The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) on April 24, 2026, issued the National Guidelines on Fire and Life Safety in Healthcare Facilities, 2026.
The following has been stated:
• The guidelines recognise that hospitals are particularly vulnerable to fire incidents because of the presence of patients with limited mobility, medical oxygen and other gases, complex electrical systems and combustible materials; electrical faults, including short circuits and malfunctioning electrical/medical equipment, are identified as major causes of hospital fires. The guidelines are intended for hospitals, nursing homes, maternity and childcare centres, sanatoria, rehabilitation centres, psychiatric hospitals and other healthcare occupancies where patients may be unable to protect themselves or evacuate independently. They cover the entire fire-safety continuum, including fire prevention, life safety and fire protection. They are to be adapted by States/UTs according to the size, occupancy, risk profile and applicable local laws.
• The guidelines place overall responsibility on the hospital administration to ensure compliance with applicable fire-safety laws, the National Building Code (NBC) 2016, Fire Service Rules and State fire-safety legislation. Every healthcare facility should constitute a Fire Safety Committee comprising representatives from administration, engineering/maintenance, nursing, security, housekeeping, clinical and other relevant departments. The Committee is responsible for approving and reviewing the hospital's Fire Safety Plan, reviewing fire-risk assessments, recommending corrective measures, coordinating with fire services and disaster-management authorities, and reviewing mock-drill outcomes. A designated Fire Safety Officer (FSO) should also be appointed, preferably with technical and fire-safety training. For high-rise hospitals above 15 metres, the FSO should be a qualified professional with at least three years' fire-safety experience; such an officer is also recommended for facilities with 250 beds or more. The FSO is responsible for maintaining firefighting equipment, preparing fire orders and operational plans, organising staff training and evacuation drills, coordinating with the local fire brigade, inspecting fire-safety measures and ensuring implementation of the hospital fire-action and evacuation plans.
• The guidelines require healthcare facilities to conduct fire-hazard assessments for all buildings and units at least quarterly and after any major structural or functional change. A Fire Hazard Register should be maintained, recording identified hazards, corrective actions and timelines. A full-scale fire-safety audit should be conducted at least once every year, or more frequently where required by State/UT norms, with involvement of relevant stakeholders, particularly local fire services. Independent third-party fire-safety audits are recommended, and electrical safety auditing shall form an integral part of the fire-safety audit. Healthcare facilities are also advised to classify different functional areas according to risk so that appropriate preventive and preparedness measures can be adopted.
• Each healthcare facility should prepare and periodically review a Fire Safety Plan (FSP) as part of its broader Hospital Disaster Management Plan. The plan should integrate fire prevention, detection, alarm, firefighting, evacuation, emergency communication, staff responsibilities, patient movement, assembly points, training and post-incident procedures. The infrastructure requirements cover material and structural safety, medical-gas safety, electrical safety, building design, fire detection and alarm systems, sprinklers, hydrants and hose reels, portable fire extinguishers, smoke-exhaust systems and integration of HVAC systems with fire and smoke-control arrangements. The guidelines therefore require fire safety to be incorporated not only during emergencies but also into the design, construction, maintenance and day-to-day operation of healthcare facilities.
• The guidelines further require healthcare facilities to establish training, compliance and awareness-building mechanisms. Fire-safety induction should be provided to staff, with specialised training for ICU, OT and security personnel dealing with patient evacuation. Facilities should conduct mock fire drills and use the results to identify weaknesses and implement corrective measures. Fire-safety audits and certificates should be maintained as required by applicable regulations. Fire-safety instructions should also be prominently displayed, and patients and visitors should be appropriately oriented regarding emergency procedures, evacuation routes and assembly points. The guidelines contain detailed annexures covering high-rise evacuation, NICU/PICU evacuation, operation-theatre fire prevention and evacuation, adult ICU evacuation and recommended fire-evacuation equipment.
