Al Futtaim Bodycote Materials Testing Services’ cladding and curtain-wall testing facility has successfully gained the UKAS (UK Accreditation Service) accreditation for its services against what is the only internationally-recognised standard for laboratory competence – the ISO/IEC 17025.

“This has been achieved in line with the company’s policy to internationally accredit its laboratory and field testing/monitoring services,” says a company spokesman.
Al Futtaim Bodycote acquired the cladding technology and testing laboratory from GHD Global in August last year.
“The laboratory is the Middle East’s leading testing facility for building envelopes including capabilities to test building cladding and curtain wall systems for thermal cycling, dynamic wind loading, water infiltration tests, structural deflection tests, impact tests, seismic and building movement testing and acoustic testing,” says the spokesman.
Divisional manager Andy Dean says: “In terms of service development, there are extensive synergies with work already being conducted within other geographical regions of the Bodycote Testing Group and we are excited to be able to transfer new technologies to Dubai such as specific glass tests, thermal transmissivity, UV transmission, glass impact/shock testing, full building air-leakage testing, thermal imaging of facades etc.
“In the light of the current construction boom in the Middle East, coupled with the use of more advanced cladding technology in building designs and service capability range extensions, we are forecasting enhanced growth and success of the business under Al Futtaim Bodycote management.”
Explaining the benefits of the accreditation, Middle East deputy regional director, Rob Jackson says: “The ISO/IEC 17025 standard is specifically designed to recognise the technical competence of testing laboratories and calibration companies. By comparison, the generic standard for quality management systems ISO 9001:2000 does not provide clients with the assurance of technical competence. In short, it provides contractors, consultants and investors significantly added confidence in the reliability, impartiality and accuracy of the test results. This is critical for cladding and curtain-wall construction. The potential consequences of ‘getting it wrong’ are unthinkable.”
“We are extremely pleased that such added value can now be offered to the cladding and curtain-wall industry in the Middle East region.”
“The accreditation was achieved as part of Bodycote’s global policy of accrediting all of its laboratory facilities to this minimum standard,” confirms regional director, Sean Kerr.
Al Futtaim Bodycote Materials Testing Services is a joint venture company between the UAE-based Al Futtaim Group and UK-based Bodycote Testing Group – one of the world’s leading providers of testing and monitoring services to sectors including aerospace, automotive, construction, oil and gas, rail, health sciences, environmental and consumer products.