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
Partition
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