EQUITONE digital resources: what is available and where to access it

EQUITONE provides several categories of downloadable digital content relevant to architects and BIM managers working in the GCC. Understanding the distinction between these resource types is important for efficient specification workflow.

CAD files (2D and 3D)

EQUITONE’s CAD library covers panel dimensions, subframe system details, fastener configurations, edge conditions, corner assemblies, and connection details for all major panel series. These files are available in DWG and DXF formats, compatible with AutoCAD, BricsCAD, and most other draughting platforms. For facade consultants preparing tender packages or developing technical specifications, the CAD library provides the construction detail documentation required for UAE-standard drawing submissions — including the detailed section drawings typical in Dubai Municipality and ADM (Abu Dhabi Municipality) submissions.

The primary access point for CAD files is the EQUITONE resources page at equitone.com/en-us/resources-cad-files, which provides an organised library indexed by product range and system type.

BIM objects

EQUITONE BIM objects are available via the BIMobject platform — one of the most widely used BIM content repositories globally, and fully compatible with Autodesk Revit, ArchiCAD, and other IFC-supporting platforms. These objects include parametric facade panel families, subframe systems, and fastener components, each carrying embedded material data, product reference codes, and performance attributes.

For Revit users — the dominant BIM platform in GCC architectural practice — EQUITONE families can be downloaded as .rfa files, loaded into a project template, and applied to curtain wall or wall assembly families with full material mapping. The objects support LOD 300 and LOD 350 documentation standards, which align with Dubai Municipality’s BIM requirements for design development and tender-stage submissions.

Technical documentation library

Beyond BIM objects and CAD files, EQUITONE’s download centre at equitone.com/en-gb/documents hosts a comprehensive library of product data sheets, Declarations of Performance (DoP), fire test reports, installation guides, sustainability datasheets, and NBS-style specifications. For UAE-based architects preparing specification sections, the DoP documents are particularly important — they provide CE-marking data, fire classification, and panel thickness tolerances that are directly referenced in building permit submissions.

Step-by-step: integrating EQUITONE BIM objects into a Revit project for UAE and GCC conditions

The following workflow reflects standard practice for a facade consultant or lead architect working on a mid-to-high-rise commercial or mixed-use project in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Riyadh, operating within a BIM Execution Plan (BEP) that requires LOD 300 facade documentation at the design development stage.

Step 1 — Access and download the correct object

Navigate to the BIMobject platform and search for “EQUITONE” to access the brand’s full library. Filter by product range — for example, EQUITONE [natura] (raw fibre cement surface), EQUITONE [tectiva] (smooth, through-coloured), EQUITONE [linea] (profiled surface), or EQUITONE [pictura] (coloured with fine aggregate texture). Select the appropriate Revit format (.rfa) and confirm the object version is current. EQUITONE periodically updates BIM objects to reflect revised panel sizes, fastener systems, and performance data — always use the most recent published version.

Step 2 — Load the family into your Revit project template

Open the Revit project file and use the “Load Family” function (Insert > Load Family) to import the .rfa file. For facade-heavy projects, it is good practice to maintain a project-specific family library folder on your server that mirrors the BEP’s naming convention and file management protocol. This supports ISO 19650 compliance, which is increasingly referenced in GCC BIM Execution Plans aligned with Dubai Municipality and Ashghal requirements.

Step 3 — Apply to wall or curtain wall assembly

EQUITONE facade panels in Revit are typically applied as a hosted cladding layer within a wall assembly, or as a standalone curtain wall panel family for ventilated facade configurations. For ventilated facade systems — the predominant application in GCC high-rise and institutional projects — configure the air cavity layer (minimum 40mm as a general recommendation for thermal and moisture management in the Arabian climate) between the structural backing wall and the EQUITONE panel. This cavity is critical for passive ventilation performance in high-temperature, high-humidity coastal environments including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Jeddah.

Step 4 — Configure material parameters for GCC climate

Several Revit material parameters require attention for GCC climate compliance. First, set the thermal resistance (R-value) of the insulation layer to meet Dubai’s Green Building Regulations and Specifications (GBRS) or Abu Dhabi’s Estidama Pearl Rating System requirements. EQUITONE panels are non-insulating by themselves but act as the external skin of a composite ventilated system — the insulation layer behind the panel carries the thermal performance load. Second, review the fire classification data embedded in the BIM object: EQUITONE fibre cement panels are non-combustible and classified A2-s1,d0 under EN 13501-1, meeting the UAE Civil Defence requirements for external cladding on buildings over a defined height threshold — a critical specification parameter in post-Grenfell regulatory environments across the GCC. Confirm this classification is correctly attributed in the material data of the Revit object.

