As Middle East construction projects grow in scale and complexity, the safety of the built environment has shifted from a secondary consideration to a primary architectural mandate. Specialised solutions, such as fire protection, blast resistance, and advanced access control, are no longer niche requirements; they are integral components of modern building design.
Saudi-based ALUPCO is responding to that shift through its Special Building Solutions (SBS) division, a unit established to integrate specialised protection technologies into major building and infrastructure projects.
“Today, protecting people, property, and infrastructure is no longer just a corporate objective, it has become a fundamental requirement in modern building design. In light of the current situation in the region, there is a growing emphasis on enhanced safety, security, and strict regulatory compliance.” Mohammed Nabil, General Manager – Special Building Solutions at ALUPCO, tells Gulf Construction’s Bina Goveas in an exclusive interview.
‘SBS serves as a one-stop shop for safety and security systems, integrating specialised solutions into a single, streamlined offering for developers, consultants, and contractors’ – Mohammed Nabil
With increasing urban density, critical infrastructure projects, and higher safety regulations, buildings must be designed to withstand risks such as fire, blast, and security threats, he adds.
Through partnerships with international manufacturers and local fabrication capabilities, ALUPCO’s Special Building Solutions division is positioning itself as a provider of safety-focused architectural systems tailored to the region’s mega and giga projects.
Nabil says the unit represents a strategic expansion of the company’s traditional aluminium systems business into the broader field of building performance and protection.
“ALUPCO’s diversification strategy focuses on developing business units that respond to evolving market needs beyond aluminium extrusion. The SBS division was created to address the growing demand for specialised building systems focused on performance, safety, security, and regulatory compliance,” he explains.
The initiative reflects a broader trend within the construction sector, where stricter building codes and rising urban density are pushing developers to incorporate advanced safety systems earlier in the design process.
Integrating global technology into projects
To meet these rigorous demands, SBS has formed partnerships with some of the most respected names in global building technology, including Schueco, Jansen, Siderise, Aumuller, Assa Abloy, and Sommer. These collaborations allow ALUPCO to act as a bridge, bringing internationally tested systems to the Gulf and adapting them for local conditions and project requirements.
Nabil says SBS acts as a technical integrator, combining different systems into a coordinated offering for developers and contractors. It provides technical support, engineering coordination, and local fabrication to ensure smooth project execution and compliance with international and local standards, he adds.
A key advantage for regional developers is the ability to source these high-specification systems locally.
“SBS serves as a one-stop shop for safety and security systems, integrating specialised solutions into a single, streamlined offering for developers, consultants, and contractors,” Nabil states.
Local production also forms a key component of the strategy.
“Schueco and Jansen are fabricated locally in Saudi Arabia through ALUPCO’s authorised facilities. This local capability allows us to provide faster delivery, closer technical coordination with project teams, and full compliance with project specifications and regional requirements,” he says.
The localisation of fabrication helps shorten supply chains for technically complex façade and protection systems, which can otherwise require lengthy import timelines.
Fire safety at the forefront
With the supply and partnership framework in place, the most immediate application of these systems lies in one of construction’s most critical challenges: fire safety – particularly in dense urban environments where evacuation times and structural performance can determine the scale of damage during emergencies.
Fire safety remains a cornerstone of the SBS offering with its portfolio covering a range of fire-rated glazing systems designed to contain flames and smoke while maintaining architectural transparency.
“Fire-rated glazing systems combine safety with design flexibility in areas such as corridors, façades, and internal partitions,” Nabil states.
ALUPCO’s fire-rated glazing systems include both steel- and aluminium-framed options capable of achieving fire resistance ratings ranging from 30 to 120 minutes under European testing standards.
These systems are typically used in internal partitions, corridors, curtain-walls and door assemblies where visual openness must be balanced with stringent fire performance requirements.
“Steel and aluminium fire-rated glazing systems are used in a wide range of applications in high density urban buildings,” Nabil says. “Aluminium systems are typically used for internal partitions, corridors, offices, and façade elements where transparency and lighter structural requirements are preferred. Steel systems are often specified for larger openings, high traffic areas, or locations requiring higher structural strength.”
He adds that these systems can also be engineered to meet additional protection requirements.
“In addition, both aluminium and steel options can be designed to meet fire-rated, blast-resistant, or bullet-resistant requirements, making them suitable for airports, commercial towers, government buildings, hospitals, and other critical infrastructure projects.”
Preventing fire spread
Containing fire at visible openings is only part of the equation – what happens inside the unseen cavities of a façade can be equally decisive. Passive fire protection solutions supplied through SBS include firestop and cavity barrier systems from Siderise, which are designed to maintain compartmentation within buildings.
“Siderise firestop and cavity barrier systems are engineered to restrict the concealed spread of fire and smoke through façade cavities and building voids, helping maintain the building’s overall fire safety strategy and integrity of compartmentation,” Nabil says.
He adds that factory-engineered design of these systems plays an important role in reducing installation errors on complex façade systems. Such passive systems are increasingly specified for high-rise buildings, where façade cavities can act as channels for fire propagation if not properly protected.
According to SBS, these solutions utilise stone wool-based materials engineered for dry-fix installation, eliminating the need for additional sealants to achieve certified fire resistance.
Sommer products are increasingly specified for critical infrastructure projects like nuclear plants and energy facilities.
Managing smoke and heat
Containing fire and smoke within a building’s structure, however, is only effective if occupants can move through it safely – making the performance of doors and smoke extraction systems equally critical.
Smoke inhalation remains one of the leading causes of fatalities during building fires. To address this risk, SBS includes automated window control systems designed to extract smoke and heat during emergencies.
“Integrating Aumuller automated window drives ensures that heat and smoke are efficiently extracted during a fire. By removing smoke, it reduces the risk of smoke inhalation, improves visibility, and keeps escape routes clearer, allowing occupants to evacuate safely and move within the building more easily, thereby significantly improving survival rates,” Nabil says.
These automated drives can operate chain, spindle or rack-and-pinion mechanisms to open windows during emergencies, creating natural smoke extraction points within buildings.
Another key component of the SBS offering is fire-rated hollow metal doors capable of providing very high fire resistance. For high-traffic areas and critical escape routes, SBS provides Assa Abloy hollow metal doors with fire ratings of up to 180 minutes. Nabil emphasises that complying with these ratings can mean the difference between life and death during an emergency, providing the necessary time for safe evacuation and protecting the integrity of the building’s compartments.
“Fire door ratings are critical for blocking fire and smoke passage, giving occupants time to evacuate safely. The required rating is determined by a fire and life safety (FLS) consultant based on factors such as building size and height, occupancy type, number of exits, compartmentation, and door location,” he explains. “Higher rated doors, like those up to 180 minutes, are essential in large or complex buildings to ensure safe evacuation and protect property.”
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