Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is famous for its space-age skyline including Skidmore, Owings and Merrill’s Burj Khalifa, their twisting Cayan Tower, and outlandish additions such as the O-14 Tower by Reiser + Umemoto. Now, it looks set to gain an emergency service to match these architectural odes to futurism: authorities have unveiled jetpacks for firefighters designed to help them fight blazes in tall buildings that are difficult to quickly access.
A deal was signed between city officials and specialists Martin Aircraft Company at the 2015 Dubai Air Show.
Architects have long been concerned with fire safety in tall buildings and have primarily been exploring solutions that aid efficient internal circulation. Now, though, Dubai’s many high-rises will also be accessed from the outside by first responders in the event of an emergency, with drone-style packs allowing firefighters to maneuver in tight spaces between buildings, transport equipment at speed, and even communicate with people on upper stories.
JLT Architects’ Tamweel Tower ablaze in 2012
Up to 20 jetpacks will be manufactured and distributed by Martin Aircraft Company. City officials are eager to reduce the risk of fires in areas experiencing rapid development. One such incident took place in 2012 when the 40-story Tamweel Tower caught ablaze as Architizer’s Molly Cotter reported: “Reporters even captured images of the burning metal pieces popping off the sides of the building and starting smaller fires on the roofs of nearby structures. Thankfully, no one was hurt.”
The jetpacks can be operated by a pilot or with remote control and can carry commercial payloads of up to 265 pounds (120 kilograms).
Dubai’s radical solution for increased fire safety is another example of how technology is beginning to alter the urban fabric. Once these jetpacks become commonplace and the price reduces, further uses will surely begin to enter architectural realms: urban explorers, thrill seekers, and window cleaners, stand by for more information …
