Sharjah panel to lay down safety rules for high rises

His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has issued a resolution setting up a permanent committee for laying down the requirements in the high-rise buildings in the emirate for protecting people. According to the resolution, the committee shall be tasked with reviewing and updating the current provisions pertaining to public protection and safety in highrise buildings and their facilities like elevators and fire alarms, and prevention of potential hazards. The committee will be chaired by the Director-General of the Sharjah Municipality and will have representatives from the police, Civil Defence and any other entities recommended by the emirate’s Executive Council as members. The committee is authorised to issue Certificates of Fitness (CoF) for buildings which will be valid for one year and renewed annually. It may be noted that the emirate witnessed a spate of falls leading to deaths of children and adults from high-rise buildings, especially from balconies, this year. Recently, a family was seriously injured after an elevator in a building collapsed. Committee to classify contracting firms Shaikh Sultan also issued a resolution establishing and forming a permanent committee for classification and evaluation of construction, contracting and sub-contracting companies in the emirate. The committee shall be chaired by the Director-General of the Sharjah Municipality. The other members are directors of other municipalities in Sharjah and representatives of any other entities recommended by the emirate’s Executive Council. The Ruler of Sharjah also issued a resolution mandating the Department of Suburbs and Villages to follow up with the families when any of the citizens die in the emirate for making arrangements of the funeral in coordination with charity organisations. The department will seek to repay debts of the deceased who has left inheritances not enough to cover his debts.