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Direct Alarm System
to Alert Civil Defence
in Case of Fire

The Internet Protocol-based technology developed by Dubai-based Pacific Control will enable the Civil Defence track the fire incidents in the buildings within two minutes.

The Civil Defence and Pacific Control recently signed a contract and the direct alarm system has become operational in 220 buildings in the emirate since October 20.

Major-General Rashid Thani Al Matroushi, Director-General of Dubai Civil Defence, said alarm systems would be installed in 60,000 buildings across the emirate in the next five years.

“Every private and government buildings in Dubai will have to instal the system. However, it is optional for villas and houses to register for the service,” said Matroushi.

The system would enable the Civil Defence to act quickly in case of a fire anywhere in the emirate.

Dileep Rahulan, CEO and chairman of Pacific Control, said, the system connects the buildings to a control room in the company’s office using General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and Global System for Mobile (GSM) communication.

In case of a fire, the alarm in the control room activates the siren and sends the information to the Civil Defence office.The control room has a huge screen, which will display the distress sign, the area and specifically the building where the fire has erupted.

Rahulan said the control room could also send a map to the Civil Defence vehicle rushing to the spot to put out the fire. “This will save time, speed up the emergency management and minimise damage,” he said.

Currently, a control room is located in the Pacific Control office in Jebel Ali but the Civil Defence plans to build a big control room in its headquarters by next year.

Dubai witnessed a series of fires this year, especially during the summer, which killed a number of people and destroyed a few buildings.

riyasbabu@khaleejtimes.com

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