New rules mandate sprinklers, fire detection system in firecracker shops

The rules come in the wake of repeated fire tragedies at firecracker shops and markets across the country.

Under the Explosives (Amendment) Rules, 2026, the most significant public safety provision is a mandatory minimum distance requirement. Every fireworks shop must now maintain a clear distance of at least 50 metres from educational institutions, hospitals, medical diagnostic centres and religious places.

For standalone fireworks shops, a minimum clearance of three metres to open sky from any adjacent structure or building is also compulsory, it said. The government has, however, provided relief to existing shop owners. Fireworks shops that already hold a licence under the prescribed Form LE-5 will be exempt from these distance requirements, recognising the practical difficulty of relocating established businesses.

“Every shop must be equipped with two automatic fire detection and alarm systems. These must use conventional dual-type detectors that can sense both smoke and heat simultaneously, and must be linked to an auto-dialler that automatically alerts both the shop owner and the nearest fire station the moment a fire breaks out,” the rules said.

The government said shops must also install a standalone automatic water sprinkler system for fire suppression, with a minimum water storage capacity of 300 litres connected to a pump of at least two horsepower.

The rules further require that the walls, ceilings and doors of every fireworks shop be coated with fire-retardant paint or flameproofing material capable of providing a fire rating of at least 30 minutes — enough time, safety experts say, for evacuation and the arrival of fire services.

All electrical wiring inside shops must be concealed and use spark-proof or flame-proof fire survival cables or fire retardant low smoke cables.

Large centralised electrical panels must be protected by an automatic gas-based clean agent suppression system with a detection tube capable of sensing heat rapidly at 80 to 90 degrees Celsius, according to the new rules. The new rules also make it mandatory for every fireworks shop to undergo an annual electrical audit.

New fireworks shops seeking a licence will face stricter structural requirements as well. Such shops must be located on the ground floor of a single-storeyed building with independent or standalone activity. They must have a separate independent entrance, an emergency exit that opens directly to open space, and doors that open outwards — a standard fire safety requirement that is critical for rapid evacuation.