Exova Group, a global testing, calibration and advisory services provider, has won three major contracts to conduct materials testing and fire safety engineering for the new Doha Metro in Qatar.

Worth over £3.7 million ($5.57 million), the contracts will see Exova deliver a programme of materials testing for key infrastructure, as well as specialist fire strategy and consultancy, said a statement from Excova.

The contracts, which range up to three years in duration, include bespoke laboratory-based and on-site materials testing. A programme of associated soil and environmental chemical analysis will also be undertaken to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.

Specialist fire safety operation Exova Warringtonfire has also been contracted to undertake concept design validation, fire strategy and CFD (computational fluid dynamics) modelling, it stated.  

Hicham Abdallah, the managing director of Exova for Middle East, Asia and Asia Pacific, said these are extensive and technically demanding programmes which Exova is well placed to deliver.

"As one of the leading global experts in testing and fire consultancy, we are able to apply knowledge and experience gained from our work on mass transit infrastructure across the Middle East, including the Dubai Metro and Saudi Arabia’s Haramain High Speed Railway," he noted.

The new Doha Metro is currently under construction with Phase One on course to open in 2019. On completion in 2026, the new system will consist of four lines, covering 132 miles (212.4 km) and serving 85 stations, said the company statement.-TradeArabia News Service