The Delhi Government is preparing for a major overhaul of the Capital's fire safety framework that could fundamentally change how buildings are certified for fire compliance, shifting the system away from periodic approvals by the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) towards a third-party audited model backed by permanent certification, annual compliance declarations and wider mandatory installation of in-house firefighting systems.
A key component of the proposed reforms is the introduction of third-party fire safety auditors who would inspect buildings, certify compliance and issue fire safety certificates (FSCs), functions currently handled by the DFS currently.
According to Delhi Government officials familiar with the proposal, the new system aims to provide lifetime validity to fire safety certificates, subject to annual declarations filed by licensed fire auditors certifying that all required systems remain operational and compliant.
The DFS, under the proposed framework, would move toward a supervisory and enforcement role involving random audits and inspections (up to 5% only) instead of conducting every certification exercise directly.
According to sources, the proposed plan is likely to be introduced in the coming week. Delhi L-G Taranjeet Singh Sandhu has already called a review meeting on the proposed change in policy plan where it was discussed broadly.
Following a series of fatal fire incidents, including Vivek Vihar blaze that killed nine people, changes are aimed at aligning Delhi's fire safety regime with evolving global practices that increasingly prioritise preventive infrastructure inside buildings rather than relying solely on post-incident emergency response.
Officials aware of the discussions said the government is considering making fire safety compliance mandatory across a much larger universe of buildings by lowering the threshold for mandatory fire clearances, which currently applies largely to structures above 17.5 metres under the National Building Code.
The authorities are also examining proposals to mandate fire sensors, sprinklers and integrated firefighting systems in residential and commercial properties across the city.
"The nature of fires has changed significantly in modern urban environments," a senior official aware of the policy discussions said.
"Globally, enclosed fires are reaching flashover (time taken by fire to engulf area completely) stages much faster because of dense electrical loads, synthetic interiors and reduced ventilation. The focus internationally is shifting toward prevention and internal suppression systems within buildings," he added.
Officials said the government's proposed framework seeks to move beyond a model centred primarily on emergency response timelines and toward one focused on continuous compliance and built-in fire protection systems.
One of the major concerns emerging from recent incidents is that a large portion of Delhi's building stock remains outside formal fire oversight because existing rules apply mainly to taller buildings.
According to officials, nearly 95% of buildings in Delhi fall below the current 17.5-metre threshold for mandatory fire NOCs.
The discussions have also highlighted growing concern over the gap between urban planning enforcement and emergency response infrastructure.
The challenges such as narrow access roads, unauthorised parking, illegal construction deviations and mixed residential-commercial use patterns complicate firefighting operations in many parts of the city.
"How much can emergency response alone compensate for structural and planning deficiencies?" an official said, adding that global fire safety models increasingly focus on integrating safety systems directly into building design and occupancy compliance.
The policy discussions have additionally brought attention to delays in procurement of advanced firefighting equipment under the existing government tendering mechanisms. Officials said procurement cycles for specialised or imported firefighting systems can extend well beyond 1.5 years due to procedural timelines.