World's Largest Mall Redecorates with Deckshield Decking

BEIJING, February 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

A landmark renovation project at one of the world's largest shopping malls featured the installation of over 500,000 square metres of Flowcrete Group's polyurethane deck coating materials.

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140227/671864 )

The Dubai Mall needed to refurbish the surface of its car parking facility, which is the most expansive in the Middle East & North Africa region with over 14,000 spaces across three separate high-rise buildings.

The award-winning Deckshield polyurethane deck coating system, from global resin flooring specialists Flowcrete Group, was specified for all levels of the multi-storey structure.

This system was chosen for its ability to maintain a smooth and colourful finish when faced with operational demands such as constant vehicular traffic, structural movement, fuel and oil spillages, thermal variations, abrasions and wear.

Located in the 20 billion dollar Downtown Dubai complex, The Dubai Mall holds the record for the world's largest retail centre based on total area. The venue hosts 635 retailers and attracts over 750,000 visitors every week, making it also the world's most popular shopping and leisure destination.

Vik Vithlani, Flowcrete Middle East Sales Director, said: "We're really proud of the surface that we supplied for this iconic Dubai location, as we had to overcome numerous challenges to ensure a high-quality finish.

"The end result had to match the exacting standards for both functionality and presentation that The Dubai Mall has become renowned for around the world.

"Appearance was a vital factor, as the car park is the first impression many visitors will have, however the floor also needed to be robust and hard-wearing. This combination of aesthetic appeal and durability is a key characteristic of Flowcrete Group's resin floor solutions."

Within the five month project, over 540,000m² of Flowcrete Group's Deckshield ID & ED coatings were installed across basement, lower ground, intermediate and exposed top level decks of the breath-taking structures. These systems create a waterproof membrane that sharpens light reflectivity and can enhance interior visuals with attractive colours.

Alongside the size of the car parks, the project also had to take into account that the mall would be operational throughout the refurbishment period, eliminating any possibility of simultaneously closing down the entire car park.

It was imperative that the new materials be laid as swiftly and diligently as possible to avoid undue inconvenience to visitors - a need that was heightened by the fact that one of the busiest shopping periods of the year, the Eid Al Fitr holiday, was fast approaching.

Before the new floor could be applied the previous system, which had failed soon after the mall opened, had to be raised and disposed of. Voids where wheel stops had been removed also had to be filled in before the Deckshield material could be laid on top, a task which required over 80,000kg of non-shrink grout.

The Deckshield range has proven to be a popular choice for large-scale construction projects in the Middle East and was recently specified for concourse areas of the new King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. The elite sports venue chose to use Deckshield ED in large part thanks to its proven UV stability, meaning that the floors would be protected from the desert sun.

For more information please visit http://www.flowcreteasia.com/

SOURCE Flowcrete Asia