Design Guide for Dubai:

Minimum design standards for mechanical services

 This publication is supplied by CIBSE for the sole use of the person making the download; it should not be copied or forwarded to any other person or information source.
Design Guide for Dubai:

Minimum design standards for mechanical services

DGD01: 2020

The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers

222 Balham High Road, London SW12 9BS
 This publication is supplied by CIBSE for the sole use of the person making the download; it should not be copied or forwarded to any other person or information source.
The rights of publication or translation are reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without
the prior permission of the Institution.

© April 2020 The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, London

ISBN (book) 978-1-912034-61-1

ISBN (pdf) 978-1-912034-62-8

Registered charity number 278104

This document is based on the best knowledge available at the time of publication. However no responsibility of any kind for
any injury, death, loss, damage or delay however caused resulting from the use of these recommendations can be accepted
by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, the authors or others involved in its publication. In adopting these
recommendations for use each adopter by doing so agrees to accept full responsibility for any personal injury, death, loss,
damage or delay arising out of or in connection with their use by or on behalf of such adopter irrespective of the cause or
reason therefore and agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers,
the authors and others involved in their publication from any and all liability arising out of or in connection with such use as
aforesaid and irrespective of any negligence on the part of those indemnified.

Cover illustration: Panorama view of Dubai skyline in paper cut style vector illustration © Shutterstock/ ChonnieArtwork
Background by CIBSE Knowledge

Principal authors: CIBSE UAE Technical Committee

Isaac Coker (Chairperson) (WSP); Reid Donovan (AECOM); Hassan Younes (Griffin Consultants); Keith Perry (Polypipe); Farah Naz
(Buro Happold); Conor Moore (AECOM); Azmi Abou Hoda (EMergy); Jim Sebastian (Ecoval).

Editing, typesetting, layout and design by CIBSE Knowledge

Editor
Eileen Bell

Editorial Manager
Ken Butcher

CIBSE Technical Director

Hywel Davies

Note from the publisher

This publication is primarily intended to provide guidance to those responsible for the design, installation, commissioning,
operation and maintenance of building services. It is not intended to be exhaustive or definitive and it will be necessary for
users of guidance to exercise their own professional judgement when deciding whether to abide by or depart from it.

Any commercial products depicted, mentioned or described within this publication are included for the purposes of illustration
only and their inclusion does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Institution.

This document aims at establishing the minimum design standards for the design of HVAC/ mechanical systems for buildings in
Dubai. It does not relieve the designer of responsibility for accurately determining design arrangements and/ or complying with
the local authority requirements and/ or relevant international codes or regulatory requirements. It should be used for initial
design guidance, and provides minimum design requirements for specific design issues.

This guide has been produced in good faith by the CIBSE UAE Technical Committee to promote best engineering practices
in Dubai, without legal or financial liability of CIBSE UAE or the authors, in order to assist engineers coming from elsewhere
in the world to work in Dubai, UAE. It should be read alongside existing CIBSE guidance relevant to the region, including
Buildings for Extreme Environments: Arid.
 This publication is supplied by CIBSE for the sole use of the person making the download; it should not be copied or forwarded to any other person or information source.
Contents
1 Design codes, standards and guidance 5

1.1 Local codes, standards and guidance 5

1.2 International codes, standards and guidance 5

1.3 Minimum building fabric parameters 6

1.4 External design temperatures 7

1.5 Cooling load calculations 7

1.6 Thermal loads 7

1.7 Lighting power density: interior 7

1.8 Lighting power density: exterior 8

1.9 Infiltration rates 8

1.10 Ventilation rates 8

1.11 Diversity and safety factor 8

1.12 Building pressurisation 9

1.13 Air movement 9

1.14 Noise and vibration vontrol 9

1.15 Energy conservation 9

1.16 Refrigerants 9

1.17 Cooling towers 9

1.18 Chiller coefficient of performance (CoP) 10

1.19 Hydraulic pressures and temperature 10

1.20 Fire and life safety systems 10

References 11
This publication is supplied by CIBSE for the sole use of the person making the download; it should not be copied or forwarded to any other person or information source.
Minimum design standards for mechanical services 5

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1 Design codes, standards and guidance
The design, specification and installation of mechanical services should be in accordance with
good engineering practice and should conform to local codes, standards and guidelines, and
follow applicable international codes, standards and guidelines where indicated.

