DUBAI, UAE, 4 December 2024: GCC Lab announced plans of establishing a 1,500-square-foot HVAC lab in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, dedicated to testing HVAC equipment. Khalaf Masaeed, Chief Business Development Officer, GCC Lab, said the lab, a collaborative initiative with AHRI, will serve the needs of manufacturers, installers and building owners. The lab is expected to have a positive impact on costs and time efficiency, significantly enhancing research and development capabilities in the region, Masaeed said.

GCC Lab made the announcement during the annual “Convening HVACR Leaders: Shaping the Future of the Industry” event that AHRI organised on December 4 in Dubai. The lab is scheduled for commissioning in May 2025.

Nabil Shahin, Managing Director, AHRI MENA, said the lab would not just undertake testing and certification but also surveillance. “If we don’t do surveillance and certification,” he said, “products that fail to meet quality and minimum energy performance standards will enter the market.”