On March 15 Dome Technology CEO Bradley Bateman took a break from INTERCEM Dubai for a quick road trip. His destination? Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, where 23 years ago he helped build a 110,000-metric-ton clinker dome for Gulf Cement Company.

The 200-foot-diameter dome is still in operation today, and the exterior condition shows just how well domes weather any storm and withstand the test of time—see photos below.

Dome Technology’s reinforced concrete domes have survived earthquakes, hurricanes, and decades of use and are trusted by companies, communities, and governments to protect their most critical infrastructure and valuable assets. The dome’s strength is a product of geometry; the double curvature provides the ability to evenly distribute a given load, resulting in twice the strength of a single curved wall like that of a traditional silo.

Our domes can be engineered to meet FEMA standards for wind and projectile resistance and are chosen for some of the most seismic-prone areas of the world based on the ability to withstand movement. Heat and fire protection is inherent as each dome employs Type 1 (fire-resistant) construction. In the event of a fire, the reinforced concrete dome maintains structural integrity better than wood or even steel structures.