BIS Technical Committee Urges Reconsideration of Fire Safety Deregulation Proposal
A technical committee of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has formally recommended that the cabinet secretariat's deregulation cell reconsider its suggestion to remove fire and life safety provisions from the main National Building Code (NBC). The committee argues that fire safety is a critical public safety issue, and buildings that are not properly planned or maintained can become death traps.
Deregulation Cell's Proposal for NBC Overhaul
The deregulation cell, which aims to ease regulatory burdens for individuals and businesses, has proposed a significant revamp of the National Building Code. Its suggestions include deleting sections covering prerequisites for applying code provisions, administration, development control, promotion norms, and general building requirements. These proposals were developed based on inputs from various stakeholders.
Furthermore, the cell proposed that several key areas—fire and life safety, construction management, landscape development, sustainability approach, and asset and facility management—be moved to separate "handbooks." These handbooks would serve as references for best practices, with the idea being to leave norm-setting to state governments and municipal authorities.
BIS Committee's Response and Concerns
This marks the second instance where the deregulation cell has suggested changes to BIS norms, following a previous proposal to withdraw notifications related to the revised seismic code. The BIS committee has accepted some of the cell's suggestions, such as dividing cities into fire zones, removing height restrictions, and relaxing sprinkler system requirements for low-hazard and small-scale industries.
"The committee has agreed to modify provisions where suggestions have merit. But any dilution of fire safety norms must be avoided for public safety," stated a panel member, emphasizing the need to balance deregulation with safety.
Controversy Over NBC's Legal Status
Some committee members highlighted a contentious issue: when the draft NBC-2025 was nearly ready for publication after over two years of expert work, the deregulation cell sent a letter to states on June 25 last year, clarifying that the NBC is not legally binding. The letter stated, "NBC is not legally binding. It's a voluntary code for reference. It is not a 'code' in a legally binding sense... The subject of land and buildings is listed in List-II (State List) in the Constitution."
It further explained that matters like norms for FAR/FSI, setbacks, ground coverage, parking, green areas, fire regulations, and other aspects covered in the NBC fall under the exclusive legislative and executive jurisdiction of states. This has raised concerns about the potential fragmentation of safety standards across the country if fire safety is moved to a non-mandatory handbook.
