Government Directs BIS to Revise National Building Code, Potentially Weakening Fire Safety Standards
In a significant regulatory move, the Indian government has formally requested the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to eliminate and amend several crucial provisions within the National Building Code (NBC). This directive, which must be implemented by the end of April, specifically targets sections related to fire safety, prompting experts to warn that these changes could substantially dilute essential public safety conditions.
Deregulation Push Drives Proposed Changes
The impetus for these amendments stems from the deregulation cell operating under the Cabinet Secretariat. This cell has highlighted that regulations governing land and buildings traditionally fall under state jurisdiction, with state governments and urban local bodies primarily handling these matters. Officials familiar with the development have indicated that the cell also maintains the position that fire safety and its regulation are within the purview of state authority. Furthermore, it argues that the existing NBC provisions, along with mandatory consultant requirements, unnecessarily escalate construction costs.
This intervention follows a recent precedent where the Cabinet Secretariat acted to withdraw the revised 2025 BIS seismic zoning map. This action was taken after the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs raised concerns about increased costs for Metro rail projects, heightened technical complexity, and insufficient consultation with stakeholders. Sources confirm that BIS received a directive from the Cabinet Secretariat to "immediately" withdraw those draft standards.
Fire Safety Chapter Faces Potential Dilution
"In the context of the NBC, the majority of changes requested by the deregulation cell have been incorporated into the updated code. However, strong submissions are being made advocating for the retention of provisions dealing with fire safety, as these are directly linked to life and public security. There exists no scientific data to justify any dilution in this critical area. Instead of discarding entire chapters, there is considerable scope for improvement, especially since the current code serves as a vital reference point for all authorities and stakeholders involved," explained a member of the technical committee overseeing this subject.
The member further noted that the revised NBC, which was prepared for printing around June of last year, was the result of collaborative efforts involving over 1,300 professionals. "How many urban local bodies and municipalities possess the necessary capacity to independently develop a comprehensive building code? A sudden withdrawal would force them back to the drawing board, creating regulatory chaos," added another committee member.
Extensive Work Potentially Undermined
Several committee members have expressed concern that the revised NBC represents more than two years of dedicated work. Just as the document was nearing publication, the Cabinet Secretariat issued a communication to all chief secretaries across states, clarifying that adherence to the NBC is not mandatory. This was subsequently followed by explicit directives to BIS to delete specific sections from the NBC 2016, including those addressing the "integrated approach," "administration," and critically, "fire safety."
The proposed changes have ignited a debate between the push for deregulation and cost reduction on one side, and the imperative of maintaining robust, nationally consistent safety standards on the other. Stakeholders are now closely watching how BIS will navigate these directives while balancing the fundamental need to protect public safety in India's built environment.
