New Delhi: Delhi Fire Service (DFS) has begun engaging eligible professionals and firms as third-party fire safety auditors, who will be authorised to inspect buildings and issue fire safety certificates under the recently amended DFS rules. The objective is to improve the ease of doing business and ensure that people have better options for obtaining fire NOCs.Applications are invited for registration and empanelment of third-party auditors. Unlike a one-time recruitment drive, the application process will remain open on a continuous basis, allowing eligible professionals to apply for empanelment at any time.For empanelment, the auditors require higher qualifications and experience for the three categories of fire safety auditors. Level-1 auditors must have a relevant degree or a postgraduate diploma in fire safety and one to three years of experience. Level-2 auditors require higher qualifications or specialised training and prior experience as a level-1 auditor. Level-3 auditors will be authorised to certify all building categories. They must have advanced fire safety qualifications or international professional membership, along with at least five to ten years of relevant experience.Sachin Rana, principal director DFS, said, “Once empanelled, auditors will be empowered to issue fire safety guidelines and safety certificates to the applicants.” However, the department will retain the power to carry out inspections and verify certifications.Another official said that, before empanelment, the credentials of every applicant will be thoroughly verified either by a committee constituted by the department or by designated DFS officials, depending on the number of applications.Registration will remain valid for three years and must be renewed before expiry. The rules also provide for suspension, removal or blacklisting of auditors found guilty of false certification, suppression of non-compliance or incorrect declarations, including monetary penalties. All empanelled auditors will also have to undergo mandatory training at the Fire Safety Management Academy in Rohini before undertaking the work.
