Ventilation & smoke extraction in Fujairah 

Ventilation & smoke extraction in Fujairah: local context

Fujairah sits on the east coast on the Gulf of Oman, separated from Dubai by the Hajar mountains, and is known for its port, oil storage and bunkering industry alongside beach hotels and residential districts. Building stock is mainly low- and mid-rise residential, hotels on the coast, and industrial and warehouse facilities linked to the port. MEP work here contends with a different coastal climate, mountain terrain and the longest logistics chain from Dubai of any emirate. Planning, material staging, local support arrangements and realistic scheduling of inspections and witnessed tests matter as much as the design itself.

MEP drawings are typically submitted to Fujairah Municipality as part of the building permit. Civil Defence (Ministry of Interior) approves fire and life safety designs and inspects installations, while Etihad WE approves electrical loads and connections. Port, free-zone and industrial plots can follow their own authority channel, so the route is confirmed per project.

• Civil Defence under the Ministry of Interior approves and inspects fire and life safety systems, and industrial facilities near fuel storage may face additional fire protection requirements set by the operator or zone.
• At around 1.5–2 hours from Dubai across the mountains, projects need a site store, staged deliveries and a resident supervisor; last-minute fittings cannot be fetched from head office on the same morning.

Building types we serve in Fujairah

For mid-rise residential and mixed-use buildings, the work concentrates on compact plant on the roof, car-park ventilation in podiums, metered apartment DBs and tight ceiling voids that make coordination drawings decisive.

For hotels and serviced apartments, the work concentrates on quiet guestroom fan coils, kitchen and laundry extract, hot-water generation at scale, BMS supervision and phased handover to the operator.

Scope of work

• Review of the approved fire strategy so smoke zones, fan duties and pressurisation targets are understood before equipment selection.
• Stair and lift lobby pressurisation fans with relief dampers or variable speed control to maintain pressure without making doors hard to open.
• 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.
• Natural ventilation openings, automatic smoke vents and their actuators where the fire strategy relies on them, tested to open on alarm.

Systems we install

• Car park jet fans and main extract fans
• Fire alarm interfaces and firefighters control panel
• Automatic smoke vents and actuators at roof or high level

UAE site and climate challenges

• Rooftop smoke fans and motors are exposed to extreme heat and direct sun, so motors, enclosures and fire-rated cabling are selected for high ambient conditions as well as smoke temperature.
• Strong winds and sand can jam relief dampers and louvres, so these are checked during commissioning and included in periodic maintenance to ensure they open and close freely on demand.

Decisions to make early

• Fan redundancy and secondary power arrangements, which add cost but determine how robust the smoke control system remains if one fan or one supply fails during a fire.
• Integration with BMS for monitoring, which helps maintenance teams identify failed fans, dampers or sensors without taking life safety control away from the fire alarm system.

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