The Cabinet issues a decree obliging residential homeowners to install fire detectors

The Council of Ministers headed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, adopted a decree mandating the participation of homes and residential homes in the electronic linkage and monitoring system of the civil defense, with the aim of enhancing safety and civil protection and preserving lives and property through immediate response to complaints House fires.

The decision comes in light of the government efforts and the keenness of the leadership in the UAE to preserve the lives and properties of citizens and residents, provide the greatest amount of public safety, and protect society from the risk of fires and the consequent loss of life and property, especially since the UAE recorded in the period 2017-2019 a number Of the fires in homes and residential buildings, which caused the death of 68 people in addition to many material losses, despite the efforts made by the state to reduce fires and their dangers.

Residential house fires accounted for 66% of the total number of building and facility fires in 2019, and the same percentage in 2018.

The decision applies to all existing residential homes or to be established in the country, as the decision stipulates that all residential home owners must install fire detectors and participate in the electronic system of the General Administration of Civil Defense, in accordance with the requirements and controls approved by a decision of the Council of Ministers.

The decision stipulates that the federal or local government agencies concerned with licensing the construction of residential homes in the country require the installation of fire detectors and the participation in the electronic system, as a condition for granting a home completion certificate.

The decision also includes granting the owners of existing residential homes a period of up to 3 years from the issuance of the decision to amend the conditions of their residential homes in accordance with its provisions.

The decision is an important step towards achieving more security and protection factors by relying on modern technologies, which would contribute to the efforts made by the civil defense departments in the country to provide the best protection systems for residential homes, in a way that benefits society and enhances the feeling of safety among families and individuals. It confirms the UAE government's keenness to protect people and provide them with the best living standards, and reinforces the country's leadership in international competitive indicators about the rates of fires and their deaths.

The decision will enhance the safety and security of residential homes that will be licensed for construction, by enhancing their building requirements, including the installation of fire detectors.

Based on the decision, the federal and local government bear the costs of installing these devices in residential homes for people with limited income, and the federal government has previously ensured these costs for residential homeowners who receive social aid from the Ministry of Community Development.

The Ministry of Interior, through civil defense departments, will implement the provisions of the decision and cooperate with all concerned authorities to facilitate implementation procedures at all levels.

The Cabinet issues a decree obliging residential homeowners to install fire detectors and participate in the electronic system of civil defense.

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- Emirates Today (@emaratalyoum) September 12, 2020

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