Abu dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority has introduced a mandatory accreditation initiative for engineering consultancy offices in the emirate, specifically focusing on Fire Protection and Life Safety Engineering. This pioneering regulatory model in the UAE aims to elevate the quality of engineering designs pertaining to fire protection and safety systems, enhance compliance with approved standards, and contribute to the safeguarding of lives and property, thus fortifying the public safety framework in Abu Dhabi.
According to Emirates News Agency, the initiative is being carried out in collaboration with the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). It mandates that engineering consultancy offices acquire a classification in Fire Protection and Life Safety Engineering Consultancy by completing the Certified Fire Protection Engineer (CFPE) programme. This development is anticipated to boost the expertise of specialized engineering professionals and refine the design and review processes for fire protection systems in buildings and facilities.
As part of this initiative, engineering professionals in consultancy offices across Abu Dhabi will undergo an internationally recognized training and professional accreditation programme, which will qualify them to receive the CFPE certification. This is expected to standardize the design, review, and compliance practices in accordance with NFPA standards, thereby enhancing the quality of engineering project outputs and ensuring the highest safety levels in buildings and infrastructure.
The Civil Defence Authority has clarified that completing the necessary training and achieving the CFPE certification, along with its integration into the classification management system of the DMT, will become a compulsory criterion for engineering consultancy offices when submitting fire protection system designs in Abu Dhabi. The deadline for completing the training programmes and obtaining the certification is set for September 1, 2026. Post this date, preliminary engineering design submissions will be rejected unless the registered engineer possesses a valid CFPE certification.
The authority stressed that this initiative aligns with its continuous efforts to advance fire protection and life safety systems, improve adherence to international standards in the design and implementation of fire protection systems, and support the attainment of the highest safety levels within the community, thereby safeguarding lives and property.
