BIS Technical Committee Rejects Fire Safety Deregulation in National Building Code
In a significant development, a technical committee of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has firmly disagreed with the deregulation cell of the Cabinet Secretariat over the exclusion of "fire safety" provisions from the National Building Code (NBC). This decision comes in the wake of recent fatal building fire incidents reported in Delhi, Odisha, and Goa, highlighting the critical need for stringent safety standards.
Deregulation Push and Technical Resistance
The deregulation cell, as part of the government's broader deregulation drive, had requested BIS to transform various sections of the current NBC, including the Fire Safety part, into handbooks and remove them from the mandatory code. The rationale behind this move was to delegate matters such as administration, development control norms, and fire safety to state governments and municipal authorities, which are constitutionally competent to establish their own regulations.
However, during its last meeting, the BIS technical committee recommended retaining the "Fire and Life Safety" section in the revised NBC. The committee underscored that recent incidents both in India and globally demonstrate that fire safety is a crucial aspect of building design and maintenance. Buildings not planned or maintained properly can become death traps, and thus, fire safety must be addressed scrupulously in the code, as every life is precious.
The panel emphasized that fire safety should remain an integral part of the building code rather than being relegated to a separate handbook. This stance marks a clear pushback against the deregulation efforts, prioritizing public safety over administrative streamlining.
Accepted Recommendations and Ongoing Concerns
Despite the disagreement on fire safety, the technical committee has accepted over a dozen recommendations from the deregulation cell. These include:
- Modifying provisions for dividing cities into fire zones.
- Removing certain height restrictions in building codes.
- Relaxing the requirement for sprinkler systems in all low-hazard and small-scale industries.
A panel member stated, "The committee has agreed to modify provisions where suggestions have merit. However, any dilution of fire safety norms must be avoided to ensure public safety." This balanced approach reflects the committee's willingness to incorporate practical changes while safeguarding essential safety standards.
Historical Context and Constitutional Implications
This is the second instance where the Cabinet Secretariat's deregulation cell has directed BIS to alter norms. Previously, it asked BIS to withdraw a notification related to the revised seismic code immediately. Some committee members revealed that when the draft NBC 2025 was nearly ready for publication after over two years of expert work, the deregulation cell wrote to all states clarifying that the NBC is not legally binding but a voluntary code for reference.
The letter dated June 25, 2025, stated that since land and buildings fall under the State List in the Constitution, matters like norms for FAR/FSI, setback, ground coverage, parking, green area, and fire regulation are within the exclusive jurisdiction of states. This has sparked concerns among experts about the potential undermining of national standards.
Ajit Kumar S M, president of the Karnataka Professional Civil Engineers Act – Steering Consortium, commented, "Even now, NBC is voluntary in nature. So, the Code can exist, and states can tweak it. The government shouldn't bulldoze a technical committee of experts set up by a statutory entity." This sentiment echoes broader apprehensions about balancing deregulation with technical expertise and safety imperatives.
The ongoing debate highlights the tension between central deregulation efforts and the need for uniform safety standards in building codes across India. As the NBC revision progresses, stakeholders will closely monitor how these conflicting priorities are reconciled to protect public welfare while fostering regulatory efficiency.
