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29 March 2024

Is the 'old' Dubai building you are living in fire proof or, a fire trap?

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By Majorie van Leijen

Dubai Municipality has announced the launch of two new e-Building Control Systems which will improve quality and safety of buildings under construction.

However, existing buildings cannot be guaranteed the same safety.

Dubai Municipality designed and implemented two new e-Building Control Systems, and the 'Hayyakom' system, announced Issa al-Haj Maidour, Deputy Director General of Dubai Municipality during a press conference held on the side lines of Gitex 2012.

“These systems serve engineering and construction sector and facilitate the consulting offices and contracting companies to present and discuss their transactions in the licensing stage and follow-up in the implementation stage,” Maidour said.

“The system allows access to periodic inspections on construction sites, structural checking before pouring concrete foundations, issuance of the completion certificates, permit for temporary water and electricity services,  re-insurance of building permits, change of consultant / contractor,” he added.

Khalid Mohammad Saleh, Director of Buildings Department explained that the system would help to improve the quality of construction through technical audit in accordance with the checklists ensuring safety and quality of buildings with all elements of the environment, health and technical resources.

Earlier this year a circular was sent out to all contractors and construction material suppliers warning of the use of fire hazardous material. From 30 April the material used in construction has to be approved, and penalties will be given when this approval cannot be presented.

However, the safety and quality of existing buildings cannot be guaranteed to the same extend, as the efforts are mainly aimed at securing safer buildings for the future.

“I cannot say that existing buildings are all unsafe. However, we cannot apply the new regulations to these buildings,” says Marwan Marwan Abdullah, Head of the Building Inspection Section at Dubai Municipality. “The regulations are there to improve the safety measures and guarantee safe buildings for the future.”

According to Marwan it would be difficult to inspect existing buildings because it cannot be seen with the eye whether the material used is approved according to the new regulations and these buildings have already been built.

It is unclear whether existing buildings will be included in the new e-Building Control System and if so, how these buildings will be inspected.