Director General of Dubai Civil Defence to talk at fire event

Brigadier Rashid Thani Al Matrooshi will provide background information on the issues currently faced by the Dubai Civil Defence when it comes to tackling fires started during the construction process.

With the fire and resulting tragedies during the construction of the Fortune Tower in the Jumeirah Lake Towers area of Dubai, and previously the Khalid Al Attar Tower 2 on Sheikh Zayed Road, fire safety has once again become a hot topic – so how do construction industry professionals avoid getting their fingers burnt when planning the construction process?

Some news reports state there were two casualties from the Fortune Tower disaster, others say four with some 25 other construction workers being treated in hospital for smoke inhalation and burns.

Whatever the actual figure was, it is unacceptable and every possible step should be taken to ensure new buildings are constructed using the safest and most modern methods available.

The ‘Don’t Get Your Fingers Burnt’ event is an exclusive opportunity for construction industry professionals to find out more about the dangers of hot works.

The event will demonstrate to architects, contractors, and specifiers that there are alternative options to high risk roof waterproofing methods such as hot bitumen and torch-applied felts.

All buildings in the UAE must adhere to The Fire Protection Federal Law for 1991, with other international standards – such as those from the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) – also being recognised.

In order to conform, fire safety and protection measures should be considered at the design stage, where it is the responsibility of architects and developers to consider what safety measures to put in place and which fire resistant building materials to use.

In addition it is important to give thought to the application methods of the chosen building materials, including the roof waterproofing systems. The aim of the event is to highlight the importance of including fire safe processes at the very early stages of design, and ensuring that only certified products are used during the construction process.