Sharjah: Owners of residential, industrial and commercial buildings are mandated by the Sharjah Civil Defence and Sharjah Municipality to ensure periodic maintenance of their buildings, adhere to all safety requirements and follow the fire protection rules and regulations to avoid penalties, it was stressed at a forum on Tuesday.
The forum, organised by the Sharjah Municipality and Civil Departments under the slogan ‘Building Safety Is the Responsibility of All’, was attended by 300 owners of residential, industrial and commercial properties, as they were educated on the need to adhere to safety procedures.
Building owners are also obliged to ensure that the contracted maintenance companies carry out periodical upkeep of fire safety equipment on the premises. Any violations in this regard will have the owner incur a fine of Dh10,000, it was stated.
Building owners must also provide all kinds of maintenance services inside and outside the premises to ensure the building’s safety, as well as maintain the cultural and aesthetic appearance of the city. “Periodic maintenance extends validity of the building and ensures safety and peace [of mind] for tenants,” said Yaqoub Al Zarouni, director, Engineering Department, Sharjah Municipality.
Al Zarouni pointed out that the municipality is conducting inspections throughout the year targeting buildings located on main streets of the city with the aim of improving the facades in the emirate. “The recent inspections resulted in warnings for buildings that require maintenance. There are cases that require the issuance of a maintenance permit including fixing damage caused by exposure to natural factors such as heat, cold or fire. Also, permits must be issued for cleaning and washing façades of buildings or for roofing works, replacement of water pipes, filling of cracks in concrete cover,” he added.
Lt-Col Ebrahim Saif, director of Safety and Protection Division, said the most common violations detected during inspections were storing stuff in the electricity room or blocking exits and stairwell openings with furniture and other items.
The inspections will continue and building owners will be obliged to bear the expenses of fire operations and fines, if the building catches fire due to negligence, he said.
Khalifa Bin Hada Al Suwaidi, head of the Engineering and Building Department at Sharjah Municipality, said this forum is part of the continuous efforts made by the municipality in cooperation with the Sharjah Civil Defence and all other governmental departments and institutions concerned to ensure the safety and protection of residents.
Colonel Sami Khamis Al Naqbi, director-general, Sharjah Civil Defence, said that the forum is an achievement of the vision of the Ministry of Interior and its strategic objectives of enhancing safety and civil protection.
