EEI upgrades to meet new Dubai standards
01 December 2002
Pioneering insulation manufacturer Electronic and Engineering Industries (EEI) says it has witnessed increasing awareness in the UAE of the need to insulate following a series of seminars and an administrative decree issued by Dubai Municipality to promote the use of thermal insulation in buildings.
And in line with the directive, EEI is in the process of updating its equipment to ensure its products meet the technical specifications for a thermal insulation systems set by the civic authority, according to M J Joseph, manager of the ISO 9002-certified company.
EEI, which manufactures polystyrene products, was established in 1979. It became the first manufacturer of injection-moulded polystyrene in the Middle East in the early 1980s, when it developed Roofmaster with German technology and collaboration.
"When it comes to expanded polystyrene (EPS), and specifically injection-moulded polystyrene (Roofmaster), no other company compares with EEI in the region," says Joseph.
Roofmaster has since made a significant contribution to the thermal insulation sector, helping in the conservation of energy and boosting energy efficiency, he says.
EEI's 107,500 sq ft facility is located in Sharjah with its management, production and stores centralised in one premises. EEI also has offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
EEI's expanded polystyrene is a rigid, lightweight, closed-cell insulation.
EEI manufactures expanded polystyrene in different densities and sizes for the insulation of roofs, walls and floors, prefabricated houses and partitions, sound insulation, moulded pipe insulation for air-conditioning, insulation of hot and cold water lines, expansion joints, hourdis and void formers, insulation of cold stores, cold display cabinets and refrigerated vehicles, packaging, boxes, decorative display models. "By controlling the density of expanding beads during the manufacturing process, we can custom-produce insulation materials to the specific requirement of applications," he adds.
All its products meet BSI, ASTM, DIN specifications and all products are CFC (chlorofluorocarbon)-free, he says.
"EPS has good heat resistance, low thermal conductivity, high R-values, high compressive strength, excellent shock absorption and dimensional stability and low water absorption," explains Joseph. "This non-dusting product has a reflective white colour; it will not rot, mildew or support bacterial growth and is resistant to most acids and alkalis.
"EPS offers a number of advantages. It is energy saving, easy to handle and apply and simple to cut and shape. It is low on material/installation costs, is offered in various densities and sizes, tolerates a broad range of temperatures, does not irritate the skin, resists moisture penetration, and does not deplete the earth's ozone layer.
"EEI's expanded polystyrene boards and injection-moulded boards are conform to the British Standard BS 3837:1977 for expanded polystyrene boards, DIN and ASTM. The product is available as Type N (normal), consisting of 100 per cent closed-cell polystyrene expandable beads, and Type A (fire retardant), which is similar to type N but meets additional requirements for the extent of burn. This requirement is met by incorporation of flame-retardant additives and other appropriate modification," he explains.
Standard block sizes range from 2,440 mm to 3,120 mm in length, 1,220 mm to 1,270 mm in width and 500 mm to 1,120 mm in thickness. The thickness can be cut as required ranging from 8 mm to 1,120 mm.
The large moulded blocks are hot wire cut on the flat lines to any thickness, width, and length desired. The company's CAD/CAM capabilities enables it to product a diverse variety of standard and custom products.
Elaborating on its most popular product, Joseph says: "Roofmaster comprises panels injected with closed-cell expanded polystyrene. These panels feature excellent thermal insulation properties, high compressive strength, low moisture uptake and are superior to cut boards.
"Manufactured from high quality EPS raw materials, Roofmaster panels are recommended for any application requiring efficient thermal insulation, good resistance to moisture and high mechanical strength.
"Due to its high compressive strength and low water absorption, Roofmaster panels are ideal for thermal insulation of inverted membrane roofs. They can be covered with a concrete slab (or other roof structure with the sufficient load capacity) to enable adequate ballasting and protection from UV (ultraviolet) radiation, rain and storms.
"Roofmaster panels contain a flame-retardant additive and are available in densities of 32-35 kg/cu m and 38-44 kg/cu m, panel size of 1,000 by 500 mm and thickness of 25 to 100 mm.
"Roofmaster panels offers the same resistance to chemicals, solvent and aging as polystyrene (extruded or cut cell surface boards) from which it has been derived. It is not affected by water and aqueous solution of salts, most acids and alkalis.
"The panels can be worked with conventional wood-working tools and can be bound together with hot bitumen, dispersion-type structural or special adhesives. Bonding Roofmaster panel with emulsion or contact adhesive and bitumen will not affect its physical properties.
"Unlike other insulation panels, Roofmaster is very stable in high temperatures, it does not warp and does not cause problems normally associated with other insulation boards.
The company is currently supplying to numerous projects in the UAE.
"Business levels have been very good this year, thanks to the greater awareness of the importance of insulation," Joseph says.
Among the major projects it has supplied this year are the power and desalination project in Fujairah, which has Six Construct as main contractor, and 336 villas for Emaar (Arabtec as main contractor).
EEI continues to regularly supply to Public Works Department project in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain Municipality and Dubai Municipality.
Other prestigious projects where EEI products have been used include:
- Buildking offers an instant fix
- Conmix launches two new products
- EEI upgrades to meet new Dubai standards
- Rockwool 'superior product'
