The newly notified National Building Construction Standards (NBCS), which replaced the National Building Code (NBC) last week, have excluded residential buildings under 24 metres in height from the scope of "fire and life safety" provisions. This category includes a large number of multi-storey homes, such as the ill-fated building in Delhi's Vivek Vihar.
Fire Safety Norms Only Advisory for Buildings Below 24 Metres
Under the NBCS, fire and public safety norms are only "advisory" in nature and are applicable for buildings beyond 24 metres, a significant change from the earlier norm of 15 metres. Although the Deregulation Cell of the Cabinet Secretariat had directed the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to keep fire and life safety provisions out of the NBCS, they were included due to pushback from technical experts.
What the Fire and Life Safety Provisions Cover
These provisions prescribe norms on how a building should be designed, equipped, and managed to prevent fires and protect occupants if one occurs. This includes means of escape, and fire detection and alarm systems.
The NBCS document states that "fire and life safety" provisions are only for guidance and referral for state governments and local authorities in respect of fire safety in buildings, considering that "fire services is a state subject and a municipal function" as per the Constitution.
Expert Opinions on the Changes
Former Delhi Fire Service chief S K Dheri, who heads the fire safety committee at BIS, said, "Provisions in NBCS have been updated considering the changes that have happened over the years. We have prescribed what states and municipalities can follow. It's the responsibility of states and local authorities to ensure safety of structures and citizens."
Times of India has learnt that one of the key reasons for replacing NBC with NBCS was the confusion created by the term "Code." Though NBC was voluntary, its title suggested legal enforceability, leading to disputes and litigation, and courts hauling up builders and government entities for not following the code's provisions.
Shift from Prescriptive to Performance-Oriented Standards
The document mentions that the nature of standards and codes has changed from a prescriptive regime, under which states and local authorities required hand holding, to a "more performance-oriented outlook, giving ample scope for innovation and decision-making."
However, experts involved in the preparation of both NBC and current NBCS have raised concerns, pointing to inadequate institutional capacity of many municipal bodies to formulate detailed norms.
Ajit Kumar SM, a committee member and president of the Karnataka Professional Civil Engineers Act Steering Consortium, cautioned that increased state-level variation could result in inconsistent safety standards. He highlighted concerns about rising liability for professionals without adequate regulatory protection, potentially compromising public safety and professional integrity.
