications and best practices, developing urban plan features as regards encouraging human resources and its development.
The number of employees in the Central Laboratory Department has reached 300 and the nationals constitute 49% among them. The DCL, which consists of Food & Environment, Engineering Materials, Consumer Materials and Calibration & Standardization labs, provides 94% of its services online.

She said the vision of DCL is to become the top product confidence vendor in the world and the mission is to evaluate products and carry out tests and studies, develop specifications and verify standards through the expertise of the DCL staff for the purpose of contributing towards protecting the consumers and achieving customer satisfaction.

Photo: Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum visits different sections of DCL.