Step 5 — Apply colour and surface finish parameters

EQUITONE’s Revit families include material mapping for each surface finish. Apply the correct colour reference from the EQUITONE colour chart (available in the documentation library) and ensure the Revit material definition uses a physically-based rendering (PBR) texture that reflects the actual panel surface — important for design review presentations and client visualisations that are standard practice on major GCC commercial and hospitality developments. The rendering quality of BIM-sourced textures is typically higher than manually created materials, which improves visualisation accuracy for design presentations.

Step 6 — Export and coordinate with consultants

Export the facade model as an IFC file (IFC2x3 or IFC4, depending on the project’s BEP requirements) for coordination with MEP, structural, and interior design consultants. Many GCC projects use Autodesk BIM 360 or ACC as the common data environment (CDE) — confirm that your IFC export settings are aligned with the CDE’s coordination model import settings to avoid geometry loss or attribute stripping on upload.

EQUITONE product ranges: specifying the right panel for GCC facade conditions

Not all EQUITONE ranges perform identically in the Gulf’s climate, and specification decisions should reflect the project’s environmental exposure, aesthetic requirements, and maintenance regime. The following summary is relevant to GCC architects reviewing EQUITONE’s product portfolio.

EQUITONE [natura]

The most widely specified range globally, [natura] exposes the raw fibre cement surface — a characteristically textured, mineral aesthetic. In the GCC, [natura] is frequently specified on cultural, educational, and civic buildings where the architects seek a material honesty and tectonic rawness. Its impregnated surface provides resistance to moisture penetration and UV degradation without a painted coating, reducing long-term maintenance in high-UV environments. The through-body material means minor surface abrasion does not reveal a different colour layer — a durability advantage relevant in coastal and sandy-wind exposure zones.

EQUITONE [tectiva]

The smooth, through-coloured [tectiva] panel is suited to contemporary commercial, hospitality, and residential towers where architects require precise tonal control. Available in a broad palette, [tectiva] is increasingly specified on Dubai and Abu Dhabi hospitality projects where the exterior skin requires a premium, coloured appearance. The factory-applied colour system maintains its integrity under sustained UV exposure — a practical requirement in a region with over 3,500 annual sunshine hours.

EQUITONE [linea]

The profiled [linea] panel introduces a pronounced longitudinal groove that creates shadow lines and facade relief — an aesthetic that translates well to the scale of GCC mid-rise and institutional projects. In Revit, the [linea] BIM family includes the profile geometry, enabling accurate shadow studies in the model — useful for early-stage massing presentations and facade solar performance analysis, both increasingly expected deliverables on LEED- and Estidama-targeted projects.

EQUITONE [pictura] and [lunara]

[pictura] extends the surface treatment vocabulary with a fine aggregate finish in a range of custom colours. [lunara] offers a highly refined, smooth-to-the-touch surface. Both are relevant on high-specification interiors and mixed interior/exterior cladding schemes — a growing application category on GCC luxury hospitality and retail projects where a single facade material is used continuously from exterior to interior atrium.

Fire safety compliance: EQUITONE cladding and UAE Civil Defence requirements

Fire safety classification of external cladding materials is a non-negotiable specification parameter in the UAE and across the GCC, particularly following the evolution of building regulations in the post-2017 period. The UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice, administered by Dubai Civil Defence and aligned with the NFPA framework, places strict requirements on the combustibility of external wall cladding systems on buildings above defined height thresholds.

EQUITONE fibre cement panels are classified as non-combustible at the product material level. Under EN 13501-1 (the European fire classification standard referenced in EQUITONE’s Declarations of Performance), panels achieve an A2-s1,d0 fire classification — indicating limited combustibility, very low smoke production, and no burning droplets. This classification makes EQUITONE technically compliant with UAE requirements for non-combustible external cladding on high-rise buildings. Architects specifying EQUITONE on tall buildings in the UAE should include the DoP fire classification documentation in their specification appendices for Civil Defence review.

