Jul 14, 2016 | By Tess

Dubai, the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, has impressed the additive manufacturing world with its forward thinking and ambitious adoption of 3D printing applications and technologies. Put forth in the Dubai 3D Printing Strategy, the city has laid out plans to further integrate additive manufacturing into three main sectors: medical, consumer products, and construction. Within the construction sector, Dubai has already made some impressive headway, as they unveiled a 3D printed office building (built in only 17 days!) just two months ago. The building, however, was just the beginning, as the Dubai Municipality is now establishing rules and standards for 3D printing construction practices to make them more widespread.

On Wednesday, July 13th, Essa Al Haj Al Maidour, the Deputy Director-General of the Dubai Municiplality, announced that the city was drawing up new legislation that would account for and regulate 3D printing practices within the construction industry. The legislation reportedly consists of various regulatory frameworks that will standardize such areas as materials used in 3D printing construction, testing processes, and 3D printing techniques and mechanisms used at the construction site.

Of course, Dubai is not the only place in the world that is investigating 3D printing for construction practices, as many people and companies from around the globe have recognized the benefits of integrating additive manufacturing technologies into building and construction. Among the recognized benefits are the reduction of building material waste and reduction of construction time. Al Maidour also pointed out that with 3D printing technologies at the construction site, less manpower would be necessary, allowing workers to be redeployed to other construction sites and jobs.

According to Abdulla Raffia, the municipality’s Assistant Director-General for Engineering and Planning, the standards and regulations are being determined based off a number of tests and research in the field. Additionally, the city has reached out to a number of institutions and companies with knowledge and experience in the matter for feedback and guidance. Workshops will also be organized in order to discuss and map out the steps needed for integrating 3D printing into the construction sector.

In a press release about the plan, Khalid Saleh Al Mullah, director of the Building Department explained, “this new system must be accompanied by new legislation that regulates the work in the field and also preserves the results of the projects that will be implemented using this technology.”

Judging by the Dubai Municipality’s determined attitude towards the innovative 3D Printing Strategy, especially in regards to the construction sector, it seems completely feasible that their goal to have 25% of buildings 3D printed by the year 2030 will be realized. Additionally, while not every country or city has the same means as Dubai, their legislation could potentially work as a model for other 3D printed construction regulations.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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