The Ensign cast iron soil and waste system from Sinclair Foundry Products of the UK is said to be becoming increasingly popular throughout the Middle East and is currently being installed in a wide variety of prestigious projects including luxury hotels, shopping centres, airports, apartments, hospitals, government buildings and schools.

"There are many reasons for its popularity," explains a spokesman for the company. "Cast iron is widely renowned for its strength and ability to resist impact damage, so it is the perfect solution for shopping centres, schools or exposed areas prone to accidental damage. Its strength also means that there is no need for additional protection in areas where ground disturbance or extra loading is likely."

He continues: "Ensign also requires a minimum amount of maintenance. The strength of its epoxy coatings, means that it can last the lifetime of the building, making it ideal for larger buildings where repair and maintenance would cause a great deal of disruption to its function.

"The need for fire-resistance, particularly in multi-storey buildings, cannot be emphasised enough and there is little point installing plastic if money has to be spent making pipes fire-resistant later on. In the event of a fire, cast iron remains flameproof and fireproof - with no emission of toxic gases or deadly fumes, so there is no requirement for ever-increasing safety measures such as fire collars or expensive cladding.

"Cast iron is also renowned for its sound-deadening properties, which again makes it an ideal choice for large residential buildings, particularly hospitals, hotels and flats where the sound of waste fluids travelling through pipes would cause much irritation to occupants."

The lightweight Ensign system is also said to be simple to install. "Jointing of Ensign pipe-work, for example, is easily achieved through a quick-and-easy all-stainless steel mechanical coupling," he explains. "The system features an extensive range of access fittings and economical connections to waste pipes, including a multi-waste manifold which simplifies waste plumbing by grouping all associated pipe-work from various sources such as sinks, basins, bidets, urinals and showers to one internal point above the finished floor level."

Turning to the cost advantages of the product, he says: "Cost is always an important consideration, but recent research has proved the new Ensign system to be more cost-effective than previous standard cast iron systems - a factor highlighted in independent research commissioned by the Cast Iron Drainage Development Association (CIDDA), which concludes that the new Ensign system (manufactured to BS EN77) is now easier to install and much more cost-effective as it offers significant time-savings in terms of overall installation.

"Though these factors may explain why Sinclair's Ensign cast iron soil and waste system is being used in many prestigious projects in the Middle East, accessibility could also account for its current popularity, particularly as Ensign is now readily available through a substantial distribution network present in countries such as Jordan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt, Qatar and Lebanon."

One of the many Middle Eastern projects where Ensign has been successfully installed is the Kingdom Centre in Riyadh, he says. Once complete, it will be the tallest building in the region (300 m) and will house a large shopping centre and multiple offices as well as a luxury five-star hotel.

For this project, Ensign was supplied by Pan Arabian Contracting and Trading TC Piping Division, which acts as the sole and exclusive agent for the international distributor Trouvay & Cauvin throughout Saudi Arabia.

Another prestigious project, the new Hyatt Hotel in Dubai used Ensign for all of its below-ground drainage, he says. The project involves the construction of 432 hotel rooms, 156 furnished apartments and 10 luxury villas on a 132,000 sq m plot as well as six restaurants, 15 shops, two ballrooms, a health-club and indoor garden.

Once complete, this luxury complex will be a striking landmark with four reinforced concrete semi-circular towers built over a three-level ground floor, with parking and services underneath.

Distributor Mitri Mushahwar and Sons supplied Ensign for what is claimed to be the tallest building in Amman. Standing at 110 m and with 31 storeys, Le Royal Hotel in Jordan has had Ensign installed above ground to serve all of the hotel's amenities.

The foundations, which include substantial earthquake-proofing, are 26-27 m below ground and required 13,500 cu m of cement poured in four stages, the spokesman adds.

"The project, which is due for completion at the end of 2000, will be based on the unique design of the Ziggurat of Samara, and will also have a spectacular staircase winding its way around the exterior of the building," he says.

"As a testimony to its high-quality, Ensign has been tested and approved by the British Board of Agrement (Certificate No 95/3125), and is manufactured under a BS EN ISO 9002-registered scheme of quality assurance, designed in accordance with the new European standard BS EN877.

"It is also approved to DIN 19522 and meets the requirements of ISO 6594, the international standard for socketless drainage systems in cast iron.

"With proven success in many prestigious projects in the Middle East, the new Ensign cast iron soil and waste system from Sinclair Foundry Products has built a reputation for quality, versatility and speed of installation, helping to make cast iron drainage more popular than ever.

"Though cast iron may still not appear as cheap as clay and plastic, the accumulated costs incurred by these systems such as fixings, expansion joints, fire and noise insulation make cast iron a very cost-effective alternative," the spokesman says.