
Building and construction company Danube recently introduced an all-new fire-resistant aluminium composite panel (ACP). The Dubai based firm is currently showcasing the product at the Big 5 event at the World Trade Centre in Dubai. The launch follows the UAE’s decision to stall 270 odd construction projects on the grounds that they do not comply with the Civil Defence safety standards.
Danube’s Alcopanel is non-combustible, less smoke-emitting, and is available in either 4.4mm or 6mm thickness variety. It has a central fire resistant core and reduces the risk of droplets to a significant extent. The product will be used on the Riyadh Metro development project and the company is in talks with what it described as “seven or eight major projects.”
According to Danube, they can produce around 4,000,000 sq.m. of Alcopanels in a year at its plant in Jebel Ali, Dubai. The machinery they use is imported from the US, South Korea and China and assembled at the site. 
“I think it is the best time to market this project as the hazards of fire have been much in the public eye. As well as a materials company we are also a developer and I want people who buy our properties to know that they are safe," said Rizwan Sajan founder and chairman of Danube Group while speaking at the launch of the product.
“Being an active participant in the real estate industry in the UAE, the introduction of the new law by the UAE Civil Defence, to use A2 materials is a new light to ensure customer safety and eliminate loss of life due to fire,” said Sajan.
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The UAE government recently passed on a mandate to clad all mid-rise and high-rise buildings with only Euroclass A2 materials. Almost 90 per cent of the buildings built in the GCC before the year 2012, are cladded with non-fire-retardant grade aluminium composite panels. New fire regulations regarding cladding and facades have already been circulated to the architects and developers by the municipality officials. However, the full regulatory codes have not been formally introduced yet.
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