1.1 Local codes, standards and guidance

Source/ Reference Code, regulation, guideline reference

Dubai Municipality Al Sa’fat Dubai Green Building Evaluation System
Dubai Municipality Circulars
Dubai Civil Defence UAE Fire & Life Safety Code of Practice
ESMA UAE.S 5010-1 – Latest Labeling – Energy efficiency label for electrical appliances
Part 1: Household air conditioners
Dubai Civil Defence Circulars

1.2 International codes, standards and guidance

Source/ Reference Code, regulation, guideline reference

ASHRAE Standard 55 – Latest Thermal environmental conditions for human occupancy
ASHRAE Standard 62.1/ 62.2 – Ventilation for acceptable indoor air quality
Latest
ASHRAE Standard 90.1 – Latest Energy standard for buildings except low-rise residential buildings
ASHRAE Standard 170 – Latest Ventilation for health care facilities
CIBSE Guidance
CIBSE Commissioning Code A Air distribution systems (2006)
CIBSE Commissioning Code W Water distribution systems (2010)
CIBSE Commissioning Code L Lighting (2018)
CIBSE Commissioning Code C Automatic controls (2001)
CIBSE Commissioning Code R Refrigeration systems (2002)
CIBSE Commissioning Code B Boilers (2002)
SMACNA Sheet Metal Air Conditioning Contractors National Association
BESA DW144 Specification for sheet metal ductwork
BESA DW172 Specification for kitchen ventilation systems
BS 5422 – Latest Method for specifying thermal insulating materials for pipes,
tanks, vessels, ductwork and equipment operating within the
temperature range -40 °C to +700 °C
BS 8233 – Latest Guidance on sound insulation and noise reduction for buildings
Department for Education Acoustic Design of Schools – A Design Guide (UK)
Building Bulletin 93
6 Design Guide for Dubai

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1.3 Minimum building fabric parameters

Building fabric details Thermal performance – Thermal performance –

(considered in heat load calculation (recommended as per al sa’fat
as per DGBR requirement) (W/ m².K) minimum requirements) (W/ m².K)
external wall/ cladding U-value: 0.57/ 0.4 (circular 214) wall (gold, platinum) – 0.42

wall (bronze, silver) – 0.57

windows – U-value: 1.9 (max) bronze, silver: 1.9 (max)
glass area 40–60% shading coefficient: 0.32 (max) shading coefficient: 0.32 (max)
of external wall area light transmittance: 0.1 (min) light transmittance: 0.1 (min)

gold, platinum: 1.9 (max)

shading coefficient: 0.25 (max)
light transmittance: 0.1 (min)
windows – U-value: 1.9 (max) bronze, silver: 1.9 (max)
glass area > 60% shading coefficient: 0.25 (max) shading coefficient: 0.25 (max)
of external wall area light transmittance: 0.10 (min) light transmittance: 0.1 (min)

gold, platinum: 1.7 (max)

shading coefficient: 0.25 (max)
light transmittance: 0.1 (min)
windows – U-value: 2.1 (max) bronze, silver: 2.1 (max)
glass area < 40% shading coefficient: 0.40 (max) shading coefficient: 0.4 (max)
of external wall area light transmittance: 0.25 (min) light transmittance: 0.25 (min)

gold, platinum: 1.9 (max)

shading coefficient: 0.32 (max)
light transmittance: 0.25 (min)
skylights – U-value: 1.9 (max) 1.9 (max)
glazing portion > 10% shading coefficient: 0.25 (max) shading coefficient: 0.25 (max)
of total roof area light transmittance: 0.3 (min) light transmittance: 0.3 (min)
skylights – U-value: 1.9 (max) 1.9 (max)
glazing portion shading coefficient: 0.32 (max) shading coefficient: 0.32 (max)
</=10% of total roof light transmittance: 0.4 (min) light transmittance: 0.4 (min)
area
roof U-value: 0.3 bronze, silver: 0.3

gold, platinum: 0.3

exposed floors — gold, platinum: 0.42

bronze, silver: 0.57

Notes: The Al Sa’fat requirements for glazing are based on the assumption that the glazing ratio
(total area of external walls that let in light to the total area of external envelope) is above 60%.
If the final ratio will be lower, the requirements can be relaxed in line with Al Sa’fat requirements.
Minimum design standards for mechanical services 7

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1.4 External design temperatures

Parameter Value Data source

dry bulb design temperature 46ºC Al Sa’fat Dubai Green Building Evaluation System – 501.03
Air conditioning design parameters
wet bulb design temperature 29 ºC Al Sa’fat Dubai Green Building Evaluation System – 501.03
Air conditioning design parameters
winter dry bulb 12.9 ºC ASHRAE Handbook: Fundamentals
Chapter 14 – Climatic design information
The building fabric and fresh air loads should be sized based on
46 ºC/ 29 ºC and 34 ºC/ 32 ºC respectively as per Al Sa’fat – 501.03.

