WEST BENGAL FIRE SERVICE ACT, 1950

NOC to be obtained for Fire Prevention and fire Safety Certificate and fire License is required underWest Bengal Fire Service Act, 1950 and amended thereof from time to time.

Fire License:1) To be obtained for setting up new industries/establishment for carrying out

business/manufacturing and storing of dangerous, hazardous inflammable items, explosiveitems in the factory premises where the units are housed, come under this category of high riskbuilding and to be guided as per Notification No. 279/DS/FS/O/C-1/FIA-3/96 dated 08.07.2013issued by Fire and Emergency Service Department of West Bengal (visit website banglarmukh)

Application for fire license is to be made to the director General, West Bengal Fire Service.Application form may be downloaded from the website banglarmukh

NOC regarding Fire Prevention and Fire Safety measures For building or establishment under Indian Explosive Act, 1984, or Explosive Substance Act,

1908, or the Petroleum Act, 1934 or the Inflammable Substance Act, 1952 or theCinematograph Act, 1952 or the rules made thereunder.

Classification of establishment has been made on the basis of category A,B &C on the basis of theiroperational areas of high risk building including inter alia

For Class A: the building above 14.5 mtrs in height or more than 5000 Cu. Mtrs.,

For Class B High risk building for minimum height of 7 mtrs and maximum 14.5 mtrs with coveragearea of maximum 5000 2000 Cu. Mtrs.

For C below 7 mtrs. height. or below 2000 Cu. Mtrs.

Application to be made to the director General or the nominated authority (Collector or any sub-ordinateofficer appointed by the Collector) in form A

Following details are to be submitted with the application

i) Building plan, ii) Lay out drawing for warehouse, workshop/establishment, iii) Lay out of thefactory/workshop/establishment, iv) Fees as applicable

2) Eligibility for granting license

For Class A

i) Valid Trade License, ii) Should have one Civil/Structural/MI Fire Engineer, iii) At least one officerworked in Govt. or Public sector in a capacity of Divisional Officer for 5 years in the field of FirePrevention and fire Fighting, iv)Sufficient number of trained and experienced technicians, v)Sufficientnumber of necessary equipments for testing various fire safety appliances.

For Class B:

i) Valid Trade License,ii)Should have one Civil/Structural/MI Fire Engineer, iii)At least one officerworked in Govt. or Public sector in a capacity of Divisional Officer for 10 years in the field of FirePrevention and fire Fighting,iv)Sufficient number of trained and experienced technicians for installationand testing of different types of fire service and fire fighting appliances, v)Sufficient number ofnecessary equipments for testing various fire safety appliances.

For Class C:

i) Valid Trade License,ii)Should have at least one Diploma/Civil Engineer, iii)At least one officer workedin Govt. or Public sector in a capacity of Divisional Officer for 7 years in the field of Fire Prevention andfire Fighting, iv)Sufficient number of trained and experienced staff for execution of work and installationand testing of different types of fire service and fire fighting appliances)Sufficient number of necessaryequipments for carrying out the work of testing various fire safety appliances with their operational area.

Application is to be submitted to the Director General in form A

3. Fees for granting license

In case of Class A Rs. 1,00,000/-, For Class B Rs. 80,000/- and for Class C Rs. 50,000

Maintenance and registration in form C and Validity period of license is three years from thedate of issue

Rate percentage of rebate in annual fees in terms of sub-section 2 of Section 18 of The WestBengal Fire Service Act, 1950 to be allowed to a owner/occupier of the premises for maintainingfire fighting appliances

i) Hydrant system 20%ii) Automatic installation i.e. Sprinklers, mulsifyre, Co 2 batteries thermostatically 25%iv) Trailer pump 500 g.p.m.along with requisite of Sl. No. 2 - 30%v) Maintaining of works fire services comprising of water tender fire engines type W and

other accessories 40%

FAQ

Whether all MSME units require Fire License and Fire Safety Certificate?

No, Fire Prevention and Fire Safety Certificate is required for all establishments, but FireLicense is required for high risk building as indicated in the Act.

Whether Installation of Fire Fighting Equipment like Hydrant system, Sprinklers,mulsifyre, Tralier pump fire extinguisher is must or not ?

For high risk building fire fighting equipments i.e. Fire Extinguisher is must. Other is optionaland rebate will be applicable on the basis of the installation of other Firefighting equipment.

What type of Extinguisher is recommended for the new establishment?

ABC type Extinguisher is recommended from 2.5 ltrs to 12.5 Ltrs depending on the area andsize of the establishment which will minimize the possibility of breaking out of fire in all caseslike electrical items, inflammable items, machineries etc.

No Objection Certificate and Fire License procedures from West Bengal Fire & EmergencyServices

What is a NOC?

