To support the Ministry of Interior UAE’s goal of establishing the UAE as a global leader in security and safety, and to further Dubai’s ambition of being one of the safest cities worldwide, a new initiative focusing on top-tier fire safety standards has been implemented. This initiative aims to safeguard lives and property and ensure the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of fire prevention systems in buildings and structures.
New Certification Requirements Effective January 1, 2024
Starting from January 1, 2024, the Emirates Safety Laboratory (ESL) takes on the responsibility of evaluating and producing the Certificate of Conformity (COC) for all fire and life safety products and systems. This certification is essential for achieving Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) product registration and for the procurement of these products in Dubai construction projects.
Key Responsibilities of ESL
- Certificate of Conformity: ESL will be the sole authority to grant Certificates of Conformity, a mandatory requirement for seeking product approvals from the General Directorate of Civil Defense/Dubai (Dubai Civil Defence H.Q.).
- Diverse Coverage: The certification requirement covers a wide range of fire safety and fire protection materials, products, equipment, and systems, including:
- Fire protection systems
- Firefighting equipment
- Façade systems and cladding materials
- Fire-resistant barriers and retardants
- Fire-resistant ceilings and roofing systems
- Fire-rated doors
Exclusive Supervision by ESL
According to the DCD’s official website, from January 1, 2024, ESL exclusively oversee the inspection and testing of the following systems, devices, equipment, and materials:
- Fire-rated door systems, including hardware
- Cladding materials and façade systems
- Ceiling and roofing systems
- Fire-rated duct systems
- Pre-insulated duct materials and systems
- Wireless fire detection and alarm systems (including Hassantuk)
- Fire pumps integrated within buildings and facilities (subject to inspection before the issuance of the building completion certificate)
This new mandate reinforces Dubai’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards in fire safety, ensuring the protection of both lives and property within the emirate.
