World · India Bureau
Telangana eases fire safety norms for shorter residential buildings
Telangana's Fire Services department has revised its safety requirements, exempting residential structures under 24 metres in height from mandatory fire clearance certificates. The new guidelines impose stricter requirements on taller buildings, including dedicated fire command centres and fire towers.
LSN India ·
The Telangana Fire Services department has streamlined its fire safety protocols by differentiating requirements based on building height, bringing relief to developers of smaller residential projects. Under the revised framework, residential buildings measuring less than 24 metres do not require a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the fire department, reducing bureaucratic delays in construction and occupancy approvals.
Buildings measuring 24 metres or more, however, face enhanced safety mandates. These taller structures must now incorporate fire towers and establish dedicated Fire Command Centre (FCC) rooms as integral components of their design and infrastructure. The FCC serves as a centralized control point for monitoring and responding to fire-related emergencies across the building.
The move represents a risk-based approach to fire safety regulation, with authorities concentrating stringent requirements on high-rise structures where the potential impact of fire incidents is significantly greater. The revised norms aim to balance construction accessibility for smaller projects with enhanced protection for occupants of taller buildings.
The new guidelines are expected to accelerate project approvals while ensuring that critical safety infrastructure is in place for residential complexes with greater fire risk exposure. The Fire Services department's revision reflects evolving standards in urban safety management across South India's growing metropolitan areas.