Fire Safety

Entrepreneurs should know about ‘Fire Safety’

 

Any factory, warehouse, office or commercial establishment must comply with the fire safety norms called fire clearance in common parlance. This clearance is given by the department of Fire & Emergency Services. In fact, NOC from Fire Department or fire licence, need clear understanding by the entrepreneurs.

For getting fire safety certificate one has to apply to the Department at first for fire safety recommendation which involves site visit of the departmental officials and recommendation on taking measures for fire safety. Once these recommendations are complied with, fire department officials visit again to check compliance. Once they are satisfied with the compliance as per FSR, fire safety certificate is issued.

Loosely called fire licence it actually is fire safety certificate (FSC). However fire licence, which is a separate certification is also given in cases where there is hazards of inflammable materials involved in the business.

1. Fire Safety Recommendation (FSR): 

• What it is: A clearance at the planning or design stage of a high-risk building, confirming compliance with fire safety norms.
• Who needs it: Owners of *high-risk or **high-rise buildings, engaged in manufacturing, processing, or storage activities. Normal/low-risk buildings are exempted.
• Validity: One-time approval unless major revisions are needed.
• Note: FSR is a precondition for obtaining Fire Safety certificate (FSC).

 

2. Fire Safety Certificate (FSC): 

• What it is: Certificate after construction completed, confirming implementation of fire safety measures.
• Who needs it: Mandatory for all high-risk or high-rise buildings.
• Validity: 3 years from the date issuance of FSC.
• Note: FSC is a precondition for grant of a fire License (GFL) if hazardous materials are involved.

 

3. Grant of Fire License (GFL);

• What it is: License required for storing, keeping, processing of hazardous or inflammable articles beyond prescribed limits under the Fire Services Act.
• Who needs it: Any business dealing with hazardous or inflammable materials (chemicals & Solvents, Liquefied & Compressed Gases, petroleum products, Explosives & Reactive Materials, Highly Flammable Liquids & Solids etc.)
• Validity: Must be renewed annually.

 

4. Self-Certification of Fire Safety:

• What it is: Self-declaration of fire safety compliance in prescribed format.
• Who can use it: Buildings not classified as high-risk or High-rise. This replaces FSR/FSC/GFL for such cases.
• Validity: Annual submission required.

 

*5. High-Risk Buildings: 

1. Buildings storing, handling, or processing combustible, explosive, toxic, corrosive, or

flammable substances/gases.

1. Storage under pressure of hazardous/toxic gases, or handling of highly flammable

liquids/ gases etc.

1. Public-use buildings: Hotels, restaurants, shopping complexes, hospitals, markets etc.

 

**6. High-Rise Buildings:

1. All industrial buildings (Building Code-G1) above 15 m height/ 500 m² of total floor

area, fall under high-rise category in general. Whereas,

1. Single floor Warehouses, cold storages, and depots (Storage-H) above 9 m of height

/ 500 m² of total floor area, also fall under this category.

1. All high rise buildings are high risk building apart from other categories.

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       Why It Matters for Entrepreneurs:

1. Legal Compliance: Mandatory under the Fire Services Act. Avoid penalties

and  closure.

1. Safety Assurance: Protects employees, property, and customers.
2. Business Credibility: Buyers, investors, insurers, financial institutes, regulatory

bodies.