Delhi Fire Service Lacks Registered Auditors A Month After New Rules Notified
Nearly a month after the Delhi government notified new rules for third-party fire safety audits, the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) has failed to empanel any auditors as none of the 2,200 eligible architects from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) have submitted their details. This delay has stalled the creation of a registered database required to implement the new safety framework across Delhi.
The DFS had planned to streamline the process by utilizing the existing database of approximately 2,200 architects who are already empanelled with the NDMC and MCD. Under the new framework, these architects are eligible to conduct fire safety audits. However, despite outreach from the fire department, not a single architect or firm has shared their details to register with the DFS.
According to an official aware of the matter, the department decided to use the civic agencies' databases instead of starting a fresh empanelment process. The DFS only required the eligible architects to submit their details so they could be keyed into the new system, but none have done so yet.
The DFS rolled out the registration forms for the third-party auditors on July 2. Despite the lack of submissions, a DFS spokesperson stated that they do not view this as a major issue yet. The spokesperson explained that it typically takes a few weeks for information to reach potential applicants, who then require time to fill out and submit the forms. The department expressed confidence that suitable applicants would apply within a month.
Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood confirmed that the department is actively working to rope in the fire auditors and assured that the process will be completed.
The Delhi government notified the Delhi Fire Service (Amendment) Rules, 2025, in May. These rules allow registered third-party auditors to inspect buildings and issue fire safety clearances. The amendment also restructured Delhi's fire zones and divisions to align with the capital's 13 districts.
Once the database is established, the registered auditors will be authorized to carry out inspections and submit safety reports. The DFS has already conducted a training session for some empanelled firms and plans to hold further training sessions once the database is populated.
The third-party audit mechanism was introduced to accelerate fire safety compliance, allowing the DFS to focus on enforcement and high-risk cases. This initiative follows a series of major fire incidents in Delhi in recent years, aiming to increase accountability and reduce the operational burden on the fire department.
