Ventilation & smoke extraction in Al Khan: local context
Al Khan sits between Al Khan Lagoon and the sea on Sharjah's western edge, close to the Dubai border, and has become a cluster of high-rise residential towers and hotels built mainly since the 2000s, with an older heritage village area nearby. Many towers face the water on both sides. It is popular with Dubai commuters and families seeking sea views. Plots are tightly packed along narrow access roads between the two waterfronts.
- Being exposed to both lagoon and open sea, towers here face particularly aggressive salt and humidity, so outdoor equipment, cooling towers and facade-mounted units need marine-grade protection.
- High-rise towers rely on domestic water pressure zoning, transfer tanks and PRV stations, and tanks must be designed and maintained to avoid stagnation and Legionella growth.
- Podium car parks and basements near the water need robust sump pumping and waterproofed services penetrations.
Building types we serve in Al Khan
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.
Approvals and authorities in Al Khan
Smoke extraction systems in Al Khan sits within Sharjah's regulatory framework. The authorities you will meet are:
- Sharjah Civil Defence (SCD)
- UAE Fire & Life Safety Code of Practice (UAE FLSC)
- Sharjah Municipality (SM)
- Sharjah Electricity, Water & Gas Authority (SEWA)
- ASHRAE standards (62.1, 90.1) (ASHRAE)
Scope of work
- 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
- Smoke exhaust fans rated for high temperature
- Motorised smoke dampers and relief dampers
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.
- 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 Mazroaa Tower, Sharjah
Sharjah · HVAC · Completed
HVAC for a 43-typical-floor tower with health club.
G+28 residential tower, Sharjah
Sharjah · MEP · Completed
Full MEP subcontract for a 28-storey tower.
Frequently asked questions
Which authorities approve smoke extraction systems in Al Khan?
Approvals in Al Khan typically involve Sharjah Civil Defence, UAE Fire & Life Safety Code of Practice, Sharjah Municipality and Sharjah Electricity, Water & Gas Authority. Exact routes depend on the plot, the master developer and whether the site sits in a free zone, so we confirm the authority matrix during mobilisation and prepare submissions accordingly.
Does Manolia work in Al Khan?
Yes. Al Khan is in Sharjah, roughly 20–60 minutes from central Dubai depending on traffic. Site teams are mobilised from our Dubai headquarters with supervision, QA/QC and HSE staff assigned to each project.
What is stair pressurisation and why is it needed?
Stair pressurisation supplies air into protected stairs so that pressure inside is higher than in the corridor, keeping smoke out during a fire. It is a key life safety system in high-rise buildings. The challenge is maintaining pressure while ensuring doors remain openable, which is checked during commissioning.