Applicable to Healthcare Units under all schemes of Certification and Accreditation These guidelines are meant to ensure patient safety and in no way absolve the organization from fulfilling its statutory obligations with regard to fire safety.

 


 

*NABH prescribes that Fire & Life Safety Inspection Certificates under NABCB accreditation issued by NABCB accredited Type ‘A’ Inspection Bodies for Fire & Life Safety Inspections of hospitals/health care providers shall be in accordance with the following:

 

a.  National Building Code of India

 

b.  Model Bill to provide for the maintenance of Fire and Emergency service for the state (2019)

 

c.  Respective State Fire Safety Rules

 

d.  NABH accreditation requirements for fire safety and applicable statutes

 

e.  Any other applicable statutes.

 

Such Fire & Life Safety Inspection Certificates shall be accepted in lieu of statutory Fire NOC, only for consideration for the purpose of NABH accreditation. This does not absolve the hospitals/health care providers from complying to Fire NOC requirements/any other extant applicable statutes. It shall be sole responsibility of hospitals/health care providers to obtain Fire NOC, as applicable.

 

NABCB-accredited Inspection Bodies shall be required to issue a final Fire & Life Safety Inspection certificate under NABCB accreditation bearing NABCB Accreditation Mark after the inspection is carried out and satisfactory corrective action and resolution of non-conformities, if any.

 

NABH accreditation requirements for Fire & Life Safety : (in addition to the above)

1.                             Firefighting equipment like wet risers, hydrants, auto sprinklers, fire alarm systems, fire extinguishers of all types and sizes should be available as per table below (adapted from NBC 2016).

2.                             Operational and maintenance plan for firefighting equipment including refilling of extinguishers.

3.                             Up to date fire drawings to be available. Where applicable, the fire drawings should also specify the location of fire dampers.

4.                             Fire detection and smoke detectors exist across all floors. The detectors shall be tested for functionality at regular intervals, and records maintained.

5.                             Central fire alarm system is installed at a location that is staffed 24/7.

6.                             Fire exit plan for each floor. The exit door should be openable and free from any materials which will obstruct the way.

7.                             Fire Exit signage on all floors well illuminated/ self-glowing, as per NBC guidelines.

8.                             Emergency illumination system in case power goes.

9.                             Designated place for assembly of patients and staff in case of fire.

10.                     Mock fire drill records and schedule of conduct of drills.


 

Minimum Requirements for Fire Fighting Installations

 

 

Type of Hospital

Wet Riser

Automatic Sprinkler

Manually operated electric fire alarm

Auto detection and fire alarm system

Hospitals less than 15 meters in height, with plot areas up to 1000 square meters and up to G + 1 floor

NR

R

R

NR

Hospitals less than 15 meters in height, with plot area up to 1000 square meters and G + 2 floors

R

R

R

R

Hospitals less than 15 meters in height with plot area more than 1000 square metres

R

R

R

R

Hospitals 15 meters and above but  not exceeding 24 meters in height

R

R

R

R

Hospitals   above  24 meters but not exceeding45 meters in height

R

R

R

R

 

R = Required             NR= Required

Sufficient water storage (underground and/or terrace) should be provided to ensure fire-fighting