Delhi plans to make smoke detectors mandatory for all residential homes

Following a tragic fire in Vivek Vihar last month that claimed nine lives, the Delhi government is planning to make smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and hydrants mandatory for all residential properties across the national capital. Home Minister Ashish Sood announced the plan to tighten building by-laws and strengthen fire safety norms, which would apply to gated societies, individual houses, and residential colonies.

Currently, fire safety equipment and No Objection Certificates (NOCs) are only mandatory in Delhi for commercial buildings and residential structures that stand 15 meters or taller. Low-rise, independent residential properties have remained exempt from these requirements. According to Sood, approximately 90 percent of the buildings in Delhi currently lack fire NOCs or related safety compliance.

The Delhi fire department has already submitted a formal proposal outlining these changes, which is currently being examined by the government. Under this proposal, battery-operated smoke detectors would be mandated in residential homes. Officials noted that these devices are inexpensive and can alert residents to smoke immediately, allowing them to escape before a fire spreads.

Home Minister Sood has directed the fire department and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to review existing building by-laws. The government is also looking into advising residents against using inflammable construction materials and storing them inside their homes.

The urgency of the proposal is highlighted by recent tragedies in the city. In addition to the Vivek Vihar incident, a fire at a four-storey building in Palam in March killed nine members of a single family. In that case, authorities found that highly inflammable materials, including thinners, chemicals, and paints, had been stored in the basement of the building.

Sood emphasized that basic safety measures like fire hydrants, smoke detectors, and emergency escape ladders are critical first-response tools. He noted that crowded and narrow lanes in Delhi often delay fire tenders, making home-based safety systems even more essential to save lives during the critical initial minutes of a fire.