Fire NOC Norms Eased For Schools, Jr Colleges

Hyderabad: The Telangana Fire, Disaster Response, Emergency and Civil Defence Department has relaxed certain fire safety requirements for existing schools and junior colleges, allowing flexibility in setbacks and staircase dimensions while retaining mandatory fire prevention and evacuation measures.

The revised guidelines, issued on Wednesday, will apply to fire no-objection certificate (NOC) applications received on or after November 10.

Under the guidelines, educational institutions can retain the existing open spaces within their premises without having to provide additional space.

Where setbacks are inadequate, water curtains must be installed on the deficient sides that do not adjoin a road to prevent fire from spreading from neighbouring properties.

A four-way fire brigade inlet must also be provided.

For buildings below nine metres in height, including the stilt floor, a second staircase will be mandatory if the floor area exceeds 500 square metres and only one staircase exists.

Buildings above nine metres must have a second staircase, irrespective of floor area, if they have only one.

Additional staircases may be constructed using concrete or metal and must have safety railings.

The prescribed width of 1.5 metres has been relaxed, with the department accepting the maximum feasible width depending on the available space.

The two staircases must be positioned as far apart as possible.

Fire services director general Vikram Singh Mann said the changes were intended to address practical difficulties faced by educational institutions in complying with building requirements while ensuring essential fire prevention and life safety measures.

Schools and colleges housed in buildings up to 15 metres must provide at least four fire extinguishers on each floor, with extinguishers accessible within 15 metres.

Buildings with ground plus two floors or more, up to 15 metres, must additionally provide first-aid hose reels, manually operated electronic fire alarms, a 10,000-litre terrace water tank and a pump capable of delivering 450 litres per minute.

For buildings between 15 and 30 metres, the requirements include hose reels, downcomers, a 25,000-litre terrace water tank and a pump with a capacity of 900 litres per minute.

Institutions must keep exits, corridors and open spaces clear, display evacuation plans and emergency contact numbers, and install emergency lighting and illuminated exit signs.

Preschool, kindergarten and Class 1 students must be accommodated on the ground floor or the first floor where a stilt floor exists.

Occupancy NOCs issued under the revised guidelines will remain valid for three years.

Institutions must apply for renewal two months before expiry.