Germany’s Audax-Keck will supply fireproof coatings for the steel framework of a 14-storey car-park being built in Dubai.

The car-park will form part of the Al Rafi Group’s mixed-use complex coming up on Sheikh Zayed Road, which will incorporate businesses, hotels, shops, residential apartments and entertainment facilities.
Audax, which has already supplied its coatings to several projects in the Gulf, will provide Renitherm intumescent coatings for the car-park. In the event of a fire, Renitherm expands quickly to form a foam barrier and thus help steel structures maintaining their load-bearing capacity, according to Audax.
Elaborating on the order, a spokesman for Audax says: “Because the complex is located on Sheikh Zayed Road, space on the construction site is extremely limited, while renting real estate adjacent to the property is extremely expensive. Therefore, instead of traditional steel and concrete construction, Al Rafi Group decided to opt for a steel-framed car-park. Steel-framed buildings are costlier to build but the investment is expected to pay off considering the site’s location with its lack of space and tight schedule.
“The steel-framed car-park will be the first of its kind in Dubai. It is planned to build the car-park first and then use its floors as a base for the containers and equipment needed for the construction of the adjacent tower that will be connected with the car park.”
Al Rafi wanted a supplier who could provide high-quality fire protection coatings that meet British Standard 476:21, as well as offer extra services such as consulting and on-site training. Audax proposed white Renitherm coating for the 25,000 sq m project and as part of the agreement, agreed to send its specialists on site for training and consultation.
Exclusively produced in Europe to EN ISO 9001 standard, Renitherm is easily sprayable and dries quickly. The high-performance and decorative thin film coating has an average thickness of only about 1 mm and comes in a wide range of colours. Under extremely high temperatures, the coating expands by an endothermic reaction to form a foam barrier 30 to 50 times its original thickness, offering protection from fire and heat.