Standardization News

It all started in 2012 for Knauf when Amer Bin Ahmed, managing director, Knauf Middle East and India, met consultant Deg Priest in the United States while on vacation and began talking about ASTM International standards. In the seven years since, ASTM has become closely associated with Knauf in the Middle East.

For years, Knauf has used standards from the German Institute for Standardization (DIN) and the British Standards Institution (BSI), but when ASTM entered the picture, the entire business changed. Knauf’s United Arab Emirates (UAE) team now educates and advocates for ASTM to other Knauf countries, and Bin Ahmed is a member of the ASTM board of directors.

Knauf’s primary products are gypsum boards and lightweight steel framing to form drywall partitioning and ceiling systems. Knauf utilizes a vast number of ASTM International standards, ranging from gypsum and steel manufacturing standards to installation and raw material standards. Knauf also uses ASTM’s testing standards (fire, acoustics, properties, and structure). These need to be fully understood to ensure all products and systems are tested and are up to date with industry standards. Knauf’s testing partner in the UAE is Intertek.

Specifically, Knauf uses C1396, C645, E84, E90, E119, E2226, C840, C754, E72, and A1003 standards (see sidebar), which help us achieve compliance with local and international codes, laws, and regulations. ASTM standards have also facilitated product development, as there is always a standard that applies to a new or innovative product in our field. This guides the process and provides a benchmark for the requirements needed to make a product acceptable. Because ASTM International testing standards are easy to understand and apply, testing and approval for new products can be completed in a shorter timeframe. 

Working with ASTM has had obvious benefits for Knauf, with one recent project in Dubai secured solely because of the fact that Knauf’s products are tested and approved for sustainability using ASTM International and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) test methods. Knauf has received many awards in recent years for its contributions to the world with healthy, safe, and sustainable products, and ASTM has been a big part of this.

Knauf’s access to the Compass platform helps business growth significantly by allowing us to stay up to date with the latest standards and news, and therefore, ahead of the competition. More importantly, Knauf products never become outdated and are tested and approved to the highest and most recent standards. Quality is key to Knauf and ASTM International standards have helped us deliver safe, sustainable, high quality products.

Knauf makes sure that ASTM International is marketed through all channels of our branding, whether online, in-print, or in other media. Knauf carries the ASTM standard number on each tested product’s packaging. 

Company Snapshot

• Knauf, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Knauf is a leading manufacturer of plaster, gypsum board, and drywall systems. Knauf’s drywall products and systems continue to be specified on some of the Middle East’s largest and most prestigious projects. We offer a complete range of products and services to any drylining project — no matter what the size — and service to back them up.
• Number of staff: 140
• Trading area: Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India, and Middle East Region