SHARJAH // A campaign aimed at reducing the threat of fire in residential buildings has been launched by Sharjah Civil Defence.
Authorities will inspect towers and villas to ensure they comply with fire safety standards and have all the necessary fire safety equipment in place, said Brigadier Abdullah Saeed Al Suwaidi, the director general of Sharjah Civil Defence.
“Our inspectors started going to several residential buildings last week in the city and its suburbs to ensure that they all had in place fire safety requirements,” he said. “Inspectors will also be finding out if fire safety companies are fulfilling their contracts of maintenance of safety equipment installed in buildings.”
Inspectors will also ensure buildings have good ventilation, exits are clear in case of emergency and fire fighting equipment such as extinguishers, sprinklers and alarms are working and in adequate numbers.
Brig Al Suwaidi appealed to fire safety companies to carry out regular monitoring and maintenance of equipment supplied to residential buildings. He said all companies licensed to operate in the emirate had signed an agreement with civil defence to carry out regular maintenance tests.
If inspectors find a lapse in the maintenance schedule at any residential building, they can fine the offending company.
Brig Al Suwaidi said civil defence officials will hold training workshops for building security guards, especially those who work in residential towers, on how to respond to fires and other emergencies.
The training sessions will be offered in Arabic, English and Urdu.
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