Fire safety training in India: who must train staff, how often to hold mock drills, what to teach and what records to keep
Updated By Flamekite Editorial DeskFacts checked against official sources on
Fire safety training rules in India: drills every 3 months then 6 under NBC 2016, every 2 months in factories, 2 a year in hospitals, and the records to keep.
- Factory drills under Model Rule 68
- 2 months
- Longest gap between drills, until the state's OSH rules say otherwise
- The law
Quick answer
Fire safety training is a legal duty for most workplaces in India. The Factories Act made factories train every worker in the fire routine, and its Model Rule 68 asked for a fire drill at least once every 2 months; the OSH Code 2020 now leaves the numbers to each state's rules. In high-rise buildings, NBC 2016 Part 4 Annex D asks for a drill at least every 3 months for the first 2 years and every 6 months after, with written records kept for 3 years.
Hospitals drill twice a year under the 2024 MoHFW and NDMA advisory, schools every 6 months under NDMA's 2016 policy, and star hotels need trained staff and periodic drills for classification. Training covers raising the alarm, using the extinguisher on your floor, the nearest exit and the assembly point, and every floor gets a trained fire warden.
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Fire safety training in India at a glance: 10 rules
| What | The rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Factories, Factories Act s.38 | Every worker trained in the routine to be followed in case of fire; the Act was repealed by the OSH Code on 21 November 2025 | DGOSH |
| Factory drills, Model Rule 68(12)(c) | As often as necessary, and at least once in every 2 months | DGOSH Model Rules |
| High-rise drills, NBC 2016 Annex D | At least every 3 months for 2 years, then every 6 months, as the building's Fire Safety Plan sets (D-3.1) | BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D |
| Who takes part | All occupants; only building service staff must actually leave the floor and use the exits (D-3.2) | BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D |
| Drill records | Written, kept on the premises for 3 years, open to the fire brigade (D-3.3) | BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D |
| Fire Officer | A qualified officer with 3 years' experience trains occupants in large campuses, offices of 30 m+, homes of 60 m+, hospitals of 15 m+, starred hotels and malls (4.10) | BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D |
| Hospitals | Fire and evacuation drills twice a year for staff, doctors and patients (MoHFW and NDMA, 2024) | Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and NDMA |
| Schools | A mock drill once in every 6 months (NDMA School Safety Policy, 2016) | NDMA |
| Hotels | Staff trained in fire fighting and periodic fire drills at every star tier (Ministry of Tourism, 2018) | Ministry of Tourism |
| Gujarat buildings with a certificate | 2 mock drills a year by the Fire Safety Officer, each with an activation phase of at least 45 minutes (Regulation 8.5) | Gujarat Fire Safety Compliance Portal |
Fire drill frequency by building type and state
| Option | Drill frequency | Who runs or witnesses it | Instrument | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-rise buildings (15 m+) | Every 3 months for 2 years, then every 6 months | Fire Safety Director, under the Fire Safety Plan | NBC 2016 Part 4, Annex D-3.1 | BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D |
| Mixed-use buildings and malls | Every 3 months for 2 years, then every 6 months | Building management | DGFS checklist, item 100 | DGFS mall checklist |
| Factories | At least every 2 months | Occupier | Model Rule 68(12)(c); Gujarat r.66-A until 21 Nov 2025 | DGOSH Model Rules |
| Hospitals | Twice a year; an ICU and a ward evacuation drill yearly | Hospital, with third-party evaluators for NDMA drills | MoHFW and NDMA 2024; NDMA guidelines 2016 | Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and NDMA |
| High-rise hospitals, Telangana | Every 3 months for 2 years | Hospital | G.O.Ms.No.162 of 2023 | G.O.Ms.No.162 |
| Hospitals, Tamil Nadu | Every 6 months, with staff trained by the fire service | Hospital and fire service | Building rules 2019, Annexure IX | TNCDBR 2019 |
| Schools | Every 6 months | School | NDMA School Safety Policy 2016 | NDMA |
| Hotels, hostels and clubs, Goa | Every 3 months, with night drills in hotels and hostels | Owner; records for inspection | DFES guidelines, December 2025 | Goa DIP release |
| Any certified building, Gujarat | Every 6 months, within 15 days either side of the due date | Licensed Fire Safety Officer | Regulations 2023, reg. 8.5, Annexure 11 | Gujarat Fire Safety Compliance Portal |
| Buildings needing a NOC, Rajasthan | Once a year, with the inspection | Empanelled agency | UDH order 2023 | Rajasthan UDH |
| Every class of building, Ladakh | Once a year | Owner, with a fire order on each floor | Fire Rules 2025 | Gazette notification S.O. 140 |
How to run a fire mock drill in 8 steps
Fix the date and the scenario
Write a short fire scenario (Gujarat asks at least 200 words), pick the floor of origin, name an initiator and observers, and tell the fire station if your state expects it.
Brief the wardens, not everyone
Wardens and the fire party know the plan; a drill tests whether the rest of the building reacts to the alarm.
Raise the alarm
Break-glass or call point first, then the call to the fire brigade number as the plan says. Annex D bars any rule that delays reporting a fire.
Clear the fire floor and the floors above
These go first; floors two or more levels below the fire are generally safe. Use stairs, not lifts.
Search and sweep
Wardens check toilets and closed rooms, help people who cannot use stairs unaided, and close doors behind them.
