Links to fire centre for Dubai buildings

More than 60,000 buildings across Dubai are to be linked to a Civil Defence command centre within four years.

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More than 60,000 buildings across Dubai are to be linked to a Civil Defence command centre within four years. The agency has set up the office known as the "Chamber", which connects the city's fire alarms. Officials said the station will be able to pinpoint the location of any connected alarm that goes off. The control centre will have space for up to 30 operators and operate 24 hours a day.

The announcement follows a law passed earlier this year requiring every new building to submit its plans to the Civil Defence so in the event of a fire, firemen can plan their entry to the building off the blueprint. These plans will be stored on a database and can be sent to mobile command control vehicles. All hotels, apartment blocks, financial institutions and airports will be linked to the network within four years.

The command centre is currently based in the Jebel Ali free zone south, in the offices of Pacific Controls, the company that provided the system software. Major Gen Rashid al Matrooshi, director of administration of Civil Defence, said: "The application of this system will lead strategic and fire protection services, both preventive." The system, which operates via phone lines, will be mandatory in all buildings except where homes have an optional service. Installation of the hardware and software will be provided for a fee that was not stated by the Civil Defence.

eharnan@thenational.ae