ABU DHABI // Fire safety experts say tragedies such as the blaze that killed a mother and son and displaced nearly two dozen people in Al Ain last weekend can be avoided.
The Civil Defence is six months into a fire-safety inspection initiative, a door-to-door campaign intended to raise awareness about hazards. The emirate's new fire codes that outline regulations for new buildings should be completed by the end of the year.
But fire safety begins at home, experts and officials said this week.
Fire extinguishers and smoke detectors are the first line of defence for residents in case of fire, but experts warn it is not enough to have the proper equipment.
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Also
• Fire safety tips
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"They have to be checked and maintained properly," said Norm Labbe, a fire safety expert and the managing director of the Emirates Institute for Health and Safety.
"If smoke detectors are installed in homes, are they strategically located? Are they in the right place? Residents must have the appropriate number of smoke detectors to accommodate their needs. Most people should have at least two per flat."
The batteries in smoke detectors should be replaced every six months, and Mr Labbe suggested regularly checking to make sure the alarm on the device was working. Villas should also have a detector on each floor.
Elizabeth Weglarek, 47, a nurse from Poland who lives in the capital, admitted: "I have something on the ceiling and it has a blinking light, but I don't know if it works. It was there when I moved in."
New building codes require smoke detectors in each residence but many older buildings in the capital are not fitted with alarms.
Sabrina Weber, a housewife from Germany who moved to Abu Dhabi last year, said she installed her own smoke detector in her villa.
"We thought it was important to have one but we had to find it ourselves," said Mrs Weber, 32. "I'm sure our neighbours don't have one."
Finding a smoke detector in the capital can prove to be a challenge. Spinneys does not sell smoke detectors and neither does Lulu Hypermarket at Al Wahda Mall, they said. Carrefour in Marina Mall sells only one brand of the device.
The largest selection can be found at the ACE Hardware store in Mina Zayed, where four different brands, priced between Dh45 and Dh199, were for sale.
Carbon monoxide detectors, which can detect the poisonous but odourless and colourless gas, were not available at any of the stores.
Maria Sandrasagra, 29, from Sri Lanka, said her studio flat in Al Wahda did not have a smoke detector and she had never thought of getting one.
"Back home we don't have smoke detectors, so I never really thought about it," Ms Sandrasagra said. "I know I should, though."
The Department of Municipal Affairs (DMA) and Civil Defence is working on a fire code that will require new buildings to have clearly marked fire exits, smoke detectors, sprinkler systems and alarms. Buildings will also be constructed with fire-resistant materials, according to the regulations.
"We will find a way to mutually help ensure that buildings are properly designed, built and maintained," said Ali Bukair, a consultant for policies and regulations with the DMA.
The fire code will merge current regulations with international fire code standards.
Fire safety inspectors also recommend kitchens, children's rooms, bathrooms, hallways and storerooms be equipped with smoke and heat detectors, and fire extinguishers should be available in the kitchen and corridors.
In February, a poll showed that 65 per cent of 751 residents said they did not have fire extinguishers in their homes.
"It's going to take government agencies working with the community to raise awareness about the importance of these small steps," said Mr Labbe.
In the capital, 65,266 homes out of a targeted 86,640 were visited as part of the Civil Defence fire safety inspections this year. More than 290 were found to be dangerous.
jthomas@thenational.ae
MATCH INFO
RB Leipzig 2 (Klostermann 24', Schick 68')
Hertha Berlin 2 (Grujic 9', Piatek 82' pen)
Man of the match Matheus Cunha (Hertha Berlin
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Starring: Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, John Oliver
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.
Based: Riyadh
Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany
Founded: September, 2020
Number of employees: 70
Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions
Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds
Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices
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Match info
Liverpool 4
Salah (19'), Mane (45 2', 53'), Sturridge (87')
West Ham United 0
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
One-off T20 International: UAE v Australia
When: Monday, October 22, 2pm start
Where: Abu Dhabi Cricket, Oval 1
Tickets: Admission is free
Australia squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Lynn, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Darcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa, Peter Siddle
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Family: He is the youngest of five brothers, of whom two are dentists.
Celebrities he worked on: Fabio Canavaro, Lojain Omran, RedOne, Saber Al Rabai.
Where he works: Liberty Dental Clinic
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
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WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Company profile
Name: Infinite8
Based: Dubai
Launch year: 2017
Number of employees: 90
Sector: Online gaming industry
Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
Results
2.15pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,950m
Winner: Hello, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihi (trainer).
2.45pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,800m
Winner: Right Flank, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
3.15pm: Handicap Dh115,000 1,000m
Winner: Leading Spirit, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
3.45pm: Jebel Ali Mile Group 3 Dh575,000 1,600m
Winner: Chiefdom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,400m
Winner: Ode To Autumn, Patrick Cosgrave, Satish Seemar.
4.45pm: Shadwell Farm Conditions Dh125,000 1,200m
Winner: Last Surprise, James Doyle, Simon Crisford.
5.15pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,200m
Winner: Daltrey, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihi.
The chef's advice
Troy Payne, head chef at Abu Dhabi’s newest healthy eatery Sanderson’s in Al Seef Resort & Spa, says singles need to change their mindset about how they approach the supermarket.
“They feel like they can’t buy one cucumber,” he says. “But I can walk into a shop – I feed two people at home – and I’ll walk into a shop and I buy one cucumber, I’ll buy one onion.”
Mr Payne asks for the sticker to be placed directly on each item, rather than face the temptation of filling one of the two-kilogram capacity plastic bags on offer.
The chef also advises singletons not get too hung up on “organic”, particularly high-priced varieties that have been flown in from far-flung locales. Local produce is often grown sustainably, and far cheaper, he says.
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The low down
Producers: Uniglobe Entertainment & Vision Films
Director: Namrata Singh Gujral
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Nargis Fakhri, Bo Derek, Candy Clark
Rating: 2/5
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Scorecard:
England 458 & 119/1 (51.0 ov)
South Africa 361
England lead by 216 runs with 9 wickets remaining
