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The Telangana Fire Department has started consultations with real estate developers to revise the Fire Services Act, 1999, with a focus on widening its scope and improving compliance. A key proposal is to include buildings below 15 metres under fire safety regulations, as most incidents occur in such structures. Authorities also plan to simplify the fire NOC process and strengthen enforcement. Industry bodies like CREDAI and NAREDCO have been involved for feedback. The move follows low compliance levels and recent inspections that exposed safety gaps across several buildings in the state.
The Telangana Fire Department has initiated discussions with developers and industry bodies to revise provisions under the Fire Services Act, 1999, aiming to make fire safety regulations more practical and better suited to current urban conditions. The exercise comes as construction activity continues to expand across cities like Hyderabad, increasing the need for stronger and more inclusive safety norms. Advertisement
One of the main proposals under consideration is to extend fire safety regulations to buildings below 15 metres in height. At present, such structures fall outside strict regulatory coverage, even though officials have observed that a large share of fire incidents occurs in these properties. By bringing them under the framework, the department aims to address a major gap in enforcement and reduce risks in densely populated areas.
The consultation process included participation from developer bodies such as CREDAI and NAREDCO, along with senior officials from the fire department. During the discussions, Director General Vikram Singh Mann explained that the proposed changes are intended to improve compliance while making procedures clearer and more workable for developers. He indicated that the department is looking to balance safety requirements with ease of implementation so that rules are followed more consistently.
Another area of focus is the process for issuing fire No Objection Certificates (NOCs). Developers have often raised concerns about delays and procedural challenges in obtaining approvals. The department is now working on simplifying these processes without diluting safety checks, which could help reduce approval timelines while ensuring that essential safeguards are in place.
The need for these changes is supported by past data, which shows that only a small proportion of buildings in Telangana have secured fire NOCs over the years. This has largely been due to the limited applicability of rules to taller structures, leaving a large number of residential and commercial properties outside mandatory compliance.
Recent inspection drives have further highlighted the issue. Authorities identified several shortcomings across buildings, including non-functional fire systems, absence of basic equipment, and blocked emergency exits. In some cases, institutions such as hospitals were also found lacking adequate fire preparedness, leading to notices being issued. These findings have increased the urgency to update the regulatory framework.
The proposed amendments are also aligned with broader policy changes in Telangana’s real estate sector, where the government has been working on updating building rules to support growth while improving accountability. Developers have been asked to submit their suggestions on the draft proposals, which will be reviewed before finalising the revised regulations.
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