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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nNew Delhi: <\/span>Residential buildings under 24 metres in height \u2014 a category that includes a large number multi-storey homes, such as the ill-fated one in Delhi\u2019s Vivek Vihar \u2014 will fall outside the scope of \u201cfire and life safety\u201d provisions under the newly notified National Building Construction Standards (NBCS), which replaced the National Building Code (NBC) last week.NBCS fire and public safety norms, which are only \u201cadvisory\u201d in nature, are applicable for buildings beyond 24 metres, against the earlier norm of 15 meters. Though the Deregulation Cell of Cabinet Secretariat had directed Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to keep fire and life safety out of NBCS, it was included due to pushback from technical experts.These provisions prescribe norms on how a building should be designed, equipped and managed to prevent fires and protect occupants if one occurs. This includes means of escape, and fire detection and alarm systems.The NBCS document said that \u201cfire and life safety\u201d is only for guidance and referral for state govt and local authority in respect of fire safety in buildings considering that \u201cfire services is a state subject and a municipal function\u201d as per the Constitution.\u201cProvisions in NBCS have been updated considering the changes that have happened over the years. We have prescribed what states and municipalities can follow. It\u2019s the responsibility of states and local authorities to ensure safety of structures and citizens,\u201d said former Delhi Fire Service chief S K Dheri, who heads the fire safety committee at BIS.TOI has learnt that one of the key reasons for replacing NBC with NBCS was the confusion created by the term \u201cCode.\u201d Though NBC was voluntary, its title suggested legal enforceability, leading to disputes and litigation, and courts hauling up builders and govt entities for not following the code\u2019s provisions.The document mentions that the nature of standards and codes has changed from a prescriptive regime, under which states and local authorities required hand holding, to a \u201cmore performance-oriented outlook, giving ample scope for innovation and decision-making\u201d.However, experts involved in preparation of both NBC and current NBCS have raised concerns, pointing to inadequate institutional capacity of many municipal bodies to formulate detailed norms.Ajit Kumar SM, a committee member and president of Karnataka Professional Civil Engineers Act Steering Consortium, cautioned that increased state-level variation could result in inconsistent safety standards. He highlighted concerns about rising liability for professionals without adequate regulatory protection, potentially compromising public safety and professional integrity.<\/div>\n