Dubai: In the wake of a spate of spectacular high-rise fires, Dubai Municipality is moving to ban flammable cladding tiles, Gulf News has learnt.
Documents obtained Wenesday reveal municipal building officials have served contractors notice that only fire-retardant panels can be used to complete facades of residential and office towers.
The circular was issued by the municipality on April 29, a day after a fire ravaged a 40-storey tower in Sharjah, prompting residents to question the practice of using the panels on exteriors.
One expert estimates more than 500 skyscrapers across the UAE are enclosed with non fire-rated cladding panels.
Khalid Mohammad Saleh, Director of the Dubai Municipality Buildings Department, wrote in his advisory the new rule was aimed at protecting the public.
"All material used in the construction process, including building fronts, must make use of non-flammable materials as per the requirements of Dubai Municipality, Civil Defence and global standards," he said.
Filling of space
Contractors and engineers must partake in "designing, installing, testing building fronts in order to ensure they prevent the spreading of a blaze between floors and on the building fronts".
He also instructed builders must adhere to "the importance of filling the space between cladding panels with non-flammable material to prevent the spreading of flames between floors".
The notice adds all material used on the facades of buildings should have a conformity certificate from the Dubai Central Laboratory, which states the materials are up to Dubai Municipality, Civil Defence and global standards.
Onus
The circular says consultancy offices and contractors will be held responsible for materials used on the facades of building, and are also responsible for ensuring the installation used on facades is not flammable.
Gulf News has obtained a copy of the Building Terms and Specifications by-law in the emirate of Sharjah, and was unable to find any reference relating to fire-retardent cladding panels. A Sharjah Municipality official told Gulf News there are no rules governing non fire-rated cladding panels on major high-rises.
However, the building code highlighted the rules on evacuation, fire alarm systems, and also emphasised building materials should withstand weather conditions.
Fire safety heats up
Three major tower fires in six months in Sharjah have raised serious questions regarding the safety of high-rise towers in the UAE. How are they built? And how do the regulations and building codes in effect impact the towers' safety?
In an ongoing series, Gulf News is exploring how authorities and industry can work together to make our homes and offices safer.
