Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Telangana Revises Fire Safety Rules for Buildings Above 24 Metres
Telangana has changed some rules about fire safety in buildings.
Buildings that are 24 metres tall or higher must have a fire tower and a special room for coordinating fire emergencies.
They also need louvres, and basement rooms for diesel generators must have walls that can resist fire for two hours.
Buildings shorter than 24 metres no longer need a fire NOC under these rules.
The new instructions began on October 7 and apply only to new applications.
Officials say the changes should make the rules clearer and easier to follow.
The rules were revised after consultations with builder groups.
Buildings 24 metres or taller must have a fire tower and fire command centre, regardless of occupancy type.
Basement diesel-generator rooms are permitted if their walls have a two-hour fire-resistance rating; louvres are also mandatory.
Fire NOCs are no longer required for buildings shorter than 24 metres; earlier thresholds were above 15 metres for commercial buildings and 18 metres for residential buildings.
The revised instructions took effect on October 7 and apply only to fresh applications.
The Telangana fire department said the changes aim to standardize requirements, streamline NOC processing and improve compliance.
- Who
- The Telangana fire services department issued the revised requirements; Director-General Vikram Singh Mann issued them after consultations with builder associations.
- What
- Revised fire-safety requirements include mandatory fire towers and fire command centres for buildings at least 24 metres tall, and remove the fire NOC requirement for buildings shorter than 24 metres.
- When
- The instructions came into force on October 7; the year is not specified.
- Where
- Telangana, including Hyderabad.
- Why
- The department said the changes are intended to make requirements clear and uniform, streamline fire NOC processing, ease compliance and improve implementation of fire-safety measures.
Earlier requirements
Revised requirements
Fire NOC height thresholds
Earlier requirements
Earlier norms required NOCs for commercial buildings above 15 metres and residential buildings above 18 metres.
Revised requirements
Under the revised rules, buildings shorter than 24 metres do not require a fire NOC.
High-rise threshold
Earlier requirements
The previous high-rise limit was 18 metres, described as about five floors.
Revised requirements
The government stated that a building is categorized as a high-rise when its height crosses 21 metres, described as around six floors.
- Height threshold for fire tower and command centre
- 24 metres or taller
- Fire NOC threshold under revised norms
- No fire NOC is required for buildings shorter than 24 metres
- Earlier NOC thresholds
- Commercial buildings above 15 metres; residential buildings above 18 metres
- Basement generator room wall rating
- Two-hour fire resistance
- Effective date
- October 7; year not specified
- Application scope
- Fresh applications only
- High-rise definition change stated in article
- The government said the high-rise threshold crossed 21 metres, compared with the previous 18 metres