NOC or No Objection Certificate is a statutory permission from the West Bengal Fire & EmergencyServices that is required for a building prior to occupying the premises or building. The NOC is anaffirmation from the State Fire Services that all measures that is applicable for the building of its naturepertaining to fire and life safety has been complied with. The NOC for occupancy of a building is a twostage process.

Which buildings need to have a NOC from West Bengal Fire & Emergency Services?

As per the existing rules of The National Building Code of India, Part 4, all buildings need to have aNOC from the State Fire Services except residential buildings below 15.00 m in height.

How to I apply for the NOC to the West Bengal Fire & Emergency Services?

The NOC from State Fire Services is a two stage process. Initially, an application needs to besubmitted to the West Bengal Fire & Emergency Services addressed to The Director General with twocopies architecture plan drawing in ammonia print for issuance of fire safety recommendation.

The architecture plan drawing should have the following

1. Master Plan (1:4000 scale)

2. Site Plan (1:600 scale)

3. Floor Plan showing detailed use of floors, Roof Plan, Section and Elevation (1:100 scale)

4. Area Statement floor-wise of the construction

All measurements of architecture plan drawing should be in metric scale. Both copies of architecture drawingin ammonia print should be signed by an architect/engineer and counter signed by the responsible individualof the building.

After submission of the application along with the architecture plan drawing, the fire service department willscrutinize the submitted plan from fire and life safety point of view following which a demand notice U/s 11Eof West Bengal Fire Service Act, 1950 will be raised on the building.

The demand fees needs to be deposited to the Treasury and produced to the fire services following whichfire safety recommendation that needs to be complied will be issued in favour of the building.

What is a Fire Safety Recommendation and how to comply with it?

Fire Safety Recommendation is a guideline of fire prevention and protection measures that needs to beimplemented in a building. Fire safety recommendation varies from one building to another depending on itsnature, occupancy type, complexity and presence of fire hazard and probability of occurrence of fire.

The buildings should ideally get in touch with private agencies that install and implement fire fighting systemin buildings to comply with the issued recommendation from state fire services.

Once the building has completed with all installation as per recommendation, they should apply for FinalNOC to the West Bengal Fire & Emergency Services.

How do I apply for Final NOC?

An application addressed to The Director General, West Bengal Fire & Emergency Services should be madein reference to the issued safety recommendation along with a check list of all installation done.

On receipt of the application, concerned officers from the West Bengal Fire & Emergency Services willinspect and test the fire safety installation and check the compliance vis--vis the issued safetyrecommendation. On satisfactory performance, a Final NOC will be issued by West Bengal Fire &Emergency Services in favour of the building.

Is NOC for a building a one-time process?

No. The NOC for a building needs to be renewed every year.

What is the process of Renewal of a NOC?

Similar to the Final NOC process, an application addressed to Director General, West Bengal Fire &Emergency Services should be made in reference to the Final NOC issued in favour of the building.

On receipt of the application, concerned officers from the West Bengal Fire & Emergency Services willinspect and test the fire safety installation to ensure that the installed system is maintained and workingsatisfactorily. On satisfactory performance, Renewal of NOC will be granted by West Bengal Fire &Emergency Services in favour of the building. No demand fees needs to be paid in case of a renewal ofNOC.

Is NOC and Fire License the same? Which one should I apply for?

No. No Objection Certificate and Fire License are different. NOC for occupancy is issued in compliance toSection 11C of West Bengal Fire Services Act, 1950 while Fire License is applicable only for storage orprocessing of combustible items in a workshop or warehouse and issued in compliance to Section 12 ofWest Bengal Fire Services Act, 1950 with up to date amendments.

All categories of buildings except residential buildings below 15.00 m in height should apply for NOC fromWest Bengal Fire & Emergency Services. Additionally, if a building or its part thereof stores or processeshazardous combustible materials in a workshop or warehouse, they need to apply for Fire Licenseseparately.

What is the procedure of application of Fire License?

Filled in Form-A in duplicate should be submitted to the Licensing Officer, West Bengal Fire & EmergencyServices along with two copies of plan drawing of the construction.

Upon receipt of the application, physical inspection will be done by officers of the concerned departmentfollowing which, a demand License fees will be raised which needs to be deposited in the Treasury. Onproduction of the deposit receipt, Fire License will be issued in favour of the unit.

Unlike NOC for which fees needs to be paid only once, Fire License needs to be renewed annually againstpayment of Fire License Fees every year.

What happens if a building does not apply for NOC or Fire License?

Occupying a building which falls under the Section 11C of West Bengal Fire Services Act, 1950, and storingof inflammable materials which contradicts Section 12 of West Bengal Fire Services Act, 1950, without aNOC or Fire License from West Bengal Fire & Emergency Services is a cognizable offense. Offenders areliable to punishment in the court of law U/s 11J, 11L, 26 and 33C of the said act in the interest of publicsafety.