Fires across Dubai will soon be a thing of the past, according to the Emirate’s Civil Defence who are working on implementing nanotechnology in commercial buildings to prevent fire disasters.
Speaking at a press conference at the Intersec Expo in January 2018, Brigadier Rashid Khalifa Al Buflasa, Assistant Director General for Fire and Rescue at Dubai Civil Defence, said he hoped their new technology would be implemented in time for the international Expo 2020 event being staged in Dubai.
The technology is based around a material that is comprised of a solid layer with moisture built inside so when the solid begins to melt in heat, it produces water vapour.
The device will work by stifling the three elements needed to ignite a fire; namely heat, fuel and oxygen.
Brigadier Al Buflasa said: “According to our statistics, most fires are of electrical origin, like short circuits and poor connections. We will fix the nanotechnology inside the sockets, starting with commercial buildings like malls and warehouses, and eventually we’ll go in to residential buildings.” The Brigadier also said upgrading the police force’s equipment was key to fighting crime and to preserve homeland security, adding that “the private sector will play a major role in providing us with latest tools in the field.”
The Security Industry Regulatory Authority (SIRA) told the press conference attendees that it is to strengthen the level of its security guards across the country.
“We will improve both our manpower and our devices,” said Khalifah Al Sulais, SIRA’s Chief Executive. “Dubai has a reputation for being one of the safest places in the world and we intend to keep it that way.”
The security market in the Middle East has evolved drastically over the last 20 years, growing from US$52 million in 1998 to $12.2 bn in 2017. Its focus has shifted from simpler technologies such as pedestrian barriers, turnstiles, conventional access control systems and traditional surveillance cameras to more sophisticated technologies such as sensor-based cameras, automated traffic bollards and biometric access control systems.
Speakers at the press conference said video surveillance will be one of the largest areas of growth in the Middle East in both the homeland and commercial security markets. New evolving security trends will see a rise in security drones, smart storage solutions, artificial intelligence and T-rays, also known as terahertz, a safe form of electromagnetic radiation that is able to detect harmful gases or dangerous materials, and has potential uses in airport security.
New Futuristic Civil Defence Fire Station Buildings Will Soon Replace The Existing Structures In Dubai
Announcing Dubai’s new fire stations, Brigadier Rashid Khalifa Al Buflasa, Assistant Director General of Fire and Rescue Services at Dubai Civil Defence, said the new stations will be powered by solar system and clean energy to reduce cost of operation. Brigadier Al Buflasa said: “We will use stylish designs for the eco-stations. Each of these smart fire stations will have at least 141 firefighters. The new stations will help us prepare for future challenges with the rapid developments in the fast expanding city.”
The new fire stations, he added, is one of the new smart services provided by Dubai Civil Defence for 2018 like the self-driving firefighting boat, smart firefighting vehicles to respond to fire incidents and smart payment method. “Such smart initiatives will help secure the city effectively and shape the future of firefighting,” the Brigadier added.
Brigadier Al Buflasa said that the 24/7 fire alarm system being installed in all Dubai buildings, is part of an agreement with Etisalat to implement the system in the near future. More than 540,000 people participated in thousands of evacuation drills organised by Dubai Civil Defence in 2017 as part of their strategy to raise awareness about evacuation and what to do in case a fire breaks out in a building.
“We aim to educate more people about evacuation in case of fire and in 2018 will have more drills in commercial, industrial and residential areas, especially in the high-rise towers,” Brigadier Al Buflasa added.
For more information, go to www.dcd.gov.ae
Top image: Brigadier Rashid Khalifa Al Buflasa, Assistant Director General for Fire and Rescue at Dubai Civil Defence.
