FAQ'S

It is recommended that a Fire audit of fire extinguishers should be carried out to ensure adequate provision. Contact HFP for Fire Audit.

Firefighting Equipment should be provided in accordance with IS: 2190 (Selection and Installation of portable fire extinguishers – Code of practice) and the following information is given for guidance only:

• • One 13 A rated extinguisher should be provided per 200 sq. metres of floor area.

• • A minimum of two 13 A rated extinguishers should be provided per storey (one is acceptable if the floor area is under 100 sq. metres)

• • Additional extinguishers should be provided to cover specific risks such as electrical appliances, flammable liquids etc.

• • A user should have to travel no more than 30 metres to reach an extinguisher..

• • Extinguishers should be sited in uniform places in premises, preferably on, or close to, escape routes.

• • Extinguishers should not be sited so close to the risk that a fire would prevent their use. (I.e. in electricity cupboards).

• • Extinguishers should only be used by people who have received sufficient training.

The National Building Code of India (NBC), a comprehensive building Code, is a national instrument providing guidelines for regulating the building construction activities across the country. It serves as a Model Code for adoption by all agencies involved in building construction works be they Public Works Departments, other government construction departments, local bodies or private construction agencies. The Code mainly contains administrative regulations, development control rules and general building requirements; fire safety requirements; stipulations regarding materials, structural design and construction (including safety); and building and plumbing services.

The Part 4 of the NBC deals with guidelines and provides information on Fire and Life Safety requirements that should be present in a building depending on its occupancy type.

All building needs fire and life safety measures to some extent, especially first aid fire fighting arrangements like installation of fire extinguishers. Presence of first aid fire fighting arrangement helps checking any fire at its initial stage till the fire brigade arrives. However, for some buildings it is mandatory to observe fire and life safety measure.

As per NBC Part 4, observing fire and life safety measure is mandatory for the following categories of buildings -

• * All residential building above 14.5 meter height
• * All residential occupancy with part commercial usage (irrespective of height)
• * All educational buildings like schools, colleges, universities, Montessori etc.
• * All assembly buildings like cinema halls & theatres, ceremonial houses, clubs, galleries etc.
• * All business buildings like offices
• * All institutional buildings like nursing homes, hospitals, sanatoriums etc.
• * All mercantile buildings like shops, warehouses, departmental stores etc.
• * All industrial buildings
• * All hazardous buildings

For details of occupancy types refer our Resource page.

Observation of fire and life safety measure is irrespective whether a building is proposed or existing. It is mandatory for all buildings falling under the purview of NBC Part 4 needs to observe fire and life safety measure.

If your building falls under the purview of NBC Part 4, Contact HFP for evaluating your building. Our Projects, Maintenance & Auditing department will survey your premise and explain and help you with the process of observing of fire and fire safety. Alternately you can also contact the Fire Prevention Wing of your Fire Brigade headquarters for guidance.

When you apply for a NOC from fire service, the fire prevention department evaluates the fire and life safety measure for your building and recommends you to implement certain fire and life safety installations and allows you Provisional NOC subjected to the condition that you would implement the recommended measures. Hence Provisional NOC is a temporary fire safety certificate issued by the fire service department and is valid for a certain period of time by which you should be prepared with the compliance of the recommendations.

Once you are ready with the implementation of fire and life safety installation as per recommendation of the fire services, you apply to the fire prevention wing to inspect the implementation. On receiving your application, fire service officials will physically inspect all the installed apparatus to test and certify that they are in line with the recommendations issued by the fire service department and that all installations are working in satisfactory conditions.
On satisfactory functioning of all installation and compliance of all recommendation, the fire service department will issue you a Final NOC for occupancy which is valid for 1 year from the date of issue and must renewed every year by applying to the fire service department.

The requirement of NOC from the fire service department depends on the occupancy type of your building. If your building is fully a residential occupancy which is less than 14.5 meter height with no floors used for commercial purpose, then your building does not fall under the purview of NOC form from fire department. However, if your building does not fall under the above category, then you need a NOC from fire service department. For more information refer Question 3 of this section.

If your building has fire and life safety installation, in all probability, your building has NOC from fire department. However, please note that this NOC for occupancy needs to be renewed every year from the Fire Prevention Wing of fire service department. During the renewal, the fire prevention wing tests and certifies that your installations are in proper working condition.
Presence of defunct and non functional fire and life safety installation most probably implies that the NOC for occupancy has not been renewed from the fire department for your building. Check the status of your NOC and Contact HFP to help you with regularization process. Alternately you can also contact Fire Prevention Wing of your local Fire brigade.

If you are promoting a fully residential building under 14.5 meter height with no commercial usage in the building, then you do not need a NOC from the fire service. However, if your proposed building does not fall under the above category you need to have a NOC for occupancy from the fire service department.

It’s a mandatory form to get necessary sanction / approval from the fire department of respective municipal corporations / Special Planning authorities / Municipal Councils,