Validity of fire NOC extended to five years amidst growing concerns on safety rule violations

The validity period of No Objection Certificates (NOC) issued by the Fire and Rescue Services department after safety inspections in commercial and residential buildings has been extended to five years as part of the State Business Reform Action Plan-2024 (SBRAP-2024) despite recurring incidents of fire accidents in high-rises in the State and public complaints related to the lack of proper fire safety measures.

Based on the official order issued by the Additional Chief Secretary of the Home department on August 4, the Director General, Fire and Rescue Services, will soon initiate suitable department-level amendments to the old rule that had insisted on the mandatory renewal of fire NOC by its holders every year after thorough safety inspections.

Expressing concern

Though a section of experienced Fire and Rescue Services personnel has already expressed their protest against the move with a claim that it will derail the stringent safety measures, the latest order makes it clear that the existing NOC holders will be able to enjoy the benefit of the amended rule from the next NOC renewal time. Also, the applicants of NOC for high-rises will be given the freedom to opt for a validity of four years or lesser periods on payment of the proportionate fee.

“It is part of the deregulation and compliance initiative under the SBRAP by the State government, which is of the view that mandatory annual renewal of NOCs for all occupancies causes avoidable hardship, repeated documentation and procedural delay. Concerns of buildings and establishment owners with minimal fire safety risks were also in focus during the official discussions,” said a senior Fire and Safety department officer, who received the order. He also said the changes came into effect in the context of ease of doing business and reducing compliance burden.

As per the order, safety inspections will continue as usual in buildings with hazardous occupancy such as those involving hazardous industries or buildings having multiple integrated electric circuits or buildings with storage of hazardous materials where longer validity without reassessment pose safety risks. It also clarifies that the validity of fire NOC will be limited to two years in the case of such applicants.

Weakening system

Meanwhile, rescue operators who oppose the latest order point out that such regulations have been already active and there is no point in reading it with the latest amendments. According to them, the five-year NOC will only result in weakening the existing safety audit system and give more freedom to the high-rise owners to bypass or ignore the safety requirements.

“As a responsible officer with several years of experience in firefighting, I consider it as a risky move where the public will be at the receiving end. What we need is the strengthening of the annual inspection system which can easily expose the violators,” said a Fire and Rescue Services department officer who termed the new order a “disappointing” one and called for its thorough review again. He said the five-year NOC would never be an advisable one for important facilities such as hospital buildings.