Yet another spectacular tower fire broke out in Dubai at midday on 8th August in an under-construction building so far about 20 floors high in Jumeirah Village Circle opposite Emirates Hills. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
A Dubai Civil Defence spokesperson said firefighting teams from Marina and Port Saeed fire stations attended the scene bringing the fire under control some three hours later.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but from the various images taken of the burning structure it appears that some type of fascia panel material caught fire at higher levels sending burning fragments falling to lower levels starting fresh outbreaks of fire.
In all the previous history of recent tall tower fires in Dubai, the use of flammable aluminium composite panels (ACP’s) that form the exterior facias of many towers do pose a significant fire risk. Once ignited these panels spread flames both up and down the structure.
It is anticipated that the existing UAE Fire Code that is currently being reviewed will address this issue and detail the measures that are needed to provide a higher level of fire protection in the many occupied tall towers that do have flammable ACP – type fascias.
About the Author
Neil Wallington is a former British Chief Fire Officer, a Past International President of the Institution of Fire Engineers, and a holder of the Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct. He is the author of 17 books on the work of the fire service, and acts as a consultant with extensive experience in the Gulf on a range of projects.
