Every major fire incident in India leaves behind the same haunting questions:

When we move beyond headlines and investigations, a clear pattern emerges.
India does not lack fire safety codes. What we lack is systemic implementation, accountability, and continuity.

Across commercial buildings, industries, hospitals, residential towers, malls, and public venues, the same six gaps repeatedly surface.

1. Electrical Failures: The Silent Ignition Source

Electrical faults remain the leading cause of fires across India.

Common triggers include:

• Overloaded circuits

• Outdated wiring systems

• Improper cable sizing

• Poor earthing

• Lack of preventive maintenance

In many buildings, electrical systems expand with load demand but without redesign or safety upgrades. Temporary solutions become permanent risks.

🔍 Reality check:
An electrical system designed for yesterday’s load cannot safely support today’s operations.

2. Absence of Passive Fire Protection (PFP): The Missing Shield

While active systems fight fire, Passive Fire Protection controls its spread. Unfortunately, PFP is still widely misunderstood or completely ignored.

Most buildings lack:

• Fire-rated doors

• Proper compartmentation

• Intumescent coatings on steel structures

• Fire-stopping sealants

• Correctly sealed cable and service penetrations

Without PFP:

• Smoke travels freely

• Fire spreads across floors rapidly

• Evacuation routes become lethal within minutes

⚠️ In fire incidents, smoke not flames is often the primary cause of fatalities.
PFP is the difference between containment and catastrophe.

3. Absence of Sprinklers & Detection Systems

Despite clear mandates under NBC 2016, many buildings especially basements, parking areas, storage zones, and retrofitted spaces still operate without:

• Automatic sprinklers

• Early fire detection systems

• Alarm integration with evacuation plans

Fires that could have been controlled in the first 60 seconds escalate into uncontrollable disasters due to delayed detection and response.

📌 Early detection saves structures. Early suppression saves lives.

4. Untrained Staff & Weak Emergency Protocols

Fire safety is not only about equipment it is about people and preparedness.

Repeated observations show:

• No evacuation drills

• Untrained security and facility staff

• Delayed alarms

• Confusion during emergencies

• Blocked or unfamiliar exit routes

In emergencies, people don’t rise to the occasion they fall back on training.
When training is absent, chaos becomes inevitable.

👥 Prepared people are as critical as protected buildings.

5. Weak Enforcement of Codes

India has comprehensive guidelines under NBC 2016, with NBC 2025 (Draft) aiming to further strengthen safety frameworks.

Yet enforcement varies drastically:

• State to state

• City to city

• Project to project

Local deviations often dilute national standards.
In some cases, clearances are obtained without true on-ground compliance.

📉 A strong code means nothing without consistent enforcement.

6. Zero Monitoring After Occupancy

Perhaps the most dangerous mindset is treating fire safety as a one-time approval requirement.

Once occupancy is granted:

• Systems are not tested regularly

• Sprinklers get shut

• Detectors are disabled

• Fire doors remain locked

• AMC contracts are ignored

Fire safety degrades silently until an incident exposes the truth.

🔁 Fire safety must be a continuous lifecycle process, not a checkbox.

The Way Forward: From Installation to Integration

India’s fire safety challenge is not about awareness anymore it is about execution, accountability, and continuity.

What’s needed:

• Lifecycle-based fire safety planning

• Integration of passive & active systems

• Periodic audits and testing

• Mandatory training & drills

• Digital monitoring of safety assets

• Uniform enforcement across states

Fire safety must evolve from a regulatory obligation to a core operational priority.

Because safety isn’t added after construction.

It must be designed, implemented, maintained and respected.

At Safety Saarthi, we believe fire safety works best when it is engineered holistically, monitored continuously, and reinforced through people and processes.