Passive Fire Protection at Red Sea Global, Shura Island

Atlantis Contracting was appointed by Al Tamimi Contracting Company to deliver the full supply and installation of passive fire protection systems for the Red Sea Global Shura Island Infrastructure Development — one of Saudi Arabia's most prestigious giga-project developments. The primary scope focused on fire-rated shaft wall closures and compartmentation works, utilizing PROMATECT®-H calcium silicate fire protection boards to seal and protect vertical and horizontal service shafts, maintain the integrity of fire-rated barriers, and prevent the spread of fire, smoke, and hot gases across compartments throughout the development.

Project

Red Sea Global – Shura Island Infrastructure Development

Client:Al Tamimi Contracting Company

End Client:Red Sea Global

Location:Shura Island, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia

Contractor:Atlantis Contracting

Completion:2023

Scope:Supply & Installation of Passive Fire Protection Systems

Main System:PROMATECT®-H Calcium Silicate Fire Protection Board

Fire Ratings:Up to 2 and 4 hours (per approved system design)

Site Conditions Upon Arrival

Upon mobilization to the Shura Island site, the Atlantis team conducted a full survey of all service shafts and compartmentation zones. The following conditions were documented:

•Large-scale infrastructure development with multiple building typologies — hospitality, residential, and utility structures — each requiring distinct shaft closure configurations and fire resistance ratings.

•MEP shafts, service risers, and vertical openings were in various stages of completion by other trades, with many left open and unprotected, presenting immediate fire compartmentation gaps.

•Site environment presented unique challenges due to its coastal Red Sea location — high humidity, salt air exposure, and temperature variation requiring careful material selection and storage protocols.

•Complex interfaces between PROMATECT®-H shaft enclosures and surrounding structural elements (concrete, masonry, and steel framing) required detailed coordination and bespoke detailing.

•Multiple active trade packages working simultaneously across the site demanded stringent sequencing and handover coordination to prevent works from being damaged or covered before inspection.

Site Challenges & Atlantis Solutions

Challenge 1: Coastal Environment & Material Protection

The Red Sea coastal environment at Shura Island presented extreme conditions — high humidity, salt-laden air, and thermal fluctuation. Improper storage or premature exposure of PROMATECT®-H boards risked compromising board integrity prior to installation. 

Solution: Atlantis implemented strict on-site material management protocols — all PROMATECT®-H boards were stored in covered, elevated conditions away from direct moisture exposure. Delivery sequencing was coordinated to minimize material dwell time on site, and boards were inspected prior to installation to confirm compliance with required specifications.

Challenge 2: Complex Multi-Typology Shaft Configurations

The diversity of building types across Shura Island — from luxury hospitality to infrastructure utility buildings — meant that shaft configurations, dimensions, and required fire resistance ratings varied significantly across the project. No single standardized installation detail was applicable site-wide.

Solution: Atlantis developed zone-specific installation plans for each building typology, referencing the applicable PROMATECT®-H system details for each required fire rating (2-hour and 4-hour). Supporting galvanized steel framing was designed and fabricated to suit each shaft geometry, ensuring full compliance with the specified fire resistance rating in every installation zone.

Challenge 3: Multi-Trade Sequencing & Shaft Handover

MEP, civil, and fit-out contractors were working simultaneously across the site. Shaft closure works could only proceed after MEP services within each shaft were finalized and signed off — yet MEP completion was frequently delayed or revised, disrupting the firestop installation programme. 

Solution: Atlantis introduced a formal shaft readiness sign-off process in coordination with the main contractor — no shaft closure could begin without written confirmation that all services within the shaft were complete and frozen. A rolling programme was maintained to redirect installation teams to ready zones, maximizing productivity and preventing idle time while pending shafts awaited sign-off.

Challenge 4: Giga-Project Quality & Compliance Requirements

Red Sea Global projects operate under exceptionally stringent quality, inspection, and documentation requirements. Every shaft closure installation required third-party inspection, material traceability, and compliance documentation referenced to specific UL/international fire resistance standards.

Solution: Atlantis maintained a comprehensive project quality file — including PROMATECT®-H product data sheets, fire test certificates, installation method statements, material delivery records, and inspection sign-off sheets for every completed shaft. All installations were completed in line with the approved fire strategy and documented to support the project's life-safety certification requirements.

Main System: PROMATECT®-H | PROMATECT®-H

Material

PROMATECT®-H Non-Combustible Calcium Silicate Fire Protection Board

Fire Ratings

Up to 2 hours and 4 hours (per approved system design)

Key Properties

High fire resistance | Dimensional stability | Moisture resistance | Impact resistance

Framing System

Galvanized steel supporting framework

Application

Shaft enclosures, MEP shaft closures, service riser protection, fire-rated barriers

Compliance

International passive fire protection standards

Operations Summary

The following sequence of operations was carried out by the Atlantis team: 

•Site mobilization, full shaft survey, and zone-by-zone readiness assessment across the entire Shura Island development.

•Supply and on-site management of PROMATECT®-H calcium silicate fire protection boards under controlled storage conditions.

•Fabrication and installation of supporting galvanized steel framing systems to suit each shaft configuration and fire rating requirement.

•Supply and installation of PROMATECT®-H fire-rated shaft enclosures covering MEP shafts, service risers, and vertical openings.

•Construction of fire-rated barriers around electrical, mechanical, and plumbing service zones.

•Firestopping of all joints and interfaces between boards and surrounding structural elements.

•Sealing of service penetrations passing through shaft walls using approved firestop systems.

•Inspection, quality control, and documentation for every completed shaft — in compliance with Red Sea Global project quality requirements.

Outcome & Performance

Upon completion, Atlantis Contracting successfully delivered a robust and fully compliant passive fire protection system across the Shura Island infrastructure development. The installed PROMATECT®-H shaft closure systems ensured the continuity of fire compartments, safeguarded critical MEP infrastructure services, and fully supported the project's life-safety and regulatory requirements. The installation contributed significantly to the overall fire strategy of the Shura Island development while meeting the architectural, operational, and quality standards demanded by Red Sea Global — one of the Kingdom's most ambitious Vision 2030 giga-projects.