Scope of work
- Review of the single line diagram, fault levels and discrimination between protective devices before panel manufacture.
- Factory acceptance testing of main LV switchboards where specified, checking wiring, interlocks and busbar ratings.
- Installation of LV switchboards, motor control centres and capacitor banks with clearances for operation and maintenance.
- Busbar trunking or cable risers to floors, with fire stopping at every slab penetration.
- Generator and automatic transfer switch connections for essential loads such as fire pumps and life safety systems.
- Protection relay and breaker settings applied and verified against the coordination study.
- Testing and commissioning of panels, followed by utility inspection and energisation.
- Cable sizing checks for long sub-main runs in large sites, confirming voltage drop limits as well as thermal ratings.
Systems we install
- Main LV switchboards and motor control centres
- Busbar trunking systems
- Automatic transfer switches and generator connections
- Capacitor banks for power factor correction
- Energy metering and power monitoring
- Air circuit breakers and moulded case circuit breakers
- Power quality meters and harmonic filters for factory loads
Codes, standards and approvals
- Utility regulations from DEWA, SEWA, ADDC/AADC or Etihad WE for LV connections, metering and substations.
- IEC switchboard standards commonly referenced in UAE specifications.
- UAE Fire & Life Safety Code for secondary supplies to fire pumps and life safety equipment.
- Master developer or free zone requirements, such as Trakhees or DDA, where applicable.
- Civil Defence inspection of fire-stopping at busbar and cable riser penetrations through rated slabs.
- Al Sa'fat and Estidama Pearl requirements for sub-metering of major loads such as HVAC, lighting and pumps, which shape the metering layout inside LV switchboards.
UAE site and climate challenges
- Switchboards in hot electrical rooms suffer reduced breaker ratings and shorter component life, so room cooling or ventilation and panel derating are considered during design and checked during commissioning.
- Generator sets and transfer switches outdoors face heat and sand, so acoustic canopies, intake filters and high-ambient ratings are specified for reliable starting in summer.
- Factories in industrial areas such as Dubai Industrial Park see heavy motor loads and harmonics, so power factor correction and harmonic filtering are reviewed.
- Busbar risers in tall towers pass through shafts that can become very hot in summer, especially near roof plant, so shaft ventilation and busbar ratings at elevated ambient are checked.
- Factory and warehouse LV rooms often sit next to loading bays exposed to wind-blown dust, so positive-pressure ventilation with filtered intake air keeps switchgear clean between maintenance visits.
Decisions to make early
- Busbar trunking or cables for risers, with busbar offering compact runs and easier tap-offs but requiring precise coordination with structure and other services.
- Level of generator backup, from life safety loads only to full building backup, which affects generator size, fuel storage and LV switching arrangements.
- Metering detail, from main meters only to sub-meters per tenant or major equipment, which supports billing and energy reporting but adds cost and space.
- Ring versus radial distribution for multi-building sites, with rings giving supply resilience and radials being simpler and cheaper to protect.
- Generator sizing for motor starting: large chiller compressors and fire pumps cause heavy inrush, so generators may be oversized or soft starters and drives used to keep voltage dips acceptable.
What you receive at handover
- Factory acceptance and site test reports
- Protection settings record
- As-built single line diagrams
- Panel O&M manuals and spare lists
- Utility energisation approval
- Thermographic survey after energisation
How we deliver: 8 stages
- 01Appointment & review
- 02Mobilisation & approvals
- 03Planning
- 04Engineering & shop drawings
- 05Procurement & execution
- 06Monitoring & reporting
- 07Quality inspection
- 08Testing, commissioning & handover
Why clients appoint Manolia
Manolia Group has delivered MEP and building contracts in the UAE since 2001: more than 100 projects and over AED 1.1 billion of completed work, including towers above 50 floors. Delivery follows an 8-stage process under a QMS structured to ISO 9001 requirements, with HSE controls and in-house engineering for shop drawings, coordination and commissioning.
Relevant Manolia projects
2B+G+15 residential tower, IMPZ
Dubai Production City (formerly IMPZ) · MEP · Completed
Full MEP package for a two-basement residential tower with gym.
2B+G+11 building, Al Nahda Dubai
Al Nahda (Dubai) · MEP · Completed
Complete MEP works for a residential building with basements and gym.
Hassani Group factories & HQ, DIP
Dubai Investments Park (DIP) · MEP · Completed
Factory complex, HQ and staff accommodation, all served from one central cooling station.
Frequently asked questions
Has Manolia installed LV distribution for factory complexes?
Yes. Manolia's MEP scope on the Hassani Group complex at Dubai Industrial Park, a group of factories with headquarters and staff accommodation, included electrical distribution across multiple buildings. Industrial sites need careful sub-main sizing, motor starting arrangements and coordination with process equipment suppliers. Load growth for future factories was also considered.
What is discrimination in LV distribution?
Discrimination, also called selectivity, means only the protective device nearest a fault trips, so the rest of the building stays powered. It depends on correctly rated breakers and settings coordinated along each circuit. Manolia applies settings from the coordination study and verifies them during commissioning so a fault on one floor does not black out a tower.
Why must LV rooms be cooled or ventilated?
Switchboards generate heat under load, and UAE summers add a high ambient on top. Breakers and electronic relays have temperature limits, and their ratings fall as rooms heat up. Ventilation or cooling keeps LV rooms within manufacturer limits, protecting equipment life and avoiding nuisance trips.
Do fire pumps and smoke fans need special electrical supplies?
Generally yes. Life safety equipment needs reliable supplies with a secondary source and fire-resistant cabling, as required by the UAE Fire & Life Safety Code and the approved fire strategy. Switching and cable routes are inspected by Civil Defence before approval.
Can existing LV panels be extended for new loads?
Often, provided spare ways, busbar capacity and fault ratings allow it. Manolia surveys existing panels, reviews recorded loads and checks the utility's approved capacity before recommending an extension, an additional board or a replacement. Shutdowns for tie-ins are planned out of hours. Any extension is retested before re-energising.