It is important to note that fire compliance for an external facade system is assessed holistically, not solely at the panel level. The ventilated cavity, subframe, insulation, and fixing system each contribute to the system’s overall fire behaviour. OBRAS International provides technical support for system-level fire documentation, including cavity barrier specifications, to support full UAE Civil Defence submissions.

Sustainability and green building certification: EQUITONE in Estidama and LEED projects

Green building certification is now a standard requirement on a significant proportion of new-build commercial, government, and mixed-use projects across the UAE and GCC. Abu Dhabi’s Estidama Pearl Rating System, Dubai’s Green Building Regulations, and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) all reference external building envelope performance as a significant contributor to rating scores.

EQUITONE fibre cement panels contribute to green building ratings on several counts. The material contains a substantial proportion of natural raw materials — cement, cellulose, and mineral fillers — with a relatively low embodied carbon profile compared to aluminium composite materials or glass reinforced concrete. Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are available for major EQUITONE product ranges, providing the third-party verified embodied carbon and lifecycle data required for LEED Materials and Resources credits and Estidama Pearl points.

The ventilated facade system that EQUITONE cladding forms part of delivers passive energy efficiency benefits relevant to Estidama and GBRS compliance: the air cavity between the panel and the backing wall reduces solar heat gain on the building envelope, lowering cooling loads in UAE’s extreme summer climate. This thermal buffering effect is a genuine performance advantage in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where cooling accounts for a disproportionate share of building energy consumption.

OBRAS International: specification and project support for EQUITONE in the UAE and GCC

OBRAS International is the GCC’s specialist supplier of EQUITONE fibre cement cladding systems, operating as a trusted technical partner for architects, facade consultants, main contractors, and developers across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman. Unlike general building materials distributors, OBRAS focuses specifically on ventilated facade systems — a specialisation that translates into genuine technical depth in EQUITONE product knowledge, system design, and project support.

For architects and BIM managers working with EQUITONE on GCC projects, OBRAS provides several forms of practical support that go beyond product supply:

BIM pack and specification support: OBRAS can provide a curated BIM pack for GCC-based projects, including pre-configured Revit families with GCC climate parameters, CAD system details adapted for UAE construction standards, NBS-style specification clauses, and fire classification documentation. This package is available on request and is designed to reduce the specification preparation workload for busy design teams.

Material samples and design consultation: OBRAS maintains a comprehensive EQUITONE sample library across its UAE showrooms, enabling architects to review full-scale panels, surface finishes, and colour ranges under local lighting conditions before committing to a specification. For large-scale projects, bespoke sample boards and mock-up panel sets can be arranged.

Technical facade review: For complex facade geometries, high-rise applications, or projects with specific fire, thermal, or acoustic performance requirements, OBRAS provides technical facade review services, drawing on the engineering support available through EQUITONE’s global technical network and local GCC regulatory expertise.

Contractor coordination: OBRAS supports approved facade installation contractors with product training, installation documentation, and on-site technical assistance — an important consideration in a regional market where skilled ventilated facade installation teams are in high demand across multiple large-scale projects simultaneously.

Future outlook: digital specification and BIM in GCC facade procurement

The trajectory of BIM adoption in the GCC points clearly toward deeper integration of manufacturer product data within design and construction models. As Dubai Municipality, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs, and Ashghal continue to refine their BIM requirements, the expectation that facade products are delivered with fully attributed, IFC-compatible BIM objects will shift from competitive advantage to baseline requirement across a broader range of project types.

Open BIM standards — particularly IFC4 and the broader ISO 19650 framework — are gradually displacing proprietary BIM formats as the reference standard for GCC public projects. Architects and BIM managers should ensure that the EQUITONE objects they integrate into project models are IFC-exportable without attribute loss, and that their project’s Common Data Environment is configured to receive and coordinate IFC models from all design disciplines.

Concurrently, the use of AI-assisted specification tools and generative design platforms is beginning to influence early-stage facade material selection in the GCC. Architects working on facade-intensive programmes in Riyadh, Dubai, and Doha are increasingly using parametric design workflows in which material objects — including BIM families from manufacturers like EQUITONE — are tested against performance criteria (solar gain, visual weight, cost rate) within the model before a specification decision is confirmed. Material suppliers who invest in rich, well-structured BIM content will be better positioned in this evolving specification environment.