Fire Safety Challenges in Indian Buildings 

Context 

Recent urban fire incidents have highlighted serious gaps in building design, fire safety compliance and emergency preparedness in Indian cities.

Key Highlights 

• Major causes include combustible building materials, mixed-use buildings and inadequate emergency exits.
• Fire compartmentation is often absent or poorly implemented.
• Weak enforcement of National Building Code (NBC) norms increases disaster risk.
• Delhi Fire Services has proposed modernisation through AI-enabled dispatch systems, drones and expansion of fire stations.

Way Forward 

• Strict enforcement of fire safety regulations.
• Promote use of fire-resistant construction materials.
• Ensure proper emergency exits, evacuation plans and compartmentation.
• Modernise urban firefighting infrastructure using advanced technologies.

Concepts 

National Building Code (NBC): BIS code prescribing standards for safe building construction, including fire safety.

Compartmentation: Dividing buildings into fire-resistant sections to restrict the spread of fire and smoke.

Mixed-use Building: Structure combining residential and commercial functions, often requiring stricter fire safety standards.