📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / © Sue Sweeney
National
Fire Department Says Stricter Post‑Birch Rules Miss Older Buildings
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 27 Aug 2026, 04:02 AM
👁 4
The fire department reports that while safety regulations have tightened after the Birch fire, many older structures remain non‑compliant, leaving them vulnerable.
The fire department said that safety compliance has become markedly stricter across the country following the high‑profile Birch fire incident, which exposed serious lapses in fire safety standards. New directives now require modern fire‑suppression systems, regular audits and mandatory fire‑risk assessments for newly constructed and renovated premises.
Under the revised code, building owners must install automatic fire‑extinguishing equipment, maintain clear evacuation routes and submit periodic compliance reports to municipal authorities. Inspectors have been empowered to levy higher penalties for violations and to order immediate remedial action where hazards are identified.
Despite these advances, officials warned that a large stock of older buildings—many built before the current code was introduced—remain outside the regulatory net. These structures often lack updated fire‑alarm systems and have inadequate escape provisions, creating a blind spot in overall urban safety.
The department urged municipal bodies to launch a focused retro‑fit programme, prioritising schools, hospitals and densely populated residential blocks. It also called on owners of legacy properties to cooperate with upcoming inspections, stressing that public safety cannot be compromised by outdated infrastructure.
Under the revised code, building owners must install automatic fire‑extinguishing equipment, maintain clear evacuation routes and submit periodic compliance reports to municipal authorities. Inspectors have been empowered to levy higher penalties for violations and to order immediate remedial action where hazards are identified.
Despite these advances, officials warned that a large stock of older buildings—many built before the current code was introduced—remain outside the regulatory net. These structures often lack updated fire‑alarm systems and have inadequate escape provisions, creating a blind spot in overall urban safety.
The department urged municipal bodies to launch a focused retro‑fit programme, prioritising schools, hospitals and densely populated residential blocks. It also called on owners of legacy properties to cooperate with upcoming inspections, stressing that public safety cannot be compromised by outdated infrastructure.