Water curtains, systems that prevent smoke infiltration, and modifications to the "claddings of the towers"
Intelligent systems protect 95% of Dubai buildings from fires and provide "zero response"
Dubai has not recorded any alarming accidents and is considered the best in the world in terms of the number of accidents.
From the source
Brigadier General Ali Al-Mutawa: "Dubai Civil Defense has gone beyond the stage of empowerment, as it is no longer preoccupied with how to deal with a fire of any size."
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Brigadier General Ali Hassan Al Mutawa, Assistant Director General of Dubai Civil Defense for Fire and Rescue Affairs, confirmed that 95% of the emirate's buildings are covered with smart fire prevention and safety systems, including water curtains, smoke barriers and side sprinklers.
Al-Mutawa told «Emirates Today» that the General Directorate of Civil Defense in Dubai has gone beyond the stage of empowerment, and entered the stage of innovation in its field.
He revealed that the administration’s goal in the past was to reach a response speed of six or seven minutes, and it is currently working to achieve a zero response, through the interaction of smart systems in buildings automatically with the accident to contain it for half an hour, ensuring that it does not worsen, and provides protection for its residents, then men take over Fire and rescue tasks follow, and so the response occurs immediately after the accident.
He pointed out that there have been recent incidents in towers, which appeared from the outside as eloquent and complex in the form of fire, but the reality is that the fire did not infiltrate the interior thanks to the governance of smart safety systems, and the many modifications imposed by the administration on the facades of buildings “cladding or cladding” until it reaches This competitive rate in the degree of safety, which almost outperforms all comparable cities around the world.
In detail, Al-Mutawa told Emirates Today that the best capabilities that helped the General Directorate of Civil Defense raise the level of safety and accident prevention, is the presence of an ambitious leadership at the level of the Ministry of Interior, which sought from the beginning to promote innovation and achieve a competitive level in this important field.
He added that the Dubai Civil Defense has gone beyond the stage of empowerment, as it is no longer preoccupied with how to deal with a fire of any size, as it has turned into a practice proficient in professional cadres, reinforced with advanced systems and equipment, and entered the stage of innovation, which is how to prevent and prevent.
He pointed out that the previously announced goal was how to reach the response time to six or seven minutes, and now the zero response, which occurs as soon as the accident occurs, is largely achieved through advanced systems that interact with the danger and contain it and prevent the aggravation of the fire in a way that guarantees the safety of lives, protects property, and transforms Without the accident developing or moving into the building or neighboring buildings.
Al-Mutawa explained that the danger that civil defense men deal with is completely different from any other risks, as it starts small and gradually grows and its effects worsen, so these aspects were studied, and the department focused on three basic elements, the first is the professional competence of firefighters, and the second is the harnessing of artificial intelligence in speed Response, and the third is the sustainability of firefighting systems and the quality of materials used in the construction of buildings, and ensuring their compliance with specifications and safety codes.
He stated that accidents in the past used to grow and develop, but now when you see a fire in a tower from the outside, you think that it is huge and dangerous, but the reality is thanks to the aforementioned elements, because the fire does not infiltrate at all into the interior, and there are smart systems that work efficiently to contain the fire from the outside, whether sprinklers side or other, and this is the essence of the stage of innovation and governance implemented by management.
Al-Mutawa stressed that the city of Dubai did not record any alarming accidents, and it is considered the best in the world in the number of accidents index, thanks to the complementary roles established by the Ministry of Interior among the responding agencies, and the focus on the elements of prevention and protection. Until the arrival of firefighters and rescuers, and this is sufficient to contain the danger and prevent its exacerbation.
He pointed out that more than 95% of the buildings in the Emirate of Dubai are covered with advanced smart systems, in addition to the fundamental modifications that occurred in important aspects such as cladding or facades of towers (cladding), which included preventing cladding of balconies in the buildings that contain them to ensure that there is insulation in the vicinity. balcony, until the internal damage index in these buildings reached “zero”.
He explained that the smart technologies include strong ventilation systems that prevent smoke from leaking into the interior, side sprinklers and extinguishing systems that release water curtains to prevent the entry of fire, stressing that these factors are sufficient to provide protection until the arrival of fire and rescue teams.
It is noteworthy that the General Directorate of Civil Defense in Dubai recently inaugurated its first government laboratory of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa to test the safety of safety and fire prevention equipment and systems, within the framework of the Ministry of Interior’s strategy to achieve the best global indicators for protecting lives and property, by ensuring that all materials that are used are matched. In the process of building and construction to the required specifications and requirements.
Al-Mutawa said that the Emirates Safety Laboratory employs the latest technology systems in the field of fire tests, carries out 90 different examinations, and issues more than 600 certificates of conformity to specifications, stressing that it represents an important leap as a regional and global center specialized in conducting fire safety tests, and evaluating building equipment and systems. And adopting them, in order to achieve the best global indicators in the number of accidents and injuries.
Community outreach
The Assistant Director General of Dubai Civil Defense for Fire and Rescue Affairs, Brigadier General Ali Hassan Al Mutawa, confirmed that community awareness is the most important aspect that the Dubai Civil Defense focused on, and played an effective role in preventing the occurrence of disturbing accidents, indicating that the level of awareness has reached a remarkable stage, There is a sense of responsibility in individuals, today it is rare to find someone smoking a hookah on the balcony.
He pointed out that the administration has made a great effort in raising awareness, and we can realize the great difference in awareness now compared to 10 years ago, and this reflects work in several axes to achieve the best results.
• «Emirates Safety Laboratory» employs the latest technology systems in the field of fire tests.
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