NOC & Fire License in West Bengal

 NOC & Fire Licence in West Bengal

Between 2001 and 2014, close to 3 lakh deaths were reported because of fire accidents in India, an average of 59 deaths a day. Maharashtra alone accounted for 24% of all the deaths.

35 Indians die in a fire incident daily, says the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) based on the 12,748 lives in 2018. 56% of the deaths were caused by home fires. As many as 7,208 fire accidents were reported from residences that year. Of the fire fatalities in 2018, as many as 4,290 were in the 18-30 age group and 3,860 in the 30-45 age group.

As per the NCRB ADSI-2019 report, there were 11,037 fire accidents reported across the country in 2019. The number of such reported fire accidents fell by around 16% compared to 2018. The decline was more steeped compared to the year earlier, which was around 2%.

The data on fire accidents in India reveals that close to 3 lakh people lost their lives in fire accidents between 2001 and 2014, averaging to 59 deaths a day.

The data on fire accidents is maintained by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). The data is reported in NCRB’s yearly publication, ‘Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India’. In the NCRB report, fire accidents are categorized under the following sub heads

·        Electrical Short Circuit

·        Riot/Agitation

·        Fireworks

·        Cooking Gas Cylinder/Stove Burst

·        Other Causes

Prevention is always better than cure. Thereby, it is best to avoid Fire in the first place. Although, fire emergencies and disasters can strike anyone, anytime, anywhere. We can, at least, work towards minimizing the risks of fire occurrences. Also, prevent damage.

Where is NOC:

Fire NOC means No Objection Certificate regarding Fire Safety Equipments installation in Building as per National Building Code (NBC) norms. Fire rules are different for all types buildings, means different rules as per types, height, area of constructed building. Building NOC is permission given to a person or a company to proceed with the purchase or construction of a property. While constructing a building, an applicant must obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the appropriate government authorities. As per a government notification from 2011, an NOC from the fire and emergency services is mandatory for the local municipal authority to approve building plans.

Provisional No Objection Certificate: The Provisional No Objection Certificate is to be obtained to ensure that the new constructions meet the fire safety compliant norms. ... The Occupancy Certificate is to be obtained before occupying the building and after the construction of the building is complete.

Establishments are categorized as A, B and C depending on the operational areas of the high-risk building, among other aspects. The classification is herewith specified for your reference:

Class A – refers to buildings above the height of 14.5 meters or more than 5000 cubic meters.

Class B – refers to high-risk buildings with a minimum height of seven meters and a maximum of 14.5 meters, with a coverage area spanning between 5000-2000 cubic meters.

Class C – refers to buildings below the height of seven meters or below 2000 cubic meters.

Where is Fire License 

On 23.09.19 The Mamata Banerjee government decided to slash fire-licence fees across categories by 92% after complaints emerged that the fees fixed in 2017 were too high for small traders and institutions.

“The chief minister was receiving complaints regarding the fire-licence fee during district review meetings. She had set up a committee to look into the issue. The fee is being cut down by 92%. The chief minister had promised and she delivered,” said Amit Mitra, state finance minister, at Nabanna.

Fire licence for the first category — which includes residential buildings and schools and other educational institutions up to the height of 14.5m — was fixed at Rs 4.35 per square metre and there will be no minimum amount for obtaining the licence.

Similarly, the fire licence for the second category —which covers hospitals, nursing homes and guest houses — has been cut down to Rs 6.52 per square metre

The fee for the third category — which includes ports, airports, offices and shopping complexes — was fixed at Rs 8.70 per square metre

The government decided to cut down the licence fee for the fourth category, under which licences are given to hazardous units such as fire-cracker units, to Rs 13.05 per square metre.

Fire license is obtained for forming new establishments, where the purpose of the formation is to pursue the manufacture and storage of dangerous and hazardous inflammable items. An applicant from the Northern part of Bengal must apply for availing the license at the Office of the Director-General of Fire Services, located in Siliguri. At the same time, the application for the districts of South Bengal must be filed at the office of the Collector in the License Section of Fire Brigade Department, located at Mirza Galib Street in Kolkata. The issuance and renewal of fire license will take place at the place of receipt of application. Before heading with the other aspects of registration, here’s the address for both the locations specified above:

North Zone

Dy. Director, Fire Services,

Siliguri Fire Station Complex,

Station Feeder Road, Siliguri,

Ph.: 0353 2502222/1867

South Zone

13D, Mirza Galib Street, Kolkata – 700 016,

Ph.: 033 22252222-8

The following documents must be attached with the application:

·                Two copies of the Site Plan of warehouse/workshop drawn to a scale of 1 cm: 1 meter.

·        A statement depicting the name and maximum quantity of hazardous materials to be maintained and/or processed in the premises.

·        A statement depicting particulars of fire services, which includes the number of full-time fire personnel and their qualifications, names of fire prevention and fire safety appliances in the building.

·              A statement providing the structure and nature of occupancy within the proposed warehouse/workshop.

·                   Fire Safety Certificate (if the building norms mandate this requirement).

The applicant has to submit the following documents while applying for the fire safety certificate:

·        Two copies of the architectural layout signed by the owner/occupier and the architect. The sketch must comprise of a site plan, key plan, floor-wise plan, section plan, proof plan and floor wise area statement.

·        Plan of the building with its occupancy and use.

·        Structural Plan.

·        Ownership/tenancy documents.

Fire Safety certificates are issued to ensure that the buildings are built and maintained with essential safeguards, so that fire accident of any kind is abated. This includes all high rise buildings greater than the height of 14.5 meters.

·        The application for fire certificate (for North Bengal and South Bengal applicants) must be made to the same address as that of fire license.

The fire safety certificate must be renewed upon expiry. Renewal of certificate prompts the requirement of the following documents:

·        Copy of Checklist against FSR (Fire Safety Registration) issued by the concerned personnel.

