INTRODUCTION:
One major change in the fire safety regulations by the Government of Delhi is the authorization to third-party fire safety auditors who have been empanelled for the purpose of conducting audits and giving the Fire Safety Certificates (FSCs). This move has been made to make the process of certification simpler and more convenient while still maintaining high fire safety standards. The DFS has also begun empanelling of agencies/individuals to conduct these audits.
WHAT WAS CHANGED?
Previously, Fire Safety Certificates could be granted only on the basis of an inspection carried out by officials of the Delhi Fire Service. This used to take time because of the rising number of applications.
Now, with respect to the revised Delhi Fire Service Rules, the owners and occupiers of the building are free to choose a Fire Safety Auditor from the list of auditors empanelled by the government and prepared by the Delhi Fire Service. Post inspection of the property, the auditor is authorized to grant a legally recognized Fire Safety Certificate along with uploading the certificate details on the website. The Delhi Fire Service will oversee the entire process by carrying out random inspections and validation of certificates granted by auditors.
THREE CATEGORIES OF FIRE SAFETY AUDITORS:
Under the new structure, auditors are divided into three categories depending on the degree of risk associated with the buildings they are permitted to audit:
- Level 1 (L-1): Small buildings with low risks.
- Level 2 (L-2): Medium sized buildings that include both commercial and institutional buildings.
- Level 3 (L-3): High rise buildings along with industrial buildings and those which pose high risks.
Such classification will ensure that buildings are inspected by competent people.
FEE STRUCTURE FOR FIRE SAFETY AUDITS:
The Delhi Government has established maximum fee structures for empanelled auditors who carry out fire safety inspections of buildings:
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Auditor Category
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Maximum Fee Range
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L-1 Auditor
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₹10,000 - ₹50,000
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|
L-2 Auditor
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₹35,000 - ₹90,000
|
|
L-3 Auditor
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₹63,000 - ₹5,00,000
|
These depend upon various considerations including the nature of the building, type of occupancy, and size of the building.
BENEFITS OF THE NEW SYSTEM:
Third party fire safety auditors provide many benefits, including the following:
- More rapid issuance of Fire Safety Certificates.
- Less burden on the Delhi Fire Service.
- Better access to fire safety experts.
- Increased compliance with fire safety guidelines.
- Easier doing of business by business and industry.
- Ongoing regulation via DFS auditing and random inspection.
Thus, the approach combines the benefit of having private experts conduct the audits with continued government oversight.
IMPACT ON BUILDING OWNERS AND BUSINESSES:
Those commercial establishments, industries, hospitals, schools, residential apartments, and other buildings that require Fire Safety Certificate would gain much from the new structure. They would no longer need to wait for the inspection from the departments, as now there is the option of engaging empanelled auditors, which will help them get approvals faster and plan their compliance accordingly.
It should be noted that the owners of buildings should be sure that they only hire auditors who were empanelled by the Delhi Fire Service, as any other certificate will be invalid. Moreover, the Delhi Fire Service has the right to conduct inspections at any of the buildings.
CONCLUSION:
The move by the authorities in Delhi to allow third parties to conduct fire safety audits is an important modernization of the fire safety compliance system in the city. Through a combination of private sector and government efforts, this new system is expected to provide quicker certification, greater accountability, and improved fire safety compliance levels in the National Capital Territory.