Delhi government mulls mandatory fire safety norms for low-rise residential buildings

New Delhi: The Delhi government is considering formulating bylaws to make fire safety measures such as smoke detectors and fire extinguishers mandatory in low-rise residential buildings, officials said on Thursday.

This comes in the wake of recent fire tragedies that claimed several lives in Malviya Nagar, Vivek Vihar and Palam.

The government is actively considering the recommendation of mandatory fire safety measures in buildings, particularly residential, less than 15 metres tall. Under the existing bylaws, such buildings do not require fire safety certificates, the officials said.


At present, fire safety installations such as hydrants, extinguishers and smoke detectors are mandatory largely in high-rise buildings and structures that require fire no objection certificates (NOCs).

The Delhi Fire Service has also recommended making smoke detectors and extinguishers compulsory in all homes and suggested a phased plan for retrofitting existing buildings with basic fire-safety equipment, the officials said.

Nine people were killed in fires that broke out in residential buildings in Palam and Vivek Vihar, while 23 died in a fire at a Malviya Nagar hotel a week ago.