(Representative image) The Telangana fire department is increasing the height limit for provisional Fire NOC regarding residential buildings
Officials said the change was made following discussions with builders’ associations and in line with National Building Construction Standards (NBCS) 2026. Because of poor maintenance or changes made after occupancy, anchuri said regular checks after construction were also important, as a building that is safe at the design stage could become unsafe.
The change applies only to residential apartments and will not affect schools, hospitals, hotels, hostels, industries, malls, offices or other public-use buildings, according to officials. Fire DG Vikram Singh Mann said the move was aimed at simplifying approvals and reducing the regulatory burden on lower and mid-rise residential buildings. Officials also said that while a provisional Fire NOC would not be required for buildings between 18m and 24m, fire officers would conduct periodic checks during construction to ensure basic safety measures, including proper exits, emergency lights, fire extinguishers and safe electrical systems, were in place. However, fire-safety experts said fire risk cannot be determined by the height of a building alone. SP Anchuri, vice-president of Council for Fire and Life Safety (CFLS), said safety should also be assessed based on factors such as the number of occupants, evacuation routes, smoke management, firefighting systems and access for fire tenders.
Experts also pointed to common risks in apartments, such as blocked staircases, locked terraces, storage in common areas, unsafe electrical changes and vehicles blocking access to fire tenders.
