Having recently opened a regional office in the MENA region, the International Code Council, a world-leading building safety association, hosted its inaugural workshop in Dubai, focusing on a safety-first approach to innovative building systems
The event commenced with opening remarks from notable industry leaders including Dominic Sims, CEO, International Code Council; Meghan Gregonis, US Consul general, Dubai; Aisha Al-Mulla, head of Research & Building Section, Dubai Municipality; and Eng. Riyadh Al Rasheed, director of Technical Affairs, Saudi Building Code National Committee.
More than 90 delegates attended the event from the industry’s leading Authorities Having Jurisdictions (AHJs), developers, contractors, architects, designers and manufacturers, among others, where International Code Council showcased its on-ground support to organisations involved in building safety including government entities, construction management corporations, manufacturers and design professionals.
Hosted by Mohamed Amer, regional director of Operations, ICC MENA, the workshop explored the need for increased compliance in the construction industry, especially in growing markets of the MENA region. Joined by Dominic Sims CBO, chief executive officer, International Code Council and Shahin Moinian PE, executive vice president, Conformity Assessment Group, as well as International Code Council senior executives and board members from the United States, the workshop delved into the challenges and opportunities in the region, touching on the importance of robust regulatory framework for advanced and new building systems.
"The region is poised for huge growth in the building and construction industry, especially with the UAE’s 2050 vision to make the country the first in the MENA region to achieve net-zero emissions. It’s crucial to underpin these projects with effective building codes and standards, especially where innovative materials, systems and methods are being deployed,” commented Sims.
The workshops hosted by the International Code Council enable increased confidence of building safety professionals in approving ground-breaking products by using a rigorous, independent third-party compliance process. Sustainable design, installation and maintenance practices embodied in state-of-the-art building systems need to be fortified by robust conformity assessment procedures to ensure that regulatory approvals are fulfilled, leading to ease of market access.
