THE HOST
THE GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF CIVIL DEFENCE
According to civil Defence System issued by Royal Decree No. 10/M on 10 Jumada al Ulah 1406 H, (20 December 1986), the Directorate-General of Civil Defence (DGCD) is a national agency responsible for leading Saudi Arabia’s efforts to prepare for, prevent and respond to hazards and disasters.
The Civil Defence adopts a host of measures and initiatives to protect citizens, public and private property from all types of disasters such as fire and war. It also ensures that the public is informed of dangers.
In addition, it provides aid to disaster victims. It also ensures the normal functioning of government services and maintains national resources in peacetime, wartime and in emergencies.
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Its main prerogatives include:
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Civil protection
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Fire firefighting
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Safety
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Emergency and rescue
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Preparedness and awareness
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Regulations and inspection
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Licensing and approval of companies and products
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THE SOCIETY OF CIVIL PROTECTION ENGINEERS
The Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) was established in 1950 and incorporated as an independent organization in 1971. It is the professional society representing those practicing the field of fire protection engineering. The Society has over 4,600 members and 101 chapters, including 21 student chapters worldwide.
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The purpose of SFPE is to advance the science and practice of fire protection engineering and its allied fields, to maintain a high ethical standard among its members and to foster fire protection engineering education.
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SFPE supports the development of the annual Professional Engineer (PE) licensing exam in fire protection and the grading of those exams under the auspices of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). Several volunteer standing committees work under the Society’s auspices on technical projects to further advance the state of the profession.
The Society’s activities include a series of educational courses and webinars, technical symposia and conferences, books and publications, standards and guides - designed to advance the fire protection engineering profession and provide technical information to the fire protection community.
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NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION
Founded in 1896, NFPA is a global, self-funded nonprofit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. The association delivers information and knowledge through more than 300 consensus codes and standards, research, training, education, outreach and advocacy; and by partnering with others who share an interest in furthering the NFPA mission. For more information, visit www.nfpa.org. All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed online for free at www.nfpa.org/freeaccess.
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NFPA has a long-standing presence in the Middle East. The 124-year old global authority devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards has worked with government officials and private entities conducting business in the Gulf region for decades. In 2017, the Association established a Middle East North Africa (MENA) Advisory Committee, with most of the members residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Advisory Committee works to expand safety and enforcement efforts, and enhance communication between private sector leaders and government authorities.
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