5 Sharjah buildings fire-proofed under Dh100-million govt project

Five buildings in Sharjah have had their facades replaced with fire-resistant claddings. Khalifa Al Suwaidi, director of Technical Services at the Sharjah Municipality, said work is underway on other buildings as part of a massive replacement project in the emirate.

Announced last year by the Ruler of Sharjah, the Dh100-million project is the first of its kind in which the government foots the cost to make existing buildings fire-safe. In its first phase, it targets 40 buildings with facades that are prone to fires.

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“The project aims to protect tenants from the risk of fires. It sees aluminium panels removed from the buildings and replaced with fire-safe materials,” the official said as he addressed the Direct Line programme.

Aluminium claddings are prone to fires and may cause a blaze that could spread within minutes. In 2016, the Sharjah Municipality had banned its use on high-rise buildings.

• Fire safety: Banned cladding to be removed from high-rise buildings in Sharjah