IIT Gandhinagar inaugurates laboratory for passive fire system testing

NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) inaugurated the 'Shah Bhogilal Jethalal laboratory for passive fire system testing' with an accreditation from international standards on December 3, 2022.

The Shah Bhogilal Jethalal and Bros (AAAG India), Managing Partner, Mukesh Shah along with IIT Gandhinagar, director, Rajat Moona, inaugurated the facility. The new lab, under the centre for safety engineering at IITGN, will be assisting manufacturers in designing and manufacturing products to boost ‘Make in India’ efforts in this sector and help increase exports of such products.

The laboratory will be helping in research and development and testing products for passive fire barriers to enhance fire safety in the country. The new facility is equipped to test products like fire doors, walls, dampers, fire curtains, door hardware, horizontal through penetration firestops, and more such products of up to 3x3 meters in specimen size.

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This was designed with the aim of helping the industry to develop new products and comply with different national and international building codes to enhance fire safety in high rise buildings, airports, metro rail, and other infrastructure projects through critical testing. The indigenous design of the lab is cost-effective, that results in optimisation of existing products of existing designs and cost for the benefit of the customers.

While speaking about the inauguration of the lab, IIT Gandhinagar, director, Rajat Moona, said: “We have witnessed massive changes in the design and usage of residential, business, or industrial spaces over the last few years, which also demands constant research and development of products that provide us protection from fire hazards. We are glad that our team, with generous support from Shri Mukeshbhai, could indigenously develop a lab of international standards at IITGN. I am confident that it will provide the much-needed assistance to Indian manufacturers in developing and testing innovative products and give a boost to ‘Made in India’ Fire Safety equipment.”

While speaking about working with IITGN, AAAG India, Managing Partner, Mukesh Shah said: “We are excited to partner with IITGN to give impetus to the cause of Fire Safety through the establishment of this world-class lab facility. With the fast-changing usage of different kinds of materials in residential and industrial projects, augmenting fire safety engineering is the need of the hour to understand and be prepared for any kind of fire hazard scenarios. We are sure that this facility will help evolve products in this industry for the better safety of our society.”