·        Copy of the endorsed Fire Safety Certificate (FSC).

To renew a fire certificate visit the official government website rendering these services. The procedure for the same is as follows:

Step 1: First things First

The applicant must first visit the concerned website; here is the link for the same https://eservices.wb.gov.in/portal/web/guest/application-for-granting/renewal-of-fire-license

Step 2: The Renewal Option

Select the option “Application for renewal of fire safety certificate” from the e-services tab on the left-hand side of the page.

Step 3: Log in

Login into the portal by providing the username and password of the user.

Step 4: Save/submitted FSR

The applicant must now choose the option “Work on Saved/Submitted FSR.”

Step 5: Mode of Submission

Choose the option “Submitted in online mode,” to work on the applications submitted online.

Step 6: Apply Online

From the “View details” option, select the option “Apply online” to open the form of “Application for Renewal of Fire Safety Certificate.”

Step 7: Edit

The page will direct to a form which is auto-filled based on the data previously entered by the applicant. The applicant can start editing by clicking the “Edit” button. After doing so, click the “Save and Next” option to proceed to the next stage.

Step 8: The Final Act

The following page, which includes a mere verification of the documents and the data uploaded by the applicant, will effectively conclude the proceedings. Click the “Save and Submit” option to save the e-form. The applicant may choose to take a print of the submitted application.

After the applicant submits the e-form, it will be automatically addressed to the concerned Department/Directorate, who in-turn will get on with the renewal process. The applicant will receive the Unique Identification Number (UIN) for future references.

The renewed certificate will be valid for a year from the date of renewal.

Tracking of Applications

To track the application status, follow the below procedure:

Step 1: Website

All major statutory processes are processed through the website, which is the same in this case. The applicant may initiate the process of status-check by visiting the same website as specified above.

Step 2: Saved/Submitted FSR

As a three-fold procedure, click on “Work on Saved/Submitted FSR,” and choose the option “Submitted Application.” Now, choose the option “Submitted in online mode” among the options provided.

Step 3: View Submitted

Now, click on the option “View Submitted Application”. Track the status by selecting the option “View Detailed Status.”

How does it get processed?

Here’s an overview of the procedures pursued by the department.

Step 1: Address to DFO

The application, upon its submission, will reach the respective DFO.

Step 2: Passing it on

The DFO will in-turn forward the same to the Head Assistant after assigning an inspecting officer.

Step 3: Preparation of Manual File

The Head Assistant formulates a manual file and addresses the application to the respective inspecting officer.

Step 4: Inspection and Reporting

The Inspecting Officer receiving the application will inspect the building after intimating the applicant of the date of inspection. Based on the inspection, the concerned officer will prepare a report.

Step 5: Recommendation  

The inspector will then state his/her views and recommend the renewal on finding that the building has adopted fire and life safety measures on par with the National Building Code and applicable building by-laws stated by the local municipal authorities.

Step 6: Back to the DFO

The concerned inspecting officer will forward the report to the DFO.

Step 7: Issue of Certificate

The DFO will issue the renewal certificate on finding that the safety measures found by the inspecting officer are concurrent with the requirements. In case of any discrepancies, the DFO will address the application to the Deputy Director, who will examine the details and forward it to the Director. Now, in this case, the Director will be in charge of issuing the renewed Fire Safety Certificate.

High-Risk Classification

Section 2 of the West Bengal Fire Services Act has categorized the following buildings into the high-risk category:

1. Building or part of a building utilized for maintenance, handling, manufacturing or processing of highly combustible or explosive materials or products which are prone to fire incidents.
2. Building or part of buildings utilized for maintenance, handling, manufacturing or processing of materials or products which may trigger toxic fumes or result in an explosion.
3. Building or part of buildings utilized for manufacturing or processing of materials or products by making use of highly corrosive or noxious alkalis, acids or other liquids/chemicals which has the potential to cause an explosion or produce toxic, irritant or corrosive fumes or gases.
4. Building or part of a building utilized for maintenance, handling, manufacturing or processing of materials producing explosive mixtures of dust, which may risk the splitting up of such materials into fine particles due to spontaneous ignition.
5. Building or part of a building utilized for storage, when pressurized with a specific percentage of acetylene, ammonia, carbon-di-oxide, chlorine, hydrogen, methyl oxide, phosgene, sulphur dioxide, illuminating and natural gases or gases of any other kinds which has the potential to explode or emit toxic or cryogenic fumes or gases.
6. Building or part of buildings utilized for the maintenance and handling of hazardous and highly flammable liquids and liquefiable gases.
7. Building or part of a building utilized for maintenance and handling of hazardous substances other than liquids, which includes wool and cotton.
8. Building or part of a building meant for the manufacture of ammunition and fireworks.
9. Building or part of a building meant for the manufacture of artificial flowers and synthetic leather.
10. Building or part of a building constructed as a housing complex with more than eight dwelling units.
11. Building or part of a building of an underground structure.
12. Building or part of a building utilized as a power generation and distribution centre, transformer house, industrial switch-gear room, major electrical installation or telephone exchange.
13. Building or part of a building utilized as airport terminal/hangers, railway station, car shed and yard.
14. Building or part of a building constructed as a hotel, restaurant, club with bar facilities, parlour with sauna-bath facilities, guest-house and dharmasalas.
15. Building that can capacitate multiple persons.
16. Building or part of a building meant for public entertainment and assembly.
17. Building or part of a building constructed as a hospital, nursing home, sanatorium or laboratory.
18. Building or part of a building utilized as library, museum or archaeological/research centre.
19. Building or part of a building utilized as shopping complex, market, Katra or a fire-work outlet.

This is just an example ☝☝☝☝