What types of buildings require a fire clearance certificate or FIRE NOC
With the impact of modernization and the changing need of the society, there is a curved trend of high-rise buildings in India. The objective is not only restricted to the residential purpose but also extends to business, communities and even services. Since the last decade, there is a tremendous growth in the real estate industry and now fully occupied high-rise or multiplex buildings can be witnessed in the urban cities of India.
Buildings taller than 15 meters are called high-rise buildings that are in the form of shopping malls, hospitals, apartments, and multiplex cinemas. Unfortunately, there have been some major accidents in such buildings which are whistleblowers to advocate for an accident free environment. To guarantee security, the Government has provided provisions to shield itself from the latest Right to Information regulations. There are also amendments to the Factories Act 1948 prescribing provisions relating to the hazardous process. Consequently, all types of high-rise buildings must have a Fire Clearance Certificate or FIRE NOC.
What is FIRE NOC or Fire Clarification Certificate?
FIRE NOC or Fire Authorization Certificate is a No Objection Certificate indicating that the building is designed in accordance with the rules and regulations that a high-rise building must have to avoid dangerous accidents. It is issued by the fire brigade of the respective state before the construction of the building. The building authority requests the FIRE NOC prior to construction attaching the appropriate building plan. The construction plan should have complete details, including structure, stair layout, electric power supply, elevator layout, open space, fire escape, raw material, layout, and also should foresee:
1. Fire safety measures, Fire extinguishers and Fire evacuation measures that are going to be incorporated into the building.
2. Minimize the spread and intensity of Fire within the building and any other building.
3. Control the generation or spread of smoke to the extent possible.
4. The implementation of the device that can detect the Fire and warn the occupants or the user.
5. Immediate access to the device to control the rising Fire.
6. The design must be designed by the registered architect.
FIRE NOC for hospitals:
The government provided full instructions in the ‘part 4’ of India’s National Building Code-2005, “Fire and Life Safety” for fire prevention and fire safety of the hospital building. A hospital construction plan should instill the following Hospital Engineering Service Provision for Fire Prevention as per NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Health Care Providers).
NABH Provisions for Hospital Fire Precautions:
• There must be an approval for the installation of fire extinguishing devices.
• Easy access to the location of the control room.
• The control panel must be connected to a fire detection or alarm system.
• Availability of the pump rooms including the electric ones as well as the diesel room.
• Arrangements for the presentation of Fire Tenders.
• In an emergency, there must be a 4-way Fire entrance.
• Forced ventilation
• Easy access to fire resistant tanks
• A fire drill must be conducted.
• Adequate availability of patio and rest hydrants and they must be in a strategic location.
• 2-way fire heads.
• Hose reels and landing hydrants
• Wet lift system
• First aid kit must be in good condition.
• There must be provision for an escape route and an emergency exit.
• An automatic device for smoke or heat detectors.
• Fire alarm system and extinguishers
Regulations according to the National Building Code 2005:
1. All high-rise buildings must have a Fire NOC according to the zoning regulations of the respective jurisdiction.
2. The road should be more than 12 meters wide, especially the hydraulic platform and the turntable ladder.
3. The size of the entrance should not be less than 6 meters or 5 meters.
4. A minimum of 40% of the users or occupants must be trained to perform the proper operations of the fire safety devices or evacuation system.
5. There must be adequate open space and emergency exit stairs on the outside wall of the building in addition to normal stairs.
6. It must be closed with two-hour fire-resistance smoke-tight hinged doors at the exit to the lobby.
How to apply for a fire clearance certificate:
The pre-formatted application form along with the business plan and documents must be submitted to the respective state Fire Department. The request must be duly stamped and signed by the civil engineer or authorized authority. You must include the full address of the site and all the provisions mentioned above in the business plan, as well as the documents. Today, many states accept application forms online, but the attachments will be the same. The Fire NOC issuance process is exempt from fees.
Required documents:
1. 2 sets of construction plans authorized by the Construction Authority.
2. Model of the building.
3. Full plan of the building and surroundings.
4. Complete plan of the building with the mandatory data mentioned above.
5. The checklist must be certified by the authority.
Time period required for issuance of FIRE NOC:
If the application is completed correctly with the exact business plan, it normally takes 4 weeks to issue the Fire Department Fire Clearance Certificate.
Is the fire NOC valid?
Under Rule 35, Fire NOC is valid for 5 years for residential buildings and 3 years for non-residential buildings.
All users are strongly advised to strictly follow the provisions and procedures, not only on paper but in practice. Safety and fire precaution is one of the important factors that concern everyone in the hospital industry. The main objective of fire safety design is to ensure the safety of life, continuous operation and adequate protection.
Note: The list of documents and processes may vary depending on state regulations.