Dubai: Construction sites should keep a safe distance from nearby buildings and should not block access for emergency vehicles, Dubai Municipality officials said on Thursday.
Dubai has clear-cut regulations on safe distances between buildings that are completed and under construction and they should be adhered to so as to ensure easy access for emergency vehicles, senior officials said.
The officials were responding to the Gulf News’ queries on the presence of under-construction sites adjacent to Sulafa Tower and how this could have offered challenges to firefighting personnel, if any.
A building safety expert with the Dubai Municipality said building code and fire safety code implemented in the emirate stipulate regulations related to adequate and safe distances between buildings, which are known as setback distance regulations.
“Each building has to keep safe distance between different blocks and with other buildings. Every block of buildings even has setback regulations,” the official said.
He said such safety regulations are also applicable to buildings under construction. “Buildings under construction have to provide a safety plan for the construction period including accessibility and get approval for that. If there is any obstruction, the plan will not be approved.”
According to Essa Al Haj Al Maidour, the deputy director-general of Dubai Municipality, the setback distance regulations are implemented in Dubai Marina, where several skyscrapers are located, as well.
“There are enough setbacks between buildings according to the height of the buildings and other factors. Any site plan issued by the municipality explains the setback plan as well. You comply with it and then we issue the permit.”
There are clear regulations to ensure safety at construction sites as well, said Al Maidour, an expert on the subject.
“A safety engineer is mandatory at every [construction] site and he should keep a safety file. Construction waste should not obstruct the movement [of emergency vehicles] ... We evaluate the cleanliness of construction sites [and make sure] the debris is kept at the right place. There is a programme for inspections and random checks,” Al Maidour explained.
