Fire Safety Certificates to Be Issued Only After Third-Party Audit, State Government Orders

The state government has directed that fire safety certificates for buildings will now be issued only after completion of a mandatory third-party fire safety audit. Under the new framework, fire safety certificates will be valid for a period of five years and will be granted through authorised agencies approved by the government.

 

According to the order issued by the Home Department, eligible agencies will conduct fire safety audits and issue certificates twice a year. The decision aims to strengthen fire prevention measures, ensure compliance with safety standards, and bring greater transparency and accountability in the certification process.

 

The new requirement will apply to a wide range of buildings, including all industrial establishments, hotels with five or more storeys, assembly buildings, underground shopping complexes, multilevel car parking facilities, and hazardous buildings such as those handling petrol, diesel, CNG and similar materials.

 

The government has classified buildings into different categories for implementation of the policy. In Category One, buildings exceeding 45 metres in height (excluding hotels), non-residential buildings over 30 metres, all high-risk industrial units, and residential buildings below 15 metres in height have been included. These structures will be required to strictly comply with third-party audit norms before a fire safety certificate is issued.

 

Category Two includes residential buildings with a height between 15 and 45 metres, non-residential or commercial buildings with a height between 15 and 30 metres, all hotels not covered under Category One, and both medium-risk and low-risk industrial buildings. These buildings will also fall under the mandatory third-party fire safety audit regime.

 

Officials stated that the move is intended to improve fire preparedness, reduce the risk of accidents, and ensure uniform enforcement of fire safety norms across different types of buildings. The involvement of independent third-party agencies is expected to enhance the credibility of audits and prevent procedural lapses.

 

The government has indicated that detailed operational guidelines will be issued to ensure smooth implementation of the policy and effective monitoring of authorised agencies. The measure is being viewed as a significant step toward strengthening public safety and improving fire safety compliance in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.