Innovative cooling apparel hailed by Lusail Stadium construction workers
www. sc. qa
Doha: Innovative cooling technology has been hailed a success by workers constructing the stadium which will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup™ final.
Evaporative cooling vests, wrist-wraps, cooled towels and neck covers were recently tested by 150 workers at the Lusail Stadium project site. Made from state-of-the-art evaporative and phase change materials, the technology cooled the body temperatures of workers by up to 10°C.
Every worker who took part in the recent pilot described the technology as beneficial, while more than three-quarters said the cooling effect was ‘very good’.
Leveraging the influence of the Qatar Innovation Community – a group of key stakeholders accelerating innovation and socioeconomic development in Qatar – the SC identified Techniche as a suitable partner to conduct a pilot offering immediate solutions for workers. The pilot was conducted by US-based Techniche, in collaboration with the SC, and HBK Contracting, Lusail Stadium’s main contractor.
Following the success of the pilot, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) will now assess the results of the report before exploring ways to utilise the technology which will benefit workers in the short, medium and long-term.
Temperatures on-site reached 40°C during the pilot. Workers tested the technology for a full day, during which they were regularly monitored. Thermal images were taken throughout the test to measure the body temperature of the workers and measure the effectiveness of the technology.
HBK Contracting’s Rashid Marera, who currently works as a flag man on the project, gave positive feedback about the technology.
Marera, a 23-year-old from Kenya, said: “The vests are very good. The jacket cools the body – there’s not much sweating when we wear these. I think we would like to have these all the time – especially during summer.
Kalyan Viswanathan, HBK Contracting’s Workers’ Welfare Manager, said the workers welcomed the trial.
“The initial response was positive – the workers like the comfort,” said Viswanathan. “It enables them to work better and increases productivity.
