DEWA & DCD Submittal Pitfalls for Cable Tray Systems in Dubai
In Dubai, cable tray approvals fail less often due to poor design and more often due to gaps in documentation. DEWA and Dubai Civil Defense (DCD) do not assess intent or implied compliance.They assess what is formally submitted. When specifications, certificates, or markings assume compliance without showing proof, rejection is unavoidable.
Common Rejection Causes:
- Specification and environment mismatches
- Outdated or incomplete certificates
- Drawings that do not follow authority format
- Schedules that do not align with layouts
- Missing product markings
Undocumented bonding and earthing details
At BonnGulf, we support projects through both supply and technical coordination, and we routinely see the same issues stall approvals with cable tray suppliers in dubai working under the same review pressure. These are not rare errors. They are common issues that repeat across commercial, industrial, and infrastructure projects, regardless of project size or complexity.
Why Do Specifications Not Match The Application?
One of the most common rejection triggers is a mismatch between the tray specification and its stated use. A drawing may show an outdoor rooftop run, but the submitted specification lists a pre-galvanized finish suitable only for indoor environments. In other cases, the tray width and side rail height do not align with the declared cable load.
DEWA reviewers cross-check tray type, coating, thickness, and load class against routing and environment. If a system is described as outdoor but lacks corrosion-resistant treatment, the submittal fails. The same applies when load calculations are missing or copied from generic catalogues without project context.
Why Can Valid Certificates Still Be Rejected?
A certificate can be technically valid and still be rejected. DCD, in particular, is strict about currency and relevance. Fire-related certificates must reflect current regulations, not historical compliance. Submitting an older certificate, even if it was acceptable on a previous project, is a common reason for refusal. Fire safety requirements evolve, and DCD expects documentation aligned with the latest code revisions.
Another recurring issue is incomplete certification. Tray systems often arrive with material certificates but no third-party test reports confirming compliance with IEC 61537 or equivalent standards. For fire-rated routes, missing flame spread or fire resistance documentation will stop the approval process immediately.
In recent enforcement actions, including the widely reported Dubai high-rise fire incident in 2024, authorities reinforced that documentation gaps are treated as safety risks, not administrative oversights.
Why Do Drawings Get Rejected On Authority Format?
DEWA and DCD provide clear drawing format requirements. Yet rejections still occur because submissions ignore them. Common issues include incorrect file formats, inconsistent colour coding, missing legends, or drawings that combine unrelated systems on the same sheet. Reviewers are not obliged to interpret intent. If the drawing does not follow the prescribed structure, it is returned.
Another frequent problem is mismatch between drawings and schedules. Tray sizes shown on layout plans do not align with the bill of materials or technical datasheets for cable tray accessories dubai. This raises immediate concerns about coordination and control.
Why Do Product Markings Get Rejected?
Physical markings matter more than many teams expect. DCD inspectors routinely verify that installed cable trays carry permanent markings identifying manufacturer, material, and relevant standards. Submittals that do not show how these markings are applied often fail at the inspection stage, even if the paperwork was approved earlier.
This is particularly critical for fire-rated zones and life safety routes. If trays cannot be traced back to approved documentation through markings, inspectors treat them as unverified components.
Why Do Bonding And Earthing Details Get Flagged?
Cable trays are structural and electrical elements. Yet bonding details are often treated as secondary. DEWA guidelines require clear earthing and bonding continuity across joints, bends, and expansion points. Submittals that show trays but omit bonding jumpers, conductor sizes, or connection points are routinely flagged.
This issue becomes more serious during project modifications. Extensions are added, expansion joints introduced, and bonding continuity is assumed rather than documented. Inspectors do not accept assumptions.
Why Does Submitting Without Technical Review Cost Weeks?
Perhaps the most avoidable pitfall is submitting without a structured technical review. DEWA and DCD reviewers see thousands of files. They quickly identify submissions that have not been checked for consistency. Missing pages, duplicated documents, incorrect naming conventions, and oversized files all signal lack of control. A proper pre-submittal review catches these issues early. It also ensures that tray specifications, certificates, drawings, and installation details tell the same story.
Why Do These Rejections Keep Happening?
Most approval delays are not caused by complex engineering disputes. They come from rushing, reusing old documents, or treating cable trays as secondary infrastructure. In Dubai’s regulatory environment, cable tray systems are reviewed as part of the fire and life safety framework. Authorities expect the same level of rigour applied to active fire systems.
How Do You Design For Approval, Not Just Installation?
Successful DEWA and DCD approvals start at the design stage. Specifications must reflect environment and load. Certificates must be current and relevant. Drawings must follow authority formats. Markings and bonding must be documented, not implied.
At BonnGulf, we approach cable tray systems with this approval logic in mind. Not as catalogue items, but as regulated components within a life safety ecosystem. When documentation aligns with physical reality, approvals move forward. When it does not, no amount of explanation closes the gap.