Masdar and Fraunhofer Gesellschaft advised that they will be collaborating to construct a façade test centre (FTC) in Masdar City. Fraunhofer’s Institute for Building Physics IBP and Fraunhofer ISE will supply planning and supervision services for the test centre. The FTC aims to support designers and contractors in selecting the buildings materials that will help reduce energy waste in the UAE and the MENA region.
The centre will be built off of the design and operation of Fraunhofer IBP’s full-scale façade test centre in Munich, Germany. The building will see each of its test rooms equipped with the ability to calculate the energy code values, thermal and light transmission properties and overall performance of each façade that is tested. Construction on the facility is slated to begin in Q1 2012.
Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar, said: “It is important for Abu Dhabi to host a dedicated facility of this stature, given its relevance to the integrated facades that need to be constructed in line with the Emirate’s Estidama guidelines. Offering ratings on the material selection for buildings in Abu Dhabi assumes enormous significance and we are pleased to provide such a service in partnership with a world-renowned organisation.
The companies advised that their teams will offer several services to the industry, including the selection of high performance building materials and façades while additionally providing direct links to programs of façade research.
