The Delhi government has notified the Delhi Fire Service (Amendment) Rules, 2026, introducing revised fire prevention and safety requirements for buildings across the national capital. The amended rules establish minimum standards covering fire access, detection, suppression, evacuation, emergency power and monitoring arrangements.
The notification was issued by the Delhi government’s Home Department on August 28, 2026. The revised framework will align fire safety requirements with the amended Unified Building Bye-Laws (UBBL) 2016, with the applicable standards linked to a building’s height and class of occupancy.
According to the government, the amendments introduce a structured framework for both new and existing buildings. Requirements will include provisions for fire and smoke barriers, protected exits, unobstructed access for firefighting vehicles, emergency power supply and dedicated fire control rooms. The move follows several fire incidents in Delhi in recent months, including the Malviya Nagar hotel fire in June, which resulted in the deaths of 23 people.
One of the major requirements under the amended rules is the provision of a minimum six-metre clear access route for fire engines up to building premises, wherever applicable. This is intended to ensure that firefighting vehicles can reach a site without obstruction during an emergency.
The revised framework also addresses the protection of exits through fire-check doors or pressurisation arrangements. Buildings may be required to provide fire and smoke barriers, fire stops and smoke management measures based on their classification and applicable building bye-laws.
Fire detection and suppression provisions covered under the amended rules include fire extinguishers, first-aid hose reels, automatic fire detection and alarm arrangements, public address or voice evacuation facilities, and automatic sprinkler and fire suppression measures where required. The provisions also cover internal hydrants, wet risers, down-comers, yard hydrants and ring mains.
Buildings will further require appropriate fire pump houses and pumping arrangements, along with protected access for firefighters. The rules also specify provisions for dedicated firefighting water storage, exit signage, floor numbering and reflective tape markings along corridors leading to emergency exits.
The amended requirements place attention on emergency power for fire and life-safety equipment. Such backup power arrangements may support fire pumps, pressurisation and smoke-venting equipment, fireman’s lifts, emergency lighting, fire alarm facilities, public address arrangements, magnetic door-hold-open devices and lighting within fire command centres.
The rules also include provisions related to fire towers, fire lifts, fire-check floors and refuge areas. Fire control rooms equipped with automated continuous monitoring arrangements have been included as part of the prescribed safety measures for applicable buildings.
In cases where the Building Bye-Laws do not specify particular fire prevention and safety requirements, the Director of the Delhi Fire Service may direct building owners or occupiers to adopt additional measures based on standards prescribed by the fire prevention wing.
The amended rules also allow the government to relax, modify or remove specific requirements for certain categories of occupancy or buildings located in special areas. Meanwhile, applications pending when the revised rules come into force will continue to be processed according to the provisions applicable on the date the application was originally submitted.
The new regulations will take effect when the amended UBBL-2016 is notified by the Delhi Development Authority. The amendments bring together 18 categories of fire safety measures that will be considered in the process of fire prevention and fire safety certification and the issuance of no-objection certificates by the Delhi Fire Service and third-party auditors.
The notification also replaces references to the National Building Code of India with the Building Bye-Laws in Rule 29 of the Delhi Fire Service Rules, linking the fire safety framework more directly with Delhi’s building regulations. The revised rules are expected to provide a more defined approach to fire safety requirements as building development and occupancy needs continue to evolve.
