2 minute response time for fire emergency in UAE

The UAE will soon have a centralised centre that will be equipped with an integrated system to receive fire alarm within seconds in case of a blaze breaking out in any building all across the emirates.

The Ministry of Interior, represented by the General Directorate of Civil Defence, in cooperation with Injazat Data Systems, has launched 'Hasantak' project, for smart monitoring, warning and control of such emergency situations.

Jassem Al Marzouqi, general commander of civil defence at the Ministry of Interior, said that this is the largest integrated system in the region to monitor emergency situations related to fire and public safety through a public-private partnership. It supports the UAE Vision 2021 in making the UAE one of the safest countries in the world.

He added that under the project, the latest types of surveillance equipment will be used. The advanced surveillance cameras would be linked to fire and safety system to ensure that the centralised system receives fire alarm immediately.

The central Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) will make sure the alarm is genuine and automatically alert civil defense which, in turn, will send appropriate assistance to the scene immediately. The system will connect and link more than 150,000 buildings and public facilities to ensure the highest level of maintenance, protection of life and property around the clock by 2023. The first building will be connected by 'Hasantak' during the first quarter of next year.

The system will be able to determine the type of emergency and its location accurately, as well as provide full information about the specific building. The system is also characterized by its ability to facilitate the work of civil defence by identifying and sending the necessary equipment and the right people to the right place.

Khalid Al-Malhi, CEO of Injazat Data Systems, said: "The new system will significantly reduce the average response time of emergencies of around 13 minutes."

The response to fire alerts will be in less than 120 seconds, allowing the possibility of sending appropriate assistance to the scene immediately.

Colonel Ali Hassan Al Mutawa, assistant general manager, smart services, department of civil defence, said that the system also ensures the readiness of fire alarm and protection systems in buildings and reports any faults and follow-up maintenance and repair with specialists.

He added that the system will have an advanced, integrated and easy-to-use mechanism to monitor fire alarms in all public buildings and facilities in the UAE.