Relevance: GS-3 (Disaster Management); Source: NDMA, NBC 2016

News

Recent fires — including the Rajkot gaming zone fire and Mumbai hospital blaze — have again exposed weak enforcement of fire safety norms in public buildings.

Building Code to Prevent Fire

India follows the National Building Code (NBC), 2016, which lays down:

  • Mandatory fire exits, alarms, sprinklers
  • Safe electrical layouts
  • Guidelines for high-rises, hospitals, malls, and schools
  • Requirement of a Fire Safety Certificate (Fire NOC) before occupancy

NBC is advisory; states must adopt it into their by-laws.

Fire Safety Guidelines in India

  • NDMA Guidelines (2012): fire audits, evacuation plans, periodic mock drills
  • Model Building By-Laws, 2016: integrate NBC norms in urban local bodies
  • State Fire Services Acts: regulate inspections and clearances

Significance: Strengthening fire safety enforcement is crucial to reduce preventable urban disasters.

UPSC VALUE BOX

Most common cause of building fires: electrical faults/short circuits.

  • NBC, 2016 is the primary fire safety reference document in India.
  • Fire NOC: Clearance certifying that a building meets essential fire safety requirements before use.
  • NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority) — issues national guidelines on fire safety preparedness.

Q. Consider the following statements regarding fire safety regulation in India:

  1. The National Building Code becomes automatically enforceable in all states once notified by the central government.
  2. NDMA has issued national guidelines on fire safety management.
  3. A Fire NOC is required under the NBC before certain buildings can be occupied.

How many of the above statements are correct?
 A. Only one
 B. Only two
 C. All three
 D. None

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