Authorities target warehouses for breaches of fire-safety rules

Dubai: A new precautionary system will be introduced in warehouses and buildings in Dubai to ensure safety of workers and residents from fires and accidents, according to Major General Rashid Thani Al Matroushi, Director of Dubai Civil Defence.

A two-month inspection covering 3,600 buildings revealed that most fires happen in warehouses with random storage and those that are illegally used as accommodations for workers, Major General Al Matroushi told Gulf News.

Temporary accommodation of workers in buildings under construction are also prone to fire accidents, he said.

The new procedures came as part of the 'Safety First' campaign aiming to secure safety for residents of buildings, warehouses and workers' accommodations. Two months after its initiation, Al Matroushi says that almost half of the owners notified have responded positively by removing illegal accommodation, fixing the storage problems in their warehouses and installing a fire-fighting system.

"The number of accidents has declined, as nine accidents took place in the months of June and July this year as compared to 13 accidents last year for the same months," he said.

The situation in most buildings still needs much improvement, he said. Fire alarms and fire-fighting systems in various buildings are not properly maintained, which could jeopardise the safety of its residents.

"The systems are properly installed when the buildings are constructed but the owners tend to neglect those fire-fighting systems, while we request that they carry out maintenance every six months," he said.

"We have devised a penalty system by which violators will have to pay fines that could reach Dh50,000," he said. The system is currently awaiting approval and will be in effect in the next few days, he added.

The new comprehensive strategy will include maintenance companies and insurance companies. Inspection teams will continue to survey areas in Dubai to ensure that rules are followed. Maintenance companies will be monitored to ensure that they perform regular safety checks of buildings, and insurance companies will be advised not to grant owners insurance clearance before liaising with the Civil Defence.

"We will install technology and equipment by which we receive updates on when the smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and other fire-fighting equipment are last used and maintained," Al Matroushi said.

The cost of maintenance will also be specified so that maintenance companies do not demand high prices from owners of buildings. "The long-term results of the new strategy will only show by the end of the year, as two months is not adequate to ensure the results," he said.