Gulf Construction Online - Leister helps seal hospital against leaks

Hospital Construction

Precision work with the small and compact Uniroof E (below).

Leister helps seal hospital against leaks

01 March 2012

PROVEN welding machines and hand tools from Leister Technologies of Switzerland are helping seal the roof of the prestigious Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) complex in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The waterproofing applicator Al Shirawi Contracting Company is installing BASF-made single-ply thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) roofing membranes over an area of 9,000 sq m of this major medical complex using these Leister tools.

Commenting on the project, Khaja Mohammed Mazhar, a sales executive for the UAE-based BMC Gulf, Leister’s exclusive sales and service partner for the Middle East, says: “Even in dry regions, rain comes pouring down from time to time. That’s why flat roofs in these regions need to be protected too, especially when the building in question is a vital facility such as the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City. It is inconceivable what would happen if the roof of the emergency room in this complex were to leak.”

Work has been completed on a 3,600-sq-m section of the flat roof of the complex while a further 5,000 sq m is nearing completion. “More than 2,000 m of overlap welding seams were produced in perfect quality on the first section alone to the utmost satisfaction of everyone involved,” says Mazhar.

Various Leister tools are in use on the roof of the SKMC including Uniroof E, an automatic hot-air welding machine, and a number of Triac hand tools, which are primarily being used for detailing work.

However, it is the Uniroof E that does most of the work, says Mazhar. “The machine works at a rate of up to 5 m a minute, which is slower than its big brother, the Varimat V2 that can reach speeds of up to 12 m per min. Nonetheless, the Uniroof E is a good choice when it comes to medium-size roofs especially when many details such as T-joints and boarding are to be welded,” he explains.

Al Shirawi has been using Leister tools, including the Uniroof E, for a long time and is convinced of their sturdiness and reliability. The company’s divisional manager Sharad Bangera is full of praise for the machines that appear “small” at first glance.

“The Uniroof E is very easy to handle and flexible in use, thanks to its compact design. With the height-adjustable guide bar, it always remains controllable with precision. We’ve also used it on roofs with a pitch of 30 degrees – which is no problem for the tool, thanks to its powerful drive motor,” he says.

In addition, its speed and temperature can be set accurately and monitored on the display.

Prestigious project ... Sheikh Khalifa Medical City.

As air separation is also important for the welding seam quality, a rotating hold-down belt made of rubber and tensioned between the drive and diverting roller is used to ensure that the overlapping sheet is pressed onto the sheet below before the welding process. “The result is absolutely tight, homogenous welding seams,” says Mazhar.

The Uniroof E weighs only 13 kg, which means it can easily be transported onto any roof. Also, thanks to its low weight, the welding machine is suitable for areas that are difficult to reach and close to the edge, such as parapets and edging boards.

The operation of the tool is also not complicated. “You can get to grips with the welding machine really quickly. The specifications of the seal suppliers can be set individually. The pressure can be intensified with the practical extra weight, if need be,” he adds.

In fact, Bangera is impressed by all Leister tools. “They are a tremendous help for us. On this building site too, they make sure the roof is sealed quickly and efficiently.”

He also holds in high esteem the support from the relevant Leister sales and service partner.

Leister, known globally for its plastic welding equipment and hot air tools, has an international network of more than 120 sales and services offices, thereby always ensuring proximity to the customer.