Urban fire occurs primarily in cities or towns with the potential to rapidly spread to adjoining structures. These fires damage and destroy homes, schools, commercial buildings, and vehicles.
Urban fires have a devastating impact on:
✓ People's health due to asphyxiation, release of the toxic gases and explosions/bursts caused by it.
✓ Communities due to the breaking up of economic activities and environmental destruction.
Fire safety regulations in India:
✓ Constitutional Provisions: Fire Services come under Twelfth Schedule (Article 243W), so either municipalities or the State Government/UTs look regulate it through local building bye laws.
✓ National Building Code of India 2016 (published by Bureau of Indian Standards) was issued to the States to incorporate the recommendations in their building byelaws with detailed provisions under Part – IV “Fire & Life Safety” on fire prevention, life safety and fire protection including General Exit requirements and Standards for construction.
✓ In 2020, Ministry of Health & Family welfare circulated strict guidelines stipulating third-party
accreditation for fire safety.
✓ NDMA has stipulated requirements for fire safety in public buildings, including hospitals.
