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Training your team, preparing documents and checking all the safety standards is essential for DCD inspection. In addition to this, asking an approved safety officer will ensure compliance for the UAE safety code.
In this article, we deliver 10 tips to do before and during inspection.
It covers all the official inspection steps and ensures a well-prepared inspection. During the pre-inspection audit, a check for every tool is mandatory to identify every gap and mistake.
The pre-inspection checklist contains the emergency exits and evacuation routes, fire suppression system, firefighting equipment, and documentation (engineering drawings, safety certificates, and fire plans). Test and recognize any unfamiliar situation.
If you find errors, fix them immediately and retest the system after correcting the errors. It should be conducted 2 or 4 weeks before the official inspection.
For new buildings, it is better to do a pre-inspection before requesting the DCD inspection. To make sure you understand every step, hire a professional safety officer.
The first thing to do during this stage is to check that the number of exits complies with the number defined by the UAE Fire & Life Safety Code of Practice.
Check the emergency exit doors and their functionality; all the doors must have signs that make the escape process easy, and the exit paths should be clear of any obstacles.
Another thing to check is the emergency lighting, and you should be prepared for any electricity shutdown. Smoke extraction systems should function properly, and exit doors should be fireproof.
For high-rise buildings, a staircase pressurization check is mandatory to ensure it complies with the safety standards.
It is important to distribute tasks among team members and explain each person’s task.
Practice with your team about the inspections and think about the potential questions that the approved inspector could ask. Make a fire evacuation training to ensure employees know existing routes.
Check all the documents and explain the role of every person. Training on the introduction is a good idea to ensure a smooth inspection by choosing the best member among the team to perform the introduction professionally. Print documents in advance because it is easier and faster to review.
Creating a good first impression is vital and speeds up the inspection process.
A fire detection and alarm system consists of smoke detectors, heat detectors, a fire alarm control panel, a primary power supply, flame detectors, alarms, duct detectors, air aspirating detectors, beam detectors, and notification devices.
Checking every single component is crucial to confirm the building is secure and to avoid penalties and disastrous results.
First, start with a general system check (such as power supply). Test alarms and detection devices. Reviewing the event log is also necessary to record alarms, faults, and routine activities.
If there is any technical issue with the system, the fire alarm technicians or the fire safety contractors will fix it and replace damaged pieces.
Fire suppression system’s main job is to control fire to prevent it from spreading. It consists of sprinkler systems, fire hydrants & hose reels, and gas suppression systems (FM-200, CO₂, Inergen, and Novec 1230).
The sprinklers are automatically activated when they sense the hot air, it is connected to a network of pipes that transfer water.
During pre-inspection, make sure the sprinkler heads are not blocked and the water supply is not closed or leaking.
Inspecting hydrants and checking the hose dispenser to make sure it is not damaged and is rolled perfectly without any twists. For gas suppression systems, check gas pressure and if there are any damaged pipes. Finally, it should comply with the UAE fire and life safety code.
It means to use the equipment that complies with the UAE fire and life safety code. It is necessary to use verified equipment because it meets the UAE safety standards. It includes
Using unverified equipment can make the inspection fail, and it may expose you to penalties. To avoid this, be careful to purchase equipment from companies approved by the Dubai Civil Defense. During pre-inspection, if there was unverified equipment, then it should be replaced immediately.
HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) should work properly and comply with the safety code.
Also, equipment needs to be maintained regularly to avoid malfunctions and other safety hazards.
In Dubai buildings, all the equipment must meet the requirements that ensure safety and efficiency, and it should be maintained regularly to detect problems before they become catastrophic.
Those pieces of equipment should keep the temperature inside the building, whether it is residential or commercial, between 22°C and 25°C.
The inspection process should be during and after the installation to make sure the equipment is working effectively and without any problems.
All the maintenance and inspections should be recorded and documented to use as evidence for compliance.
Hazardous materials (HAZMAT), such as pesticides, flammable liquids, and household cleaners, need extra attention.
For this reason, Hazardous Matt must be appropriately categorized, packaged, labeled, handled, and stowed for transportation because he can provide a serious safety concern.
This shields the public, emergency personnel, and employees from the dangers of hazardous transportation.
In this case, having a hazardous material certificate from DCD is mandatory; if the certificate is expired, it may cause a failed inspection.
Hazardous materials can mainly exist in stores, gas stations, and factories. The inspection happens at residential, commercial, and industrial buildings, but in some cases, like gas stations, for example, the risk is different, and it requires stricter regulations and inspection.
Documents should be printed and organized properly to ensure a smooth inspection. It is important to check all the documents and their expiration dates.
Make sure that all the required documents are available. It is better to review all the documents with the approved contractors and check if there are any mistakes.
It is mandatory to have all the documents translated into Arabic. If there is any repaired equipment, it is better to have proof of correction as evidence.
During the inspection process, the main contractor and the fire fighting contractor should be present to ensure all the equipment and construction are functioning properly and comply with the UAE fire and life safety code.
Answering questions and asking them can reflect a positive attitude. Be prepared and train on the potential questions that the inspector may ask.
Be an hour early before the instructor is present and act professional when he arrives. During the inspection, the inspector will observe the building activities and ask to talk with the team members.
Take notes, and if there are any corrections, ask about the deadline.
After ending the inspection, ask the inspectors about the findings and what to do next.
At the end, checking equipment, complying with the UAE safety standards, and engaging with the inspector will result in a comfortable inspection process.
Be relaxed and make sure everything will go your way since you consulted highly professional consultants and did all the requirements.
Yes, restaurants are one of the industries that require Dubai Civil Defence approvals.
It is an online platform that simplifies the application process for several services such as DCD approvals and safety certificates.
1- Submit required documents through DCD online platform 2- DCD reviews the documents and send feedback 3- the project gains the initial approval. 4- an engineer goes to the site 5- the project obtains the DCD approval
+971 4 347 5555 is the DCD number for emergencies and inquiries or you can visit the online DCD portal for any information.
