The General Command of Civil Defence plans to launch a new smart system launch that will report fires within 30 seconds, according to Maj Gen Rashed Thani Al Matrooshi, acting commander in chief of Civil Defence, as reported by Al Ittihad, the Arabic-language sister newspaper of The National.
He explained that installing the smart system in homes would allow a warning to be sent to branches of Civil Defence immediately after a fire breaks out.
The plan will be implemented over five years, during which the new devices will be installed in all existing and recently built homes.
At the end of five years, the system becomes mandatory and a condition for the issuance of building permits for residential villas and buildings across the country.
The device, which will be installed in homes, costs Dh40 per month. It will enable anyone on the premises to press a button to alert the nearest Civil Defence station in case of fire.
Civil Defence has agreed to add the cost of the device to loans taken by Emiratis involved with the Sheikh Zayed Housing programme.
The announcement was part of the UAE’s celebration of International Civil Defence Day will be on March 3 with the slogan “Civil Defence and the culture of prevention in the community”.
newsdesk@thenational.ae