The Delhi government has proposed extending the implementation period of the Delhi Fire Service (Amendment) Rules, 2025, by another three months after receiving a poor response from private professionals for empanelment as third-party fire safety auditors.
The proposal will now be sent to Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu for approval. If cleared, the government will issue a fresh gazette notification extending the transition period.
The amended rules were notified on May 26 and introduced a new system under which empanelled private auditors would inspect buildings and issue or renew fire safety certificates. While the rules came into effect immediately, the provisions related to third-party audits were scheduled to become operational 90 days after the notification.
However, the Delhi Fire Service received only a limited number of applications when it invited professionals to join the empanelment process. Officials said several applications also failed to meet the prescribed eligibility requirements.
Under the new system, the Delhi Fire Service will no longer directly inspect buildings or issue and renew fire safety certificates once the third-party audit provisions become fully operational. The department is currently processing applications received until August 24.
The fire department had invited applications from eligible professionals on July 2 and later issued a public notice encouraging more applicants to come forward. Despite these efforts, officials said the response remained limited.
One possible reason for the lack of interest is the level of responsibility attached to issuing a fire safety certificate. Officials said auditors could face scrutiny if a fire or other major incident occurs in a building that they had certified as compliant.
“Issuing a fire safety certificate is a highly sensitive responsibility,” a senior official said, adding that concerns about potential liability may have discouraged professionals from applying.
The eligibility criteria have also become a point of discussion among architects. Architects empanelled with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the New Delhi Municipal Council approached the chief fire officer in July seeking changes to the requirements.
They argued that the requirement for an additional postgraduate qualification in Fire Management and Life Safety should be reconsidered. According to the architects, experienced professionals already have knowledge of building planning, design, construction and statutory compliance, including procedures related to fire safety clearances and occupancy certificates.
The architects suggested that widening the eligibility criteria could increase the number of professionals available for the new system and help the government implement the third-party audit framework without further delays.
Under the amended rules, third-party fire safety auditors are divided into three categories — L-1, L-2 and L-3 — depending on their qualifications and professional experience.
The proposed three-month extension is intended to provide additional time to address the shortage of eligible auditors and allow the government to work towards a smoother transition to the new inspection system.
The final decision will depend on approval from the lieutenant governor and the subsequent issuance of the revised notification.
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