DCD Approval Process for Industrial Facilities

Why DCD Approval is Mandatory for Industrial Facilities

DCD regulations for industrial facilities are mandatory to ensure safety and compliance with the UAE fire code. It prevents explosive and hazardous areas and it secures emergency exits and evacuation paths. 

Here is a list of the reasons for the DCD approvals for industrial facilities: 

• Presence of flammable materials
• Improper storage of materials
• Presence of flammable floors
• Incorrect electrical connections
• Presence of hazardous manufacturing processes such as welding and other hazards
• External factors such as lightning

Documents Required for DCD Approval

There are a set of documents that must be submitted in order to obtain Civil Defense approvals and these documents must comply with Civil Defense requirements and building codes, and adhere to the instructions set by Civil Defense.

Hence, the documents required for DCD approval are

• Trade License
• Tenancy Contract or Title Deed
• DM-Approved Architectural Drawings
• MEP Drawings (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing)
•  Fire and Life Safety Drawings
•  Hazardous Material Storage Plan (if applicable)
• Product Approvals
• No Objection Certificates (NOC)
• Completion Certificates (For Existing Facilities)
•  Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC)
• Fire Risk Assessment Report
• As-Built Drawings (for Existing Structures)

Step-by-Step DCD Approval Process

Understanding the project requirements and preparing the documents professionally makes the initial review and the final inspection easy.

Here are the 4 steps for the DCD approval: 

1- understand your project

 requirements. Unlike restaurants, some facilities need a gas detection system and explosion proof equipment. so DCD applies stricter fire protection requirements.

2- prepare the required documents. 

In addition to the documents mentioned previously, industrial facilities should comply with the environment protection. 

3- Initial review by DCD engineer.

Engineers check on the documents and make sure the documents comply with the environment protection rules and check on the exploded materials. 

4- DCD inspection

The DCD consultant inspected the site and especially hazardous material rooms. Also, they check if anti fire doors and walls are installed properly. 

Common Reasons for DCD Rejections

Incomplete fire risk assessments and  insufficient emergency exit plans ot can be the reason for the DCD to reject the application. Also, not complying with explosion protection requirements can lead to rejection too.

• Incomplete Fire Risk Assessments:

Which can lead to serious consequences and loss of property and life if there is no clear understanding of fire hazards.

• Failure to Comply with Explosion Protection Requirements:

The materials must be made of non-explosive materials that can withstand external conditions and prevent the release of flames to the area.

• Inadequate Emergency Exit Plans:

Not having a proper fire escape plan can lead to disastrous results, such as blocked exits and no lights.

Costs for DCD approval process

For industrial facilities, you must first apply for engineering drawing approvals, the cost of which varies depending on the type of industry.  AED 0.5 for Drawings Approval Fee(Building per sq.mtr),  AED 1000 for Drawings Approval Fee(Gas), AED 1000 for Drawings Approval Fee(Decor), AED 1000 for Resubmission Fee. If there are any hazardous materials, approval must be obtained too and the cost is different for every service.

 Timeline for DCD approval

First, you need to submit all the files related to the application, which may take 15 days. Then, the application is submitted through the platform within one day. 

The file review process takes 10 days, while the inspection is done within one day. The entire process takes two months if the required files meet all the conditions specified on the Civil Defense platform.

 However, if there is an error, it must be corrected and the application re-submitted, which takes longer.

Key takeaways for cost and time:

• The cost of the approval depend on the type of industry
• Drawings approval fee for a building is 0.5 AED per square meter
• Drawings approval fee (Gas) is 1000 AED
• Drawings approval fee for decore is 1000 AED
• The resubmission fee is 1000 AED
• The overall process takes one or two months depending on the quality of submissions.

Conclusion

It is important to obtain Civil Defense approvals for industrial facilities to ensure compliance with safety standards and avoid disasters, especially in facilities that use welding and other equipment. 

The required documents and costs vary depending on the type of industry, while the time it takes to obtain approval depends on the quality of the documents submitted and their compliance with all requirements.