A RELIABLE and high-class plumbing system is a prerequisite of any modern home – and this is obviously more so when the home is within the tallest residential tower in the Eastern Province.

At Dhahran Tower, Abdulaziz E Al Shiha and Partners Company is installing Ekoplastik, one of the finest thermal plumbing systems on the market today.

Abdulaziz E Al Shiha and Partners Company has been given responsibility for the entire plumbing work including water supply, sewerage works and rainwater drainage at the project, in addition to sanitary and waste networks and plumbing fixtures such as heaters and storage tanks. The company was responsible for providing the plumbing and sanitary supplies for the entire development in addition to the installation of these networks.

The company started work on its SR6-million ($1.6 million) contract in September 2007 and is expected to finish it by the end of this year.

“About 97 per cent of our work on the project is complete; what remains to be done is just some final fixtures such as the installation of tanks, pumps and final delivery,” says Ebrahim Abdel Aziz Ebrahim Al Shiha, general manager.

Commenting on the Dhahran Tower project, Ebrahim says: “It is a landmark project in all respects. While it is common to find commercial high-rises in Al Khobar and Dammam, what makes the Dhahran Tower special is that it is residential and the tallest of its kind in the Eastern Province, enjoying a unique location and distinctive facilities.

“We are proud to be associated with the project, especially as our work is of considerable importance and requires sound expertise,” he adds. “As Dhahran Tower is a high-rise building, we had to tackle a number of issues regarding pressure in the water supply and drainage networks, which required extensive calculation work. We had to install special valves to regulate the pressure to ensure that an optimum balance was maintained.”

Abdulaziz E Al Shiha is a leading MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) company specialising in plumbing, waterproofing and thermal insulation and electrical works. It also designs internal networks and infrastructure for water supply and sewage networks in accordance with the latest European standards.

The company uses the renowned Ekoplastik system (polypropylene plastic extensions) for cold and warm water distribution lines in buildings and heating systems, central heating, flooring and air-conditioning or other equipment in the industrial and agricultural sectors.

Produced in the Czech Republic, the PP-R (polypropylene random) pipes and fittings use polyfusion welding technology for the assembly of water supply distribution systems. They come in sizes ranging from 16 to 110 mm and comply with DIN 8077, DIN 8078, DIN 16922 and DIN 4726 standards.

Ebrahim ... optimistic about the construction sector.

“The high quality of raw materials together with high standards of production guarantee a minimum lifetime of 50 years for the system, no health risks, no corrosion or encrustation, flexibility, low weight, easy and clean installation, low noise level, reduced pressure losses due to friction, high chemical resistance and environment-friendliness, among other advantages,” says Ebrahim.

Abdulaziz E Al Shiha also uses Wavin systems, including sanitation extension materials consisting of various PVC (polyvinyl chloride) pipes and fittings and silencers.

These systems, which are manufactured in Germany, Poland, the UK and the Netherlands, use rubber ring seals for the assembly of waste and vent distribution, with sizes ranging from 50 to 160 mm. The pipes are composed of three layers – the inner and outer layers being made of solid PVC while the intermediate layer being of foam PVC.

“This ensures that the pipes are lightweight yet rigid and durable. All products comply with ISO 3633, PB-80/C-89205, PN-81/C-89203, PN-88/C-82206, EN 1392 and PR EN 1451 standards,” says Ebrahim. “Compliance with these standards assures clients of the durability of the system, its light weight, low noise, corrosion and chemical resistance, resistance to high temperature of up 95 deg C, flexibility of the joints, and other advantages.”

To provide water-proofing and thermal insulation to projects,  Abdulaziz E Al Shiha uses Thermilate, a flexible elastrometric, energy-saving, 100-per-cent water-based acrylic coating with heat-reflecting ceramic composite spheres. When properly applied, the product bridges minor surface imperfections, protects against driving rain, provides high durability, and offers long-lasting protection and energy saving in both hot and cold climates, he says.

Abdulaziz E Al Shiha’s electrical division has the ability to take on a variety of electrical projects, as it is staffed with experienced engineers and technicians. The company has completed thousands of projects in these special sectors of the construction industry, using the latest products and supported by qualified installation and application teams.

Apart from the Dhahran Tower, it has recently carried out several major projects which include Al Moosa Group Investment Real Estate’s villas and towers in Al Khobar worth SR5.239 million ($1.4 million); King Fahd Specialist Hospital in Qassim, Buraidah, where it was involved both in Phase One valued at SR4.39 million ($1.17 million) and Phase Two worth SR9 million ($2.4 million); Bait Alomr Villas, Phases Three, Four and Five, for Mohammed Salem Al Suwaidi Real Estate Investment Company in the Eastern Province, valued at SR11.5 million ($3 million); and Almuthanab General Hospital in Qassim for a total of SR7.5 million ($2 million).

Ebrahim says the company has seen considerable growth and development over the past year. It has established a special department to install electrical systems in accordance with the latest and highest European standards. It has also initiated a special section that handles direct sales of products to contractors and distributors to meet the needs of clients in all parts of the kingdom, especially in remote areas. “The company is keen to cover other areas within the kingdom that require its services and help them fall in line with major cities of Saudi Arabia in terms of progress,” he says, adding that the firm focuses on supplying the latest in the field of electromechanical works.

Regarding the impact of the downturn, he says: “It is no secret that in 2008-09 the whole world suffered from the economic recession. But thanks to our company’s solid foundations, we have managed to double our turnover this year and expect the best in the years to come.”

Ebrahim expresses optimism about Saudi Arabia’s construction sector. “It is one of the largest operational sectors and plays a very big role in the country’s economic growth, while providing considerable employment opportunities.”

Dammam-headquartered Abdul Aziz E Al Shiha and Partners Company, a member of the Al Shiha group, was established as a joint venture in 1998 with a paid-up capital of SR5 million ($1.33 million) to trade in thermal and plastic pipes and related joints; supply or supply and installation of sanitary ware, plumbing equipment and mixers as well as of thermal insulation and waterproofing; and supply of electrical and mechanical equipment.

It has a factory in Dammam’s Second Industrial City and branches in Riyadh, Al Ahsa and Qassim. It employs 550 people including technicians, workers and administration staff.

“Since its inception, the company has been keen to excel in all segments. Towards this end, we have sent technicians and skilled workers to Europe for training in installation techniques and to educate them on the latest technologies in this field,” says Ebrahim.

The company also received swift recognition of its products and abilities, with sales of products with German specifications surging on account of several factors, including excellent service during and after sales; guarantees given on products (15 years) and installation (seven years); installation of products by technicians and skilled workers trained and certified in these areas; advice provided by technical marketing specialists; the quality of installation and speed of implementation of projects to the satisfaction of customers; and easy payment procedures for customers.