Sharjah, UAE: The Sharjah City Municipality has taken a groundbreaking step by replacing flammable cladding with non-combustible materials on a residential building, aligning with the
directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to enhance building safety against fire hazards.
The civic body has announced that the project to replace cladding on residential building facades is progressing according to approved implementation plans. This initiative, funded by the government, is the world's first of its kind and involves the replacement of facades for 40 residential towers situated across various areas of Sharjah.
The Sharjah City Municipality has successfully completed the replacement of aluminum facades with non-combustible materials, as endorsed by the Sharjah Civil Defence, for the first building in its planned list. This remarkable achievement has bolstered the building's security and safety systems, providing residents with increased peace of mind. The municipality has also reiterated its dedication to continuing the work on the remaining 39 towers in accordance with established engineering plans and standards.
Obaid Saeed Al Taniji, Director General of Sharjah City Municipality, emphasized that this project reflects the emirate's commitment to creating a secure environment for residents by ensuring the highest levels of safety and security in residential and commercial buildings.
The project, with a budget of Dh100 million, is being carried out at the government's expense, following a pre-defined schedule and collaborative plans with the Sharjah Civil Defence Authority and the Department of Planning and Survey. The objective is to enhance building efficiency and replace aluminum facades with non-combustible materials, adhering to the best specifications and standards.
Engineer Khalifa bin Hadda Al Suwaidi, Acting Director of Technical Services at Sharjah City Municipality, explained that the municipality has completed the first residential building within the project by removing all aluminum panels. Al Suwaidi also stated that work is ongoing on the towers and other buildings in four identified stages, with building owners being informed and final designs for each building presented before implementation. The municipality aims to complete the project by the second quarter of the following year.
Al Suwaidi further noted that the project's completion depends on a set of engineering standards and considerations, including building height, roof status, and protrusions.
On April 24 of this year, the Sharjah Ruler allocated Dh100 million to replace fire-risk cladding on 40 buildings, marking the commencement of the first phase of the project. In the subsequent phase, 163 more buildings, which pose comparatively lower risks, will be addressed. All these buildings stand at or above seven floors in height. Photo by Basil D Soufi, Wikimedia commons.
