Azel, an El-Maimani Group company, supplied rockwool thermal and sound insulation for the partitions at the new Jeddah Hilton Hotel, to provide total room privacy.

Kamal Husni Al Qabali, director of marketing and projects, says the main reason for using rockwool for sound insulation is that it is not flammable which ensures that internal partitions satisfy both sound insulation and fire resistance requirements.

Rockwool is also a natural substance which does not disintegrate or dissipate with the passage of time, unlike insulation materials derived from petrochemicals, which do so after seven to 10 years, he says.

Al Qabali says the designer of Jeddah Hilton Hotel, one of the newest hotels in the Saudi city, decided to use rockwool in the partitions in the building "to serve two functions with the same degree of efficiency at no extra cost".

"We must underscore the fact that the partitions used in hotels are gypsum panels anchored to a metal frame. These panels do not satisfy sound insulation privacy between hotel rooms," says Al Qabali. "To provide total privacy and prevent sound transmission, the designer decided to use rockwool as it is a highly effective acoustic insulator.

"In addition, rockwool burns or melts only at temperatures above 800 deg C."

Detailing the salient features of rockwool, Al Qabali says it is made from molten basalt rocks after they are molten at 1,500 deg C.

"The liquid rock is poured into fast rotating cylinders which transforms the molten liquid into individual threads similar to cotton candy," he says.

"Rockwool's properties are similar to those of basalt rock. It does not disintegrate, it is non-reactive with other substances, does not burn in temperatures of up to 800 deg C, and does not release toxic gases when exposed to heat.

"Rockwool is a natural and an environmentally-friendly substance without any disadvantages or defects."

Al Qabali says rockwool is also easy to install in walls and partitions.

"Rockwool used for walls consists of 1 m by 0.5 m boards that are easy to install and sandwich between two walls or on a metal frame between gypsum panels," he says.

Al Qabali says thermal insulation in buildings with the use of rockwool and double red brick walls can help reduce power consumption and save up to 60 per cent in monthly electricity bills.

El Maimani is also one of the largest manufacturers of red clay bricks in Saudi Arabia. Set up in 1980, El-Maimani Red Brick and Clay Products Factories produces nearly 2,000 tonnes per day of red clay brick in different types, sizes and colours.

The company has recently boosted its already extensive portfolio with several new products. These include:

Plumber bricks: El-Maimani has started producing a special brick for electrical, telephone, TV, plumbing and water supply connections which features cavities to incorporate these services, enabling work to be done with precision and eliminating the need and efforts required for installing conduits within the walls.

The use of this brick in multi-storey buildings and large projects assists in achieving efficient connections, makes installation easy and produces cost savings, according to a company spokesman.

The brick has been produced in response to recommendations of some contractors and site engineers and is expected to be very popular because of the benefits it offers and fact that it enables speedy completion of projects, he adds.

Marble brick: This load-bearing brick has been developed to help install marble and granite cladding on building facades. It is characterised by its strength and sturdiness and is specifically manufactured to tolerate loads and enhancing safety.

These bricks come in various thicknesses, such as 10, 15 and 20 cm, to suit different requirements. Laboratory tests conducted by anchoring marble and granite panels have revealed that their tolerance of loads is equal to eight times more than international design requirements. The brick has already been used in several projects in Saudi Arabia.

Hourdi blocks: The company has developed special blocks for roofs. Measuring 13 by 45 by 20 cm, this new type of blocks has been designed to reduce the roof thickness from 30 cm to 20 cm, thereby achieving savings of up to 30 per cent in the quantity of concrete and rebar required. El-Maimani recommends contractors and design engineers to use the blocks, especially in residential villas and buildings with ceiling heights excessing 5 m.

Smooth fair-faced bricks: This advanced brick can be directly applied eliminating the need for plastering, any chemical additives or putties, thanks to its smooth surface. All that is required to finish the surface is any paint available in the market, the spokesman says.

The brick is ideal for use in hallways, store rooms, electrical rooms, car-parks, offices and other sites.

El-Maimani Factories has also upgraded its modern building system for the construction of two to three-storey residential villas, schools and hospitals. This new building method has resulted in savings of up to 25 per cent on the cost of the framework of concrete buildings, labour, rebar and support materials says the spokesman.

"The system involves the use of 150 kg/sq cm load-bearing blocks for building walls which support the roof. It is installed directly on the walls without the use of the concrete girders, columns and deep roof beams," he adds.

El-Maimani has used this building system for the construction of 40 villas for Saudi Aramco employees in the Royal Commission-administered Yanbu Industrial City.

The system is also being used for a six-apartment-block residential compound for doctors and nurses of the main hospital at Yanbu Industrial City, as well as a 100-villa residential compound for employees of the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC).

"Many clients and investment companies prefer the new building method which is now gaining popularity, as it helps cut their costs, upgrade building efficiency, increase resistance to environmental factors and prolong the life span of the structures," he adds.

El-Maimani offers technical assistance to clients and anticipates even greater demand for what it describes as the "system of the future" for all two to three-storey buildings in the Kingdom.