Ventilation & smoke extraction in University City (Sharjah) 

Ventilation & smoke extraction in University City (Sharjah): local context

University City is Sharjah's academic district, home to the American University of Sharjah, the University of Sharjah and several colleges, research centres and medical facilities set across a large planned campus area. Buildings are institutional, often large-span and heavily serviced. Manolia completed MEP works for the AUS library, HVAC and BMS works on the campus, and MEP for the G+4 Bowling City leisure building.

• Campus buildings need large central chilled-water systems, AHUs with fresh-air treatment and BMS integration so facilities teams can schedule cooling around semesters and events.
• Libraries and archives need stable temperature and humidity control to protect collections, with fire protection chosen to suit sensitive contents.
• Work often takes place on occupied campuses, so noise, dust, access and shutdowns are coordinated with university facilities management and academic calendars.

Building types we serve in University City (Sharjah)

For clinics and healthcare facilities, the work concentrates on pressure regimes between rooms, high-grade filtration, essential power with UPS back-up and infection control while works are under way.

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.
• 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
• Motorised smoke dampers and relief dampers

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.
• 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

AUS Bowling City, Sharjah

University City (Sharjah) · MEP · Completed

MEP design & build plus decoration for a G+4 leisure building.

Al Mazroaa Tower, Sharjah

Sharjah · HVAC · Completed

HVAC for a 43-typical-floor tower with health club.

Frequently asked questions