Check If your building is safe to live in
Check Your Building
Modern buildings look stunning glass facades, grand lobbies, swimming pools, and gyms. But is it truly safe to live in?
Behind the glossy brochures, many buildings fail to meet even the basic fire and life safety requirements.
Your safety and your family’s depends not on how beautiful the building looks, but on how well it’s built and maintained for emergencies.
Is Your Building Safe to Live In? Here’s the checklist you must follow :
Fire Safe Building Checklist for Safe Living
| 01 | Fire Department NOC before Construction | Confirm that the builder obtained the Fire & Building Plan Approval (No Objection Certificate) before starting construction. | |
| 02 | Occupancy Certificate (OC) | Only buildings with a valid Occupancy Certificate from the local authority are legally fit for occupation. Ask for a copy. | |
| 03 | Designed as per National Building Code (NBC) | Ensure the structure follows NBC 2016 / 2025 (Part IV – Fire & Life Safety) and related sections for services and evacuation. | |
| 04 | Fire Fighting System Installed & Tested | Fire pumps, sprinklers, alarms, extinguishers, and hydrants should be in place, tested, and certified annually. | |
| 05 | Emergency Power & Battery Backup | Critical systems like fire alarms and emergency lights must have independent power backup during blackouts. | |
| 06 | Staircase & Exit Accessibility | Staircases must be unobstructed, smoke free, and lead to a safe assembly area. Never allow storage in escape routes. | |
| 07 | Emergency Lighting & Exit Signage | Exit signs and emergency lights should illuminate automatically during power failure. Check if they’re functional. | |
| 08 | Electrical Safety | The wiring, switchgear, and earthing must comply with the National Electrical Code of India 2023. Insist on annual testing reports. | |
| 09 | Fire Lift & Refuge Area | High-rise buildings (above 15m) must have fire lifts and refuge floors for rescue operations. | |
| 10 | Smoke Lobby & Pressurization System | Check for smoke-proof lobbies in high-rises and mechanical pressurization systems that prevent smoke spread. | |
| 11 | Fire Water Storage | There must be dedicated underground and overhead water tanks for firefighting use only. | |
| 12 | Fire Control Room (in large complexes) | Every high-rise should have a 24x7 Fire Control Room with trained personnel and monitoring panel. | |
| 13 | IoT-Based Fire System Monitoring | Ensure your building has a real-time IoT based Fire Monitoring System that alerts for faults, pump failures, or system | |
| 14 | Mobile App for Safety Monitoring | Residents should install a Fire Monitoring App connected to the building’s system. Subscribe only to Smarter Spider — an intelligent app that gives you 24×7 visibility on your building’s performance and immediate alerts for safety system faults. | |
| 15 | Trained Security & Fire Wardens | Ask if security staff and maintenance teams are trained to operate fire systems and conduct evacuations. | |
| 16 | Fire Drills Conducted Regularly | Fire drills should be held at least once every six months with residents participating. | |
| 17 | Evacuation Plan Displayed | A floor-wise evacuation plan must be displayed near lifts and lobbies. | |
| 18 | DG Room & Electrical Panel Safety | DG and electrical rooms should be fire-rated, well-ventilated, and equipped with extinguishers and gas detection systems. | |
| 19 | Basement Ventilation & Smoke Extraction | Parking basements should have mechanical ventilation and smoke extraction systems as per NBC standards. | |
| 20 | Evacuation Aids for Elderly / Disabled | Check if your building provides Evacuation Chairs or Stair-Climbing Devices for mobility impaired persons. | |
| 21 | Dedicated Fire Pump Room (for buildings over 21 m) | Ensure the building has a fire-rated, ventilated, and easily accessible Fire Pump Room, located at ground or basement level. It must house jockey, main, and diesel pumps as per NBC requirements, with a dedicated electrical panel and signage. | |
| 22 | Fire-Resistant Coating for Steel Structures | Verify whether all steel columns, beams, and trusses are protected with certified fire resistant intumescent coatings tested to BS 476 / ASTM E119 / ISO 834 standards. These coatings delay collapse and provide 2–4 hours of structural protection. | |
| 23 | Fire-Retardant Coating for Doors, Furniture & Wood Panels | Check if all wooden doors, partitions, furniture, and wall panels are treated with clear or pigmented fire-retardant coatings. Such coatings minimize flame spread and smoke, providing crucial evacuation time. |
Smart Fire Safety Habits
- Don’t overload electrical sockets.
- Keep corridors clear and doors unlocked.
- Avoid blocking access to hydrants and fire panels.
- Report every fault or system alert immediately to your building association.
- Stay informed, install safety apps and participate in awareness programs.
A safe home isn’t defined by marble floors or a rooftop pool it’s defined by compliance, preparedness, and awareness.
A Fire Safe & Smart Building protects lives, property, and peace of mind. Before you buy, rent, or move in inspect, ask, verify, and stay connected through Smarter Spider, the intelligent gateway to your building’s safety.
About the Author
K.P. Dominic is the Founder & Managing Director of Blue & Gray Management Consultants (India) Pvt. Ltd., with over 36 years of experience in the construction, safety, and building management industry. He is a founding member of the Fire and Security Association of India (FSAI), the Forum of Construction Utility Services (FOCUS), and the National Federation of Engineers for Electrical Safety (NFE), and also heads the Council of Fire & Life Safety Forum (CFLS).
Dominic has hosted more than 200 webinars, workshops, and conferences, promoting fire and electrical safety across India and the Middle East. Collaborating with BIS and the Emirates Safety Laboratory (ESL), he continues to champion the National Electrical Code of India and NBC 2025, inspiring professionals to build resilient, safe, and sustainable environments through innovation and awareness.