By Mohammed Osman
DOHA: No construction material that fails to meet the Qatar Construction Specifications (QCS) will be allowed to enter the country, a senior official of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment said yesterday.
The ministry will soon start issuing specification certificates for gabbro and limestone in line with the QCS, said Dr Mohammed bin Saif Al Kuwari, Assistant Undersecretary for Laboratories and Specifications at the Ministry.
“All construction products need to have specification certificates from accredited laboratories in the country of origin or international laboratories. Specification certificate is the “passport” for primary materials entering the country,” said Al Kuwari, addressing a press conference yesterday.
“We are monitoring the entry points and taking samples from imported construction materials,” he added.
The Qatar General Organisation for Standardization (QS) at the ministry has asked producers of gabbro, limestone being exported to Qatar to provide their product profile to check compliance with the specifications.
Dr Al Kuwari said that at the beginning of the implementation of QCS, some considered it as an obstacle causing delays but now it is being appreciated by everyone.
People are becoming more aware about the importance of QCS and the technical regulations. As a result, complaints and violations have significantly reduced since the implementation of the construction code a year ago.
QCS has gained international recognition as a reference for arid and humid areas, and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International put the Qatari construction code at its database making it accessible to more end users, said Al Kuwari.
The specifications also refer to the age of buildings and the quality of construction materials being used, including steel, ready-mix and other.
He said no deficiency or imperfections have been seen in all projects adhered to the construction code since 2006, even in areas considered having critical cases such as roads and intersections, said Al Kuwari.
Eng Eisa Al Hammadi, CEO of Qatar Primary Materials Company (QPMC), said that the country has enough strategic stock of primary materials for supply to the local market and assure continuation of construction works. “Our supplies meets 60 percent of the local market requirements and 40 percent is supplied by the private sector. There are 58 licensed private suppliers along with QPMC and we are importing materials meeting the specifications,” said Al Hammadi. The press meet was held to announce the Third Conference on Qatar Construction Specifications to be held on May 22 at Torch Hotel Doha. The Minister of Municipality and Environment HE Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi will open the conference, which will feature discussion sessions and is expected to come out with some recommendations. Abdurrahman Al Ansari, CEO of Qatar Industrial Manufacturing Company, Abdulaziz Al Ziyarah, Director of Strategic Planning and Institution at Lusail City and Babekir Osman the General Manager of Hawkama Company were also present.
The Peninsula
