Gulf Construction Online - Flowcrete solutions floor the market

Britain & the Middle East

Flowshield used to dramatic effect at the Karisma Boutiques at Jimi Mall in the UAE.

Flowcrete solutions floor the market

01 June 2005

International floorings specialist Flowcrete is making its mark in the Middle East with its range of specialist flooring systems, which are providing developers and owners with prestigious facilities that keep their good looks long into the future.

Flowcrete’s first foray in the Middle East was in the late nineties, when the company secured a number of projects to install its car-park decking system Deckshield. These projects, for clients such as Bu Haleeba at Gulf Towers and Grand Service Station in Dubai and for BM Engineering at the Abu Dhabi Municipal Trip Car Park, helped the company establish a firm footing in the region.
Deckshield is a flexible, crack-bridging, waterproof system, well-suited for multi-storey car-parks. The hardwearing, slip-resistant system reduces noise from tyre squeal and – being available in a range of colours – enhances the ambience, making car-parks brighter, more pleasant environments.
Elaborating on the regional markets, Middle East regional manager Devanand Sirwani explains: “Five years ago, the Middle East market was still emerging, but clients, architects and other specifiers were already looking for quality flooring finishes for their new projects. With Flowcrete systems, they were able to obtain the required level of quality, in flooring that is hard-wearing, good-looking, and requiring minimum maintenance.”

Decking of choice
This early track record was to pave the way for many other Deckshield projects which, over the last five years, has amounted to over half a million square metres of car-park decking in the Middle East region alone.
In addition to the larger projects, such as 32,000 sq m at the Deira City Centre Triangle and a total of 60,000 sq m for the expansion of the BurJuman Centre, Flowcrete’s Deckshield has also been selected to beautify royal palace roads, churches and private villas.
A long reference list of projects in the UK and South East Asia at airports, retail developments, commercial centres and government buildings includes Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Hong Kong’s Chep Lap Kok.
“With such an extensive international track record, Deckshield is becoming the decking of choice for car-parks as clients recognise the benefits of systems that will protect their investment in the long term,” adds Sirwani.
Deckshield is currently specified on many of the upcoming mega-projects that are planned for Dubai.

Keeping out sound
Another of Flowcrete’s systems that has experienced considerable success in the region is K-Screed, a semi-dry cementitious system that provides a smooth, durable surface as a base for the final selected floor finish, such as epoxy resin, fitted carpet, wood, tiles or vinyl. In 2002, some 155,000 sq m of the system were installed at the Dubai Marina towers and villas. The following year, a contract was secured for 35,000 sq m to be installed at Dubai Colleges of Higher Education.
Residents at the BurJuman Centre residential phase will also enjoy the benefits of K-Screed, where some 85,000 sq m – complete with impact sound insulation – has been installed in the 160-plus apartments of the 30-storey tower. K-Screed was specified over conventional sand/cement screed for its high compressive strength and its low water-cement ratio, which minimises shrinkage and cracking.

Looking good
In the commercial sector, Flowcrete’s Flowshield and Mondéco systems are proving popular. More traditionally associated with the automotive and manufacturing sectors, Flowshield was used to dramatic effect in a specially formulated colour, to help meet the corporate branding requirements of the Karisma Boutiques at Jimi Mall, Al Ain, and Bin Sougat Mall, Dubai. At the Ibn Battuta Shopping Mall, Michael Andrews Design was looking for a specific finish and colour for the Go-Sport themed sports outlet project and found it with Flowshield Quartz. The 2,000 sq m installation was recently completed.
At the Sharjah Mega Mall in Dubai, extensive use of Mondéco, Flowcrete’s seamless epoxy terrazzo system, enabled a series of inspirational and contemporary designs in a wealth of colours to be incorporated within the flooring. Mondéco Exotic will also be installed at the Dubai Municipality Zabeel Park onto a 50-mm-thick SBR screed.
Douglas Currie, Flowcrete International’s specifications manager, believes the systems speak for themselves.
“In addition to its design possibilities, Mondéco offers excellent durability, is easy to clean and requires minimum maintenance. There are a growing number of architects and consulting engineers that are recognising the potential for systems such as Mondéco and Flowshield. Both have been specified on a number of key projects in Dubai and elsewhere in the region,” he says.

Secret to success
“One of the key factors for success in the flooring industry is not just being able to get a system specified and sold. The real test comes with installation and the long-term integrity of the flooring. As a result, Flowcrete only works with licensed applicators. In the UAE, Pegasus Contracting is the company’s exclusive applicator and has worked with Flowcrete ever since start-up,” says Sirwani.
“We offer a warranty on both materials and installation, so we need to ensure that our applicators are fully trained and experienced in installing our systems,” says Craig Brookes, managing director of Flowcrete International. “By licensing our contractors, we are not only recognising their expertise, we are alsoproviding an extra level of comfort to our clients that the project will be completely properly.”
Elsewhere in the region, applicator agreements have recently been concluded with Iman Hazimeh of PCSI in Qatar and Ahmed Salama of Ray Egypt, Egypt. “Both countries offer significant potential for our flooring systems as development in these markets is looking to match that of the UAE,” adds Brookes.
Founded in the UK in 1982, and now with operations around the world, Flowcrete claims to be the world’s largest specialist flooring company with an annual installed turnover of some $265 million. The Flowcrete Group is the market leader in a complete range of floorzone solutions, including: industrial flooring, seamless terrazzo flooring, specialist floor screeds, corrosion protection and car-park decking systems. These solutions are applicable to a broad spectrum of industries, including: automotive, aerospace, electronic, commercial and retail, food and beverage, oil and gas, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, sports and leisure and transportation.
The Flowcrete Group operates 20 offices around the world with 10 manufacturing plants in Malaysia, South Africa, the UK, Eastern Europe and the US.