Dow Construction Chemicals, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, is set to launch a new technology to meet the growing demand for energy efficient Cool Reflective Roof Coatings or ‘cool roofs’ in the Middle East region.

The new material will be manufactured at Dow’s state-of-the-art production facility at Jebel Ali in Dubai, UAE, and is a critical component in cool reflective roof coating (CRRC) formulations, said a statement.

When applied to exterior roof surfaces, cool roofs coatings will help reduce the amount of air conditioning required in hot climates by reflecting solar heat rather than absorbing it.   

To introduce its new cool roof material and make clear the sustainable benefits of ‘cool roof’ coatings, Dow has planned a series of events this week in Dubai aimed at the building and construction sector. 

The new product is a water based acrylic polymer which was designed specifically for the conditions in the Middle East of high temperatures, sun and dust. It is the latest development from Dow Construction Chemicals which has years of experience in developing products for elastomeric roof coatings. 

Brown Joseph, DCC business development manager for Middle East and Africa, said: “Elastomeric roof coatings formulated with the new material from Dow can reduce the cost of cooling a building by as much as 20 per cent.

“We believe functional coatings such as CRRCs can not only help developers increase the value of their properties in the Middle East thanks to better building performance, this technology can also support refurbishment and improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings.”

“Durable cool reflective roof coatings can also protect the roof from environmental degradation and help reduce the effect of peak temperatures and resulting mechanical stress, leading to an expanded life time for the roof,” said Joseph. 

As an added benefit, applying CRRCs can also help Middle East buildings achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (Leed) accreditation, due to their energy saving capabilities.

Klairie Gounaridi, strategic marketing manager for Dow - Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “Leed certification is increasing in the region as governments and the construction industry increasingly embrace the financial, performance and environmental advantages of sustainably-designed buildings, and CRRC technology has an important role to play in achieving that.”

The new product from Dow is designed to cope with surface temperatures in excess of 80-degree C. In addition, the binder offers long term dirt pick-up resistance - essential for maintaining the solar reflectivity which is key to achieving energy savings - and high ultra-violet (UV) resistance, critical for an application constantly exposed to the harsh, Middle East sunlight. - TradeArabia News Service