Prestigious fire pump installations continue for UAE-based National Fire Fighting Manufacturing Company (Naffco).

Indeed, the company recently supplied and installed one of the largest pumps in the UAE in terms of delivery pressure at 27 bar at the Shangri-La Hotel complex on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. It also supplied and installed a submersible vertical turbine fire pump with a capacity of 2,500 GPM at 13 bar in the sea for the protection of a petrochemical plant in the UAE and two 3,000 GPM at 10 bar submersible pumps at Fujairah Port.
Naffco says it is able to assemble all types of water and fire pumps according to NFPA20, and is also able to assemble and manufacture all types of electric and electronic controllers for the fire pumps. The company adds that it works closely with clients, consultants and contractors to provide the most cost effective pump installation for the fire protection system requirements in manufacturing units, warehouses, commercial premises, high-rise buildings, hotels, airports, power stations, chemical and petrochemical processing plants and offshore oil and gas platforms.
Naffco's range of fire-fighting products also extends to those to combat kitchen fires. The Naffco wet chemical fire extinguisher model NKE6 is certified to BS7937:2000 by BSI UK and has achieved a fire test rating of 13A and 75F, according to the company. Thus, an extinguisher containing wet chemical agents - comprising liquid solutions containing an alkaline mixture - has proven far more effective in extinguishing fires involving cooking materials such as greases and fats.
Naffco's portable fire extinguishers have all been awarded the Kite Mark from BSI for compliance with BS EN3 standards, giving what the company says is important leverage in international markets by offering quality products at a reasonable price. The Kite Mark-approved range includes a comprehensive selection of dry powder, foam, carbon dioxide, water and wet chemical extinguishers, which also have the CE marking for meeting European Standards of Safety.
The company's high velocity water spray systems are also being successfully installed at international industrial facilities. Such a system was designed for the fire protection of a 230/132 kV substation for the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh in a contract which included the engineering design, supply and commissioning of the water spray system for transformers. Unlike an automatic sprinkler which has closed heads, Naffco's water spray system has open heads designed to spray very fine droplets.
Increasing demand from clients, meanwhile, has led to the expansion of the Fire Vehicles Division of the company, which is an established manufacturer of medium-sized twin agent trolleys and foam trailers.
The idea of manufacturing multipurpose fire trucks has been a long-term aim for Naffco since 1994 though it was not until recently that a fully-fledged Fire Trucks Division was established, says the company.
A fire-fighting truck consists of four major fire-fighting systems: water, foam, dry powder and carbon dioxide mounted on a chassis with a configuration which meets the area of application as well as client requirements. In addition to this, the capacity of each system is also highly dependent upon the area of application and client requirements.
Naffco says it has already developed, in-house, the required technical expertise and skills required to manufacture various types of fire-fighting truck, including multipurpose fire-fighting trucks, oil refinery fire-fighting trucks, fire-fighting water tankers and rescue ambulances.
All fire-fighting trucks are manufactured strictly in adherence to respective international standards and the regulations pertaining to the manufacture of these trucks.
The present manufacturing facility has the capacity to produce around 45 to 60 fire-fighting vehicles annually, based on the type of use and capacities. The current market trend shows high demand in Sudan, Egypt and Yemen while potential market opportunities exist in various Gulf countries, according to the company.
According to general manager Eng Khalid A Khatib, Naffco is determined to continually improve its fire truck designs and is committed to providing trucks with the highest quality standards.