New Delhi: The Delhi government is considering amendments to building bylaws to strengthen fire safety norms and reduce casualties during fire incidents. The proposed changes could make fire hydrants, smoke detectors and other fire-prevention systems mandatory in gated homes, independent houses and apartment buildings.
At present, fire hydrants and smoke detectors are mandatory mainly in high-rise apartments, generally buildings above 15 metres in height. Individual low-rise houses and smaller apartment buildings are largely outside these requirements.
Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood said the government is examining existing regulations and assessing the legal and policy changes needed to improve safety standards. He said additional safeguards are required for buildings that fall outside the current fire NOC framework.
Sood said the government has directed concerned departments to examine the building bylaws and identify ways to make fire-safety equipment compulsory across more categories of buildings. The government is also examining the use of less-flammable construction materials.
The move follows growing concerns over fire safety after several incidents in Delhi this year. The recent Hauz Rani fire, which claimed 23 lives, has further intensified discussions around preparedness and emergency response.
According to a senior government official, the Delhi Fire Service has proposed making smoke detectors mandatory in every home, citing their potential to reduce fatalities. The proposal also recommends retrofitting existing buildings with necessary fire-safety systems over the next three years.
Meanwhile, the government has floated tenders for a modern communication system for the Delhi Fire Service. Sood said the existing wireless network operates on frequencies introduced more than five decades ago, underscoring the need for an upgrade as Delhi’s emergency response requirements continue to grow. TOI
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