Don't block staircases with discarded furniture, Sharjah authority warns

Discarded furniture blocking emergency exits and corridors has been found to be the most common safety hazard in Sharjah residential buildings, according to the latest inspection report.

In fact, it comprised 80 per cent of the violations recorded by the Sharjah Prevention and Safety Authority (SPSA) as they inspected 4,345 residential buildings in 17 areas in the emirate.

Leaving discarded furniture pieces and other junk in corridors and stairways creates dangerous obstructions during emergency situations where building tenants have to be immediately evacuated, a top SPSA official explained.

Inspectors ordered building owners and management teams to clear the areas as soon as possible. Otherwise, fines of up to Dh10,000 shall be imposed.

The SPSA has set a target of evaluating 5,000 buildings this year, aiming to ensure that the highest safety and protection standards are applied across the emirate.

"Inspections focus on public safety requirements such as installation of smoke detectors and firefighting equipment. We also assess emergency exits, validity of elevators, procedures, and many other things," the official said.

In addition, the team seeks to identify the "weaknesses" of each building so that these can be properly addressed, he added.

Most building owners and managements had been cooperative with the SPSA, but there were some who had to be visited more than once and had been subjected to legal action.

Before the year ends, more inspection visits will be conducted, targeting commercial and industrial buildings in the emirate.

afkarali@khaleejtimes.com

• Sharjah

Afkar Ali Ahmed

afkarali@khaleejtimes.com