New Delhi: A few months after multiple fire tragedies left dozens dead in the city, Delhi govt has tightened fire-safety checks by amending the related rules, which seek to end duplication of work between the fire department and the building plan sanctioning authorities.Govt has segregated structural and non-structural parameters for granting fire safety certificates (FSCs), also known as no-objection certificates (NOCs). Under the revised system, fire auditors will focus more on the non-structural firefighting mechanism of the buildings — from adequate access and exits for fire personnel and machines to sprinklers, hydrants, firefighting pumps, emergency power and refuge areas—under a detailed 18-point checklist.The move is aimed at plugging gaps in firefighting preparedness and ensuring that buildings have critical safety systems in place to protect occupants and facilitate evacuation and firefighting.A notification issued by the fire department on Aug 28 amended Delhi Fire Service Rules, 2010, and revised the standards and the checklist for fire-safety compliance focusing on non-structural fire-safety measures.Officials said the revised rules sought to clearly demarcate the responsibilities of the fire department and the building-plan sanctioning authority. “Earlier, fire officers were also checking several structural parameters,” an official said. These parameters included the prescribed width of corridors and staircases and other building-plan specifications. “As a result, the fire authority would sometimes raise objections or deny a fire NOC over structural parameters as well,” he added.In Delhi, fire NOCs are required for specified buildings based on occupancy, height, floors and area. Generally, residential buildings above 15m, hotels above 12m and buildings with multiple basements require the clearance.The revised rules empower the director of Delhi Fire Service to require owners or occupiers to install additional fire-prevention and safety measures wherever necessary. Such directions will have to be supported by reasons recorded in writing.For buildings or occupancies for which the building bylaws do not prescribe specific fire-safety measures, the director may ask for safety arrangements based on international standards.The new checklist requires auditors to examine emergency power arrangements for critical fire-safety systems, including fire pumps, smoke-venting and pressurisation systems, fireman’s lifts, emergency lighting, fire alarms and public-address systems.The amendment allows govt to relax, modify or annul certain fire-safety requirements for specified classes of buildings or premises, including certain structures constructed or under construction before the implementation of the amended rules.The notification has clarified that applications pending on the date of the enforcement of the new rules will be processed under the old provisions.
