2 Monday, January 23, 2017

Dubai ubai yesterday announced tougher fire rules in a bid to minimise risks after Dseveral spectacular blazes that have ripped through in the modern Gulf emirate. Major fires have hit high-rises in In July last year, a fire gutted the recent years and spread quickly, mostly due 75- in Dubai to flammable material used in cladding, a covering or coating used on the side of the , with the flames spreading buildings. up quickly at least 15 floors of the Civil Defence Lieutenant Taher Hassan building. al-Taher announced the new regulations at a security exhibition during which authorities also launched Dubai’s new fire In November 2015, a fire engulfed and safety code for the emirate. three residential blocs in central According to Taher builders must abide Dubai and led to services on a metro by a new requirement to ensure that the flammability of the cladding is as close to toughens line being suspended, although no zero as possible. one was hurt. “There is a requirement to minimise it to zero,” Taher said. Builders will also have to regularly carry In February 2015, a blaze gutted one out maintenance on the cladding panels and of the emirate’s tallest buildings, also replace them after a certain date, he added. “There is a timeline for all cladding (and) in the Dubai Marina neighbourhood. there is maintainance for everything. By It destroyed luxury flats in the Torch that time they’ll have to change it,” Taher tower and prompted authorities to said, speaking in English. evacuate nearby blocks. Those who violate the rules will face fines up to 50,000 dirhams ($13,623), he added. Dubai is home to Burj al-Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower. In 2012, a huge blaze gutted the The modern city state has experienced 34-storey Tamweel Tower in the a real estate boom over the years with nearby dis- hundreds of skyscrapers built in a short trict. It was later revealed to have lapse of time with many tiled with been caused by a cigarette butt flammable cladding. thrown into a bin. Most towers built before 2012 have reportedly used non-fire-rated exterior panels.

Address hotel fire ires have hit several high-rise buildings in the Dubai, famed for its record-breaking skyscrapers. FOn New Year’s Eve 2015 a huge blaze ripped through Count Your Lucky the luxury Hotel, injuring 16 people just a few hours before a spectacular fireworks display Dishes on Chinese nearby. The blaze was broadcast live worldwide, but This file photo taken on YEAR OF THE ROOSTER New Year authorities went ahead with the festivities despite the inferno, with residents and tourists gathered nearby January 01, 2016 shows to watch a dazzling fireworks display even as smoke the Address Downtown billowed out of . hotel burning after huge Visit Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay on January The fire sparked panic as the fire spread along the fire ripped through the th 27 to celebrate Chinese New Year at re/Asian facade of the Address Downtown hotel but only 16 luxury hotel near the Cuisine by Wolfgang Puck. Indulge in authentic Asian people were injured. world’s tallest tower, food from our live cooking stations with bespoke , in Dubai. beverages for 32++. Awaken your senses from January 27th to February 8th, with our 5 and 7 course dinner by our master chef Brian Becher for 35++ and 50++ respectively. he has “proven to is due to awareness campaigns and fire drills Reservations: (973) 1711 5046 Thave the lowest number of fire casualties,” that are conducted at schools, hotels and fourseasons.com/bahrain said Sajid Raza, a member of the UAE Fire residential buildings regularly. Code Council, putting the rate at 0.23 person Electric short circuits have been behind per every 10,000 people. most of Dubai’s fires, according to Dubai The UAE’s rate of fire casualties is “much Civil Defence chief Major General Rashid lower than many advanced countries,” he told al-Matrooshi. a conference at the same exhibition. “More than 70 percent of fires in building Taher said the low number of fire casualties are caused by electricity,” he said. (AFP)