Dubai: The 24x7 Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) smart system for electronically protected buildings project has successfully completed 20 months of operation.
Major General Rashid Thani Al Matroushi, Director General of DCD, said the project includes a comprehensive group of laws and procedures aimed at protecting lives, properties and the environment from all hazards.
The laws include decision No 2 for 2009, issued by the Dubai Executive Council, about fines incurred by those violating the federal civil defence law No 23 for 2006.
Al Matroushi said there were 10,530 buildings managed electronically by the DCD operations room. The smart system was installed in 12,095 more buildings and is ready to be connected, while 27,802 buildings have been surveyed to be linked with the operations room.
Surveying operation
The linking, installation and surveying operations include commercial and residential buildings, warehouses, workshops, hotels, labour accommodation, educational institutes, factories, banks and hospitals. The system has succeeded in reducing the number of fires since its implementation from 564 in 2007, out of which 89 per cent were minor and four per cent were major, to 486 in 2009, out of which 88 per cent were minor and three per cent were major.
The CDC engineering teams are still working to finish all buildings according to timetables submitted by the owners.
The procedure aims to increase the efficiency of safety systems and ensure their readiness around the clock while using the latest safety management technologies.
It monitors various systems of buildings and facilities including fire, gas, alarm, hydromechanics and electricity systems.
It sends direct signals to CDC whenever any change in temperature, air pressure or smoke is detected or when there's a breakdown in an elevator or an alarm system, or a drop in the level of water in tanks used for extinguishing fires occurs.
The warning sign continues to appear until the control officer takes action regarding the problem.
