Dubai: Dubai Municipality has outlined the technical health and safety requirements governing the installation, operation and maintenance of public drinking water coolers and charity refrigerators across the Emirate.
The guidelines are designed to strengthen preventive public health measures and ensure compliance with safety standards for drinking water dispensers and charity refrigerators located in public spaces, including mosques, parks and residential neighborhoods, according to Al Bayan. newspaper.
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They also aim to raise the awareness of owners, operators and maintenance personnel about the risks associated with electrical safety, water pollution, hygiene and the visual appearance of public facilities.
According to the new requirements, public drinking water coolers must be installed on reinforced concrete bases at least 10 centimeters above ground level to protect the units and their electrical connections from standing water and rain, reducing the risk of corrosion and electrical faults.
The municipality said the units must also be securely fastened to prevent tipping or tipping during use.
Charity fridges, which are typically used to provide free bottled water, drinks and packaged food, should also be tightly secured, protected from direct sunlight and rain with a canopy or shelter and connected using waterproof electrical outlets.
The municipality also introduced stricter electrical safety measures, requiring all units to be properly grounded, connected to safe three-prong plugs and protected by double-pole circuit breakers with suitable fuses.
Electrical cables must be fully insulated, placed within dedicated conduits and completely separated from water supply pipes to minimize the risk of electric shock.
To maintain water quality, operators must test water samples every six months at accredited laboratories to ensure they are free of harmful bacteria.
Water tanks and taps should be cleaned and disinfected regularly, while filters should be changed at least every six months, or earlier depending on usage, using filters that comply with UAE standards.
If a potable water chiller is out of service for more than a week, operators must drain the old water and disinfect the unit before it is put back into service.
The municipality also tightened food safety rules for charity fridges, banning the storage of home-cooked or unpackaged food.
Only commercially packaged and sealed food and beverages may be placed inside the refrigerators, with expiration dates checked daily and spoiled products removed immediately.
Refrigeration temperatures should be maintained at 5°C or below to prevent food spoilage.
Dubai Municipality further instructed operators to keep the surrounding area clean and dry to prevent the growth of algae and the spread of insects and rodents.
It also called for immediate pest control measures whenever infestations are detected and requires the inside and outside of charity fridges to be cleaned and disinfected daily.
