Work to repair two fire-ravaged residential towers in Ajman is to commence this week and complete within two months, it was reported on Thursday.
The fire on March 28 was caused by burning coal used to smoke shisha, it was said at the time. The flames spread from one building to others as a result of strong winds and left many families homeless.
The external cladding on the two worst-hit towers will be replaced within the next 60 days, reported The National. It is hoped residents will be allowed to move back into their apartments within the same time.
The new cladding adheres to Ajman Civil Defence fire safety specifications, it was said, and will take one month to install.
Ghaleb Jaber, general manager of Real Estate Investments Public Corporation, the developer and owner of the Ajman One development where the fire broke out, was quoted as saying: “Our contracts with the company that will install the cladding is for 60 days, and we should complete the work during this period. In addition, we have 45 days to install the new window glasses.
“The safety measures we are taking are in accordance with the specifications of civil defence and the new cladding panels have no [flammable] rubber inside them.”
The March 28 fire destroyed dozens of apartments in the 26-storey towers – but the exact cause has yet to be confirmed by investigators.
A decision is yet to be made on whether the cladding on other towers within the Ajman One scheme will also be replaced.
An updated UAE fire safety code was due to be published in April, but was understood to have been delayed.
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