Dubai Villa Fire Safety: All Houses to be Protected by 2019

Just last month, Dubai Civil Defence unveiled a new control room designed to provide real-time safety and fire information throughout the city. Using a 70-metre screen, which as of now monitors 53,823 buildings spanning from commercial buildings to airports, they plan to be monitoring 90,000 villas across Dubai in just two years.

The system uses smoke and fire detectors that allow the owner to send an SOS directly to Dubai Civil Defence. There are currently 528 homes linked to the command centre by the SOS app and by the end of this year, Civil Defense will have linked an additional 66,554 in an effort to increase residents’ safety in the emirate.

dubai villas fire safety — The SOS app can be used to alert authorities of a fire as well as check the status of a property’s fire safety equipment.

As well as allowing property owners to contact response teams in the event of fire or gas leak emergencies, the app can be used to check the status of the property’s fire safety equipment.

Speaking to Gulf News, Major General Rashid Thani Al Matroushi, Director-General of the Dubai Civil Defence said, “All the villas in Dubai need to install fire safety equipment such as fire and smoke detectors. We will start advertising for the fire detectors this year until 2019 when all owners must install the device. It will link all Dubai buildings to our command centre for fast response.”

The app and control centre are not the only ways the city is utilising technology to fight fire and reduce accidents. After a series of fire reports this year (12 in the first 3 months of 2017), Dubai is testing the use of drones as a way to lift firefighting equipment on to burning high-rises and locate anyone who might be trapped inside.

The remote-controlled devices use thermal-imaging cameras to find people and are hoped will be able to carry fire gear as early as next year.

Dubai is continuing to trailblaze safety initiatives with the launch of an awareness campaign among villa owners about fire safety procedures scheduled for the immediate future. This comes after investigations into villa fires have found that death and injury only happen because residents are negligent and do not follow safety procedures.

Here are some ways to make sure your villa or apartment building is fire-safe

Make sure the building is accessible to emergency vehicles from the main road. Every building should have clear fire engine access.
Any high-rise buildings should have at least one fire lift.
Check your smoke detectors regularly as everyday buildups of dirt and minor damage can easily interfere with their function.
Every apartment or villa should have a transferable fire extinguisher available to extinguish a fire in the early stages. Bear in the mind that fire extinguishers expire so be sure to check the expiry date.
Evacuation and fire drills need to be conducted at least once every six months. If security in your apartment building has not conducted a fire drill in the last 9 months, inquire about it.
Some of the areas where the fire regulations are most strictly followed in Dubai are JLT, JBR and Dubai Marina so consider them for your next move if fire safety is a big priority.