Ventilation & smoke extraction in Al Reem Island 

Ventilation & smoke extraction in Al Reem Island: local context

Al Reem Island lies just off the north-east shore of Abu Dhabi island and has been developed since the late 2000s into one of the capital's densest high-rise districts. Residential towers, hotels, office blocks, a major hospital and shopping malls sit on reclaimed plots linked by bridges to the city. Many towers are now occupied, while remaining plots continue to be built.

• Tabreed district cooling serves parts of the island, so many towers take chilled water through energy transfer stations; the in-building scope then centres on heat exchangers, secondary pumping and holding design delta-T.
• Being surrounded by water, roof plant, cooling towers, fixings and exposed cable trays face constant salt and humidity, which drives coating specifications and inspection intervals.
• Bridge access and traffic on and off the island make large deliveries, such as chillers or transformers, something to schedule carefully with crane and road permits.

Building types we serve in Al Reem Island

For high-rise towers, the work concentrates on pressure-zoned water and drainage stacks, riser and plant-room coordination, stair pressurisation and a cooling source sized for diversity across dozens of typical floors.

Scope of work

• Review of the approved fire strategy so smoke zones, fan duties and pressurisation targets are understood before equipment selection.
• Installation of car park ventilation with jet fans, main extract fans and CO or NO2 sensors controlling normal ventilation.
• Fire-rated cabling and secondary power arrangements for smoke control fans so they operate during a fire.
• Cause-and-effect testing, door opening force checks and Civil Defence witnessed tests.

Systems we install

• CO and NO2 gas detection for demand ventilation
• Stair and lobby pressurisation fans

UAE site and climate challenges

• Basement car parks in summer accumulate heat and vehicle exhaust, so normal ventilation rates are controlled by CO and NO2 sensors to save energy while keeping air quality safe for drivers and attendants.
• Basement car parks in coastal towers can see condensation on cold surfaces when hot humid air is pulled in at high rates, so supply air paths and ramp openings are reviewed to limit wet floors and corrosion of jet fans.
• Pressurisation control method: barometric relief dampers are simpler, while variable speed control maintains more stable pressure as doors open and close during an evacuation.

Relevant Manolia projects

Al Bahar Palace, Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi · HVAC · Completed

HVAC design & installation, fresh/extract air, plus swimming-pool works.

G+3

Multi-storey parking & retail centre, DSO

Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) · MEP · In progress

G+3 parking and retail centre — MEP works in progress.

Frequently asked questions