Maintain ACs to avoid fires, residents told
abu dhabi — Civil defence authorities have urged the UAE residents to maintain their air conditioners regularly and ensure they are in good condition.
The warning comes following a report that indicated excessive use of ACs during summer was among the major causes of fires in homes and other establishments in recent years.
Figures from the General Directorate of the Civil Defence at the Ministry of Interior showed that 19 per cent of the total fires that were recorded in the country during the years from 2015 to 2017 resulted from faulty air conditioners.
Maj-Gen Jassim Mohammed Al Marzouqi, commander-in-chief of the Civil Defence Department, said: “We are keen on intensifying preventive safety measures to control the risks of fire outbreaks at homes and other establishments.” He noted that Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, had given directives to take all necessary measures to ensure that the cases of fires reduce across the nation.
“Statistics showed that many fires, especially during hot temperatures, result from excessive use of air conditioners,” said Al Mazrouqi. “Fire accidents increase in the summer because of the use of AC around the clock. This continuous use of air conditioners without good maintenance heats the equipment as well as increases the load on the wires, resulting in fires.”
Maj-Gen Al Marzouqui emphasised that community members can efficiently contribute to curb the occurrence of fires — that increase during summer — by complying with the prevention requirements and procedures in their houses, stores and even in their vehicles.
“This can be achieved by using high quality and efficient electric switches and wiring; and avoiding faulty electrical materials that are used for connecting the power to electrical appliances, such as refrigerators, water heaters, air conditioners and exhaust fans,” he said.
He urged people to do regular maintenance on air conditioners in their homes, warehouses and other establishments and to avoid use of low-quality ACs in order to prevent the risks of fires.
According to authorities, the lack of maintenance, poor or faulty electrical wiring and failure to calculate the electrical loads properly were the major causes of fire outbreaks in the air conditioning systems.