Only 2% of city’s hotels, clubs have fire safety certificate, says DFS data

Only 52 hotels and 38 clubs out of roughly over 3,000 such establishments in the national capital hold a valid fire safety certificate, data maintained by the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) reveals.

This points to an alarming situation as the fire safety certificate holding businesses make up less than 3% of those estimated to exist. The 3,000 figure for Capital’s hotels and night clubs is on the power side, acknowledge those watching and following the entertainment space.

The Capital is estimated to have thousands of hotels and bars that are running without fire safety certificate, DFS statistics show. The data comes at a time when a devastating fire on Saturday night in a Goa cafe left 25 dead.

As per the online hotel booking websites, the number of registered hotels in Delhi is between 2,000 and 3,000, while there are over 2,000 clubs in the national capital.

The data from the DFS shows that only around 2% of these business possess a valid fire safety certificate.

A DFS official said fire safety certificates are issued to restaurants with a built-up area of 90 square metres and above.

In the aftermath of a fire at a nightclub, the Delhi Police on Sunday asked hotels and clubs in the city to review their compliance with fire safety norms.

“Establishments must ensure that extinguishers are functional, exits remain unobstructed and electrical load is monitored. We will deploy additional force outside nightclubs and keep a strict vigil to ensure that they adhere to all the rules,” said a police officer.

The officer said in view of Christmas and New Year Eve celebrations, the police have enhanced patrolling at key hotspots to maintain law and order. “We have already deployed additional PCRs and motorcycle riders, and increased foot patrolling in the city,” the officer said

Who needs Fire NOC?

Under the “occupancy categories” listed in Rule 27 of DFS Rules 2010, certain classes of buildings/establishments — such as high-rise residential buildings, commercial buildings, hotels, clubs, assembly halls, institutional buildings, mercantile buildings, etc., must obtain a fire safety certificate (FSC) or NOC from the DFS before occupancy or operation.

For example hotels, clubs and “resto-bars” that serve liquor often need a DFS NOC before they get an excise (liquor) licence.

For many buildings, there are two mandatory stages of fire-clearance under the DFS. At the plan-approval, pre-construction stage (when building plans are submitted), the DFS reviews plans and issues fire-safety guidelines.

After construction, before occupancy once fire-safety measures are installed and ready, the owner/occupier applies for the fire safety certificate, and the DFS conducts inspection before granting it.