NEW DELHI: The Delhi government has notified the Delhi Fire Service (Amendment) Rules, 2026, under which auditors will have to sign off on a detailed checklist of requirements for fire safety clearances to buildings, replacing the previous inspection format. The amendments provide for a shift in references from the National Building Code of India to the building by-laws, and allow the fire services increased power to prescribe additional safety measures in specific cases.
Furthermore, a standardised auditor inspection checklist will bring complete transparency and accountability to safety compliance. The DFS director can also require additional fire-prevention and safety measures where necessary, with reasons recorded in writing. Simultaneously, the government has also retained the power to relax, modify or annul firesafety requirements for particular occupancy categories or buildings in special areas. The amended rules draw a clear line between the job of the agencies who regulate building norms and the fire department. The job of assessing the structural stability, height and other building parameters is the job of the agency concerned, while the fire department’s job is to ensure that the building has functional fire fighting systems. These are more clearly defined by the new rules.”
By notifying the Delhi Fire Service (Amendment) Rules, 2026, we are aligning our fire safety standards directly with the Unified Building Bye-Laws. “These revised rules enforce modern, mandatory safety measures across all buildings— ranging from 6-meter clear access routes for fire engines to automated continuous monitoring, sprinkler systems, and dedicated emergency power backups.
Delhi home minister Ashish Sood said, “The safety and security of every citizen of Delhi is our government’s topmost priority. We are committed to building a safer, more resilient, and modern Delhi,” Sood said. Officials said that under the amendments, the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) can require owners or occupiers to provide fire-safety measures based on international standards identified by the fire prevention wing. GC Mishra, a former director of DFS, told HT: “These measures are part of the deregulation measures being undertaken by the government.