1.5 Cooling load calculations

The building cooling load calculations should be undertaken and documented utilising
software approved by the Dubai Municipality.

1.6 Thermal loads

People density should be based on the architectural furniture arrangement, and where this
is not available should then be based on Al Sa’fat – 401.01 or latest ASHRAE standards
62.1, 62.2 and 170. The associated sensible and latent loads should be based on ASHRAE
Handbook – Fundamentals.

Lighting power density should be based on Al Sa’fat requirements as shown below.

1.7 Lighting power density: interior

For new buildings, the average lighting power density for the interior connected lighting load
must not exceed the values below.

Building type Maximum average (W/ m2)

across total building area
commercial/ public: offices, hotels, resorts, restaurants 10
educational facilities 12
manufacturing facilities 13
retail outlets, shopping malls, workshops 14
warehouses 8
Lighting power density values for the building types not listed should not exceed
the values indicated in the latest edition of ASHRAE Standards 90.1 and 90.2 or
equivalent as approved by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).
8 Design Guide for Dubai

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1.8 Lighting power density: exterior
For all new buildings, the average lighting power density for the exterior connected lighting
load for specific building types must not exceed the values given below.

Building area Maximum (W/ m2) or linear metre

uncovered parking lots and drives 1.6 W/ m2

walkways < 3 m wide 3.3 W/ linear metre

walkways >/= 3 m wide 2.2 W/ m2
outdoor stairways 10.8 W/ m2
main entries 98 W/ linear metre of door width
other doors 66 W/ linear metre of door width
open sales areas (including vehicle sales lots) 5.4 W/ m2
building façades 2.2 W/ m2 for each illuminated wall or surface
or 16.4 W/ linear metre for each illuminated wall or
surface length
entrances and gatehouse inspection stations 13.5 W/ m2
at guarded facilities
drive-up windows at fast food restaurants 400 W/ drive-through
Lighting power density values for exterior areas for building types not listed should not exceed the
values indicated in the latest edition of ASHRAE Standard 90.1 or equivalent as approved by DEWA.
If the light power density values for external lighting exceed the values specified, the additional
lighting load must be powered entirely through renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic
systems or similar.

1.9 Infiltration rates

The design should take into account infiltration due to windows and door frames as per
Al Sa’fat – 501.05 with a maximum leakage rate of 10 m3/ hr/ m2 of building envelope at
∆P of 50 Pa. As a minimum, an infiltration rate of 0.15 air changes/ hour is recommended
to be used in the thermal modelling exercise in order to predict the building cooling loads.
However for airside equipment sizing, we recommend using 0.25 ACH for the areas near
façades/ external walls and 0.5 ACH for doors opening to the outside or higher depending on
the door opening size.

1.10 Ventilation rates

The ventilation rates should generally be based on the occupancy density and in accordance
to Al Sa’fat – 401.01, ASHRAE 62.1, 62.2 and 170.

1.11 Diversity and safety factor

The building calculations should also account for diversity profiles for people, lighting,
equipment, etc., and should be considered in the air conditioning calculations. Sensible and
latent safety factors of 10% and 5% respectively as identified in Al Sa’fat – 501.03 should be
used in calculating heat load.
Minimum design standards for mechanical services 9

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1.12 Building pressurisation
The air conditioning and ventilation systems should be designed such that the building
will be maintained at a positive pressure. Generally the building should be pressurised
with respect to the outside by approximately 10% to assist with limiting infiltration of
unconditioned ambient air.

1.13 Air movement

The air movement within the occupied zone should be designed to be in accordance with
CIBSE recommendations to prevent draughts and the associated feelings of discomfort, and
should be within the prescribed limits of 0.20 m/s to 0.30 m/s as per Al Sa’fat – 402.01.

1.14 Noise and vibration control

Building services should be designed and installed as per the ‘Sound and vibration
control’ section of the ASHRAE Handbook, CIBSE Guide B4: Noise control, CIBSE Guide A:
Environmental design and the advice of an acoustic consultant employed on the project. The
acoustic performance relating to internal noise criteria from various sources should meet Al
Sa’fat – 403.01 requirements.

