Fire NOC Validity Extended to Five Years Amid Safety Concerns

Fast Summary:

• The state Business Reform Action Plan-2024 (SBRAP-2024) has extended the validity period of Fire and Rescue Services department’s No Objection Certificates (NOC) for safety inspections in commercial and residential buildings to five years.
• Previously, mandatory annual renewal was required for fire NOC holders.
• The changes aim to reduce compliance burden on establishments with minimal fire safety risks as part of deregulation efforts.
• Buildings with higher safety risks, such as hazardous industries or storage facilities with dangerous materials, will retain a two-year validity period for NOCs.
• applicants can choose shorter validity periods (up to four years) by paying proportionate fees.
• Safety inspections in high-risk buildings involving complex circuitry or hazardous materials will continue under stricter rules regardless of extended NOC periods.
• Some Fire and Rescue personnel have expressed concern that the new policy may weaken the existing inspection system. They argue that regular audits help catch safety violations effectively.

Indian Opinion analysis:

The extension of fire NOC validity aligns with broader government initiatives aimed at promoting ease of doing business and reducing procedural hurdles faced by building owners. While such strides towards deregulation may benefit entities with low-risk profiles, concerns raised by experienced rescue personnel highlight potential vulnerabilities in crucial public safety systems.Extending NOC timelines to five years could lead to increased gaps between thorough inspections,possibly exposing occupancies with high failure probabilities.

This decision also creates a distinction between low-risk establishments and high-hazard facilities where stringent checks remain necesary-a pragmatic step catering to varying levels of risk exposure across sectors. Though, balancing administrative efficiency against public welfare gains warrants cautious implementation coupled with routine evaluations to ensure oversight systems remain robust without compromising life-saving protocols.Read more: [Link provided]