Chilled water piping in KEZAD (Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi) 

Chilled water piping in KEZAD (Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi): local context

KEZAD, formerly known as KIZAD, is the industrial free zone near Khalifa Port between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, hosting manufacturing plants, logistics warehouses and cold stores on large plots. It has expanded since the early 2010s. Manolia completed HVAC works for a packaging manufacturing facility here. Facilities are often built quickly to meet production start dates.

• Manufacturing plants need process cooling, ventilation for heat-generating machinery and controlled environments where product quality depends on temperature and humidity.
• Coastal plots near the port combine salt with blowing dust, so equipment needs both corrosion protection and robust filtration.
• The location sits between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, so manpower and material logistics from Dubai are practical with planning.

Building types we serve in KEZAD (Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi)

For factories and industrial plants, the work concentrates on process cooling and ventilation, heavy LV distribution, hazard-appropriate fire protection and plant that tolerates dust and high ambient temperatures.

Scope of work

• Underground pre-insulated chilled-water networks between buildings, with trench coordination, leak detection wiring where specified and protected crossings.
• Isolation, balancing and two-way control valves at coils and risers so individual floors or buildings can be maintained without shutting the plant.
• Closed-cell insulation with vapour barrier, aluminium cladding outdoors and labelling with flow direction.
• Strainer and coil bypass arrangements during flushing so debris is collected in temporary screens rather than lodged in new fan coil and AHU coils.

Systems we install

• Energy meters at building or tenant connections
• Y-strainers, flushing bypasses and dirt separators at plant connections

UAE site and climate challenges

• Chilled-water pipes run well below the dew point of humid UAE air, so any gap in the vapour barrier leads to condensation, wet insulation and dripping ceilings; joints, supports and valves are therefore inspected before ceilings close.
• Riser shafts open to outdoor air during construction fill with dust and humidity, so insulation is installed only after shafts are closed and pipes are clean and dry, avoiding trapped moisture under the vapour barrier.
• Riser pressure ratings in tall buildings, where static head at lower floors may require higher-rated valves and coils, a pressure break with plate heat exchangers, or split riser zones to stay within component limits.

Relevant Manolia projects

Frequently asked questions