1.15 Energy conservation

Systems should be designed to minimise energy use, and Al Sa’fat – 502.01 should be used
to drive this.

Energy conservation methods should be considered for all mechanical systems, in particular
fans and pumps, which should be provided with variable speed drives whether they are
constant volume systems or not.

For air handling units (AHUs) that comprise supply and extract in one unit, consideration
should be given to energy recovery systems. Thermal wheel, plate heat exchangers and
heat pipes should be considered for recovery of heat and the relative merits, including a
quantitative assessment of efficiencies, and should be in accordance with Al Sa’fat – 502.10.

Demand control ventilation is to be applied in all areas that have a maximum occupancy
density of 25 people or more per 100 m², for spaces larger than 100 m². Occupancy density
from architectural furniture arrangement should be considered, and where this is not
available this should then be based on Al Sa’fat – 401.01 or latest ASHRAE standards 62.1,
62.2 and 170. Demand control ventilation can include the installation of carbon dioxide (CO2)
sensors, which should control and minimise the amount of fresh air supplied to the space.

Effective energy management requires close and consistent control of all energy-consuming
systems and components.

1.16 Refrigerants
All refrigerants should be environmentally friendly with zero ozone depletion potential or
with global warming potential < 100, as highlighted in Al Sa’fat – 701.05.

1.17 Cooling towers

Cooling towers should be selected to achieve the minimum energy performance requirements
of the latest version of ASHRAE 90.1. All cooling towers should be CTI certified and should be
selected at 30.5 °C wet bulb.
10 Design Guide for Dubai

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1.18 Chiller coefficient of performance (CoP)
Chiller CoP should be in accordance with Al Sa’fat – Reference Table 502.01 (1).

1.19 Hydraulic pressures and temperature

Water pipework and ductwork system operating/ working and test pressures and
temperatures should be determined in accordance with the design parameters set by the
mode of operation of that particular system and in full compliance with the appropriate
specification, British Standard, code of practice or CIBSE guide and all relevant regulations.

1.20 Fire and life safety systems

The ventilation systems associated with fire and life safety (FLS) should be informed by the
FLS strategy for the building. However for basement car parking, the extract rate should be
6 ACH for normal mode and 10 ACH for smoke mode, with the necessary air make-up evenly
distributed over the car parking area. The system should be designed in accordance with the
UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice (DCD, 2018) corridor smoke management system
and staircase pressurisation system.
Minimum design standards for mechanical services 11

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References
ANSI/ ASHRAE (2013) Standard 170: Ventilation of Health Care Facilities (Atlanta: American Society of Heating and
Air-Conditioning Engineers)

ANSI/ ASHRAE (2017) Standard 55: Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy (Atlanta: American
Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers)

ANSI/ ASHRAE (2019) Standard 62.1/ 62.2: Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality (Atlanta: American Society
of Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers)

ANSI/ ASHRAE (2019) Standard 90.1: Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings (Atlanta:
American Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers)

ASHRAE (2017) ASHRAE Handbook – Fundamentals (Atlanta: American Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning
Engineers)

BESA (2016) DW144: Specification for sheet metal ductwork (London: Building Engineering Services Association)

BESA (2018) DW172: Specification for kitchen ventilation systems (London: Building Engineering Services
Association)

BSI (2009) BS 5422: Method for specifying thermal insulating materials for pipes, tanks, vessels, ductwork and
equipment operating within the temperature range -40°C to +700°C (London: British Standards Institution)

BSI (2014) BS 8233: Guidance on sound insulation and noise reduction for buildings (London: British Standards
Institution)

CIBSE (2001) Commissioning Code C: Automatic controls (London: Chartered Institution of Building Services
Engineers)

CIBSE (2002) Commissioning Code R: Refrigeration (London: Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers)

CIBSE (2002) Commissioning Code B: Boilers (London: Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers)

CIBSE (2006) Commissioning Code A: Air distribution systems (London: Chartered Institution of Building Services
Engineers)

CIBSE (2010) Commissioning Code W: Water (London: Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers)

CIBSE (2018) Commissioning Code L: Lighting (London: Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers)

DCD (2018) UAE Fire & Life Safety Code of Practice (Dubai: Dubai Civil Defence)

DfE (2014) BB93: Acoustic design of schools – Performance standards (London: Department for Education)

DM (2016) Al Sa’fat: Dubai Green Building Evaluation System Version 1.0 (Dubai: Dubai Municipality)