On 31 December 2015 sometime around 19:00 GMT, a huge fire engulfed a Dubai tower hours before the start of the New Year celebrations in next door, the Burg Khalifa, the tallest tower on earth.
Almost the entire 63-storey ‘The Address’ hotel tower caught fire quickly after fire broke out on the 20th floor but according to AP, it affected only the outer cladding and structure.
Firefighting Tactics for High-Rise Futurist fixes for fighting skyscraper fires are fairly advanced in Dubai after unfortunate bitter experience of past incidents if the same calibre as todays.
In effect, the fire in what was at the time, the world’s tallest residential building in Dubai has brought the safety measures of these soaring buildings back into the spotlight.
It is a testament to the evolution of skyscraper construction, often cited as the forefront of architectural design.
Since time immemorial, architects have sought to improve safety in tall and deep buildings. And as a consequence as in any subject area related to safety provision, failure is sadly the most effective mechanism for moving rapid reform generally through a serious assessment of the standards and operating methods prevalent within a professional body.
We propose today 31-12-2015, an article of Trade Arabia published today as a report on the Focus Day organised by the Emirates Green Building Council (Emirates GBC).
Solar projects ‘to help UAE achieve zero energy buildings’
The UAE has the right regulatory environment to foster solar energy investments, which will help achieve net zero energy buildings to support the nation’s sustainable development goals, said experts at a Focus Day organised by the Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC).
An independent forum aimed at conserving the environment by strengthening and promoting green building practices, EmiratesGBC’s Focus Day was held at Dewa’s Sustainable Building in Al Quoz under the theme ‘Powering Innovation: Green Buildings and Energy Management.’
Saeed Al Alabbar, the chairman of EmiratesGBC, said: “Our Focus Day was unanimous in its message that solar investments are economically viable and environmentally imperative.”
“With an encouraging regulatory environment, more businesses are looking at solar investments that will help achieve the renewable energy goals set by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy,” he noted.
“The private sector can play a key role in driving solar energy projects, and raising awareness about their long-term value can help overcome barriers in financing energy efficiency retrofits, thus accelerating the sustainable development initiatives,” he added.
Faisal Rashid, the director at Demand Side Energy Management at Dubai Supreme Council Energy, presented the keynote address.
Besides Al Alabbar and Rashid, a panel discussion on ‘Regulation & Implementation of Renewables’ was addressed by Daniel Zywietz, the deputy chairman, Clean Energy Business Council & chief executive of Enerware; Johannes Waimer, solar consultant at Premier Solar Technologies; and Elie Matar, the head of Electricity at Regulatory & Supervisory Bureau.
The delegates also undertook a tour of Dewa’s Sustainable Building following the discussion.
Further reading is at http://www.tradearabia.com/news/CONS_297829.html .
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