Count heads at the assembly point
Each warden counts the floor's regular occupants against the roll and reports anyone missing.
Debrief the same day
Time to clear each floor, alarms not heard, doors that did not close, blocked exits. Gujarat's form allows at least 5 minutes for concluding remarks.
Record it and set the next date
Date, scenario, who took part, times and fixes, signed and kept for at least 3 years, with the attendance sheet.
Is fire safety training mandatory in India?
Yes for factories, high-rise and most public buildings, but no single national law covers every workplace. The duty comes from four sources at once.
For factories it was section 38 of the Factories Act, 1948, which made every occupier train workers in the fire routine; state rules copied the Model Rule 68 drill every 2 months. The OSH Code 2020 replaced the Act on 21 November 2025, and the numbers now sit in each state's OSH rules. For buildings, NBC 2016 Part 4 asks the Fire Officer to train occupants and Annex D sets drills in high-rise buildings; state fire rules and NOC conditions make those binding. Sector rules add their own: hospitals, schools and hotels each have a national guideline.
| What | The rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Factories Act 1948, s.38 (repealed 21 Nov 2025) | Train every worker in the fire routine | DGOSH |
| OSH Code 2020, s.80 | Owner and every occupier of a shared building answer jointly for fire prevention and emergency response | OSH Code |
| OSH Central Rules 2026, r.7(4)(iii) | A fire is a dangerous occurrence: report it within 12 hours even if no one is hurt | Gazette of India |
| NBC 2016 Part 4, 4.11 | Fire orders displayed at vantage points in bold letters, and occupants made conversant through regular training | BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D |
| NBC 2016 Part 4, 4.10.2 | The Fire Officer trains occupants in the equipment on the premises and keeps them informed of the evacuation plan | BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D |
Who must train staff in fire safety, and to what level
Find your building below. More than one line can apply, and the strictest wins.
IfYou run a factory
Train every worker in the fire routine and drill at least every 2 months under the Model Rule 68 pattern, until your state's OSH rules set their own figure. OSH Code 2020 DGOSH Model Rules
IfYour building is 15 m or taller
A Fire Safety Plan with a fire safety director, a warden for every floor, and drills every 3 months for the first 2 years, then every 6. High Rise Building Height as per NBC BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
IfYou run a hospital or nursing home
Fire and evacuation drills twice a year for staff, doctors and patients, a written fire SOP and training records. Hospitals Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and NDMA
IfYou run a school
A mock drill every 6 months; some fire certificates add staff training, such as 40% of staff within 3 months in a 2026 Karnataka certificate. Schools and colleges KSFES certificate
IfYou run a hotel seeking a star rating
Staff trained in fire fighting, periodic drills, and written fire safety and disaster manuals at every star tier. Hotels Ministry of Tourism
IfYour building holds a Gujarat fire certificate
A licensed Fire Safety Officer runs 2 mock drills a year on the Annexure 11 form and briefs occupiers and staff. Fire Audit Gujarat Gujarat Fire Safety Compliance Portal
What fire safety training must cover: the 8 key points
NBC 2016 Annex D gives every occupant a Personal Fire Instruction Card. Its contents are the core syllabus; add hands-on extinguisher practice.
- Report a fire to the fire brigade at once; no house rule may make anyone delay that call (D-2). BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
- Where the 2 manual call points on your floor are and how they work (D-9.11). BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
- How to use the extinguisher on your floor: read its label, pull the pin, aim at the base, squeeze and sweep, the four steps every Indian label shows. IS 15683:2018
- The nearest exit from your desk or bed, and a second one if smoke blocks the first (D-9.11, D-9.3.3). BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
- Your assembly point at ground level, and that you report there for the head count (D-9.11, D-9.3.9). BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
- Use the stairs, not the lifts, unless a warden or firefighter says otherwise; that sign sits at every lift landing (D-4.1). BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
- Report a blocked exit, or a stair or lobby door that does not close by itself, to your warden (D-9.11). BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
- Who your fire warden is, and how people who cannot use stairs unaided are helped down (D-9.3.5). BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
Fire warden, fire party and fire safety director: who does what
Annex D sets out a chain of named people in every high-rise. Smaller buildings use the same roles on a smaller scale.
- Fire Safety Director
- Owns the Fire Safety Plan, runs the drills, selects and trains the fire party, appoints the wardens and checks daily that they are present (D-9.1). BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
- Deputy Fire Safety Director
- Stands in for the director in every duty when the director is absent (D-9.2). BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
- Fire Warden
- One per floor: directs the floor's evacuation, has the toilets searched, counts heads afterwards and stays by the floor's communication point (D-9.3). BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
- Deputy Fire Warden
- One for each tenancy, and one for every 700 m² or part of a larger tenancy (D-9.3.1). BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
- Building Evacuation Supervisor
- Runs the fire command centre and the evacuation outside working hours, when no director is on duty (D-9.4). BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
- Fire Party
- Trained building staff who go to the floor below the fire, close doors, fight a small fire if safe, and send a runner to call and guide the fire brigade (D-9.5). BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
- Fire Officer
- A qualified officer with 3 years' experience, required in the largest buildings, who trains occupants and liaises with the city fire brigade (4.10). BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
Fire safety training in numbers
The figures that set the rhythm and size of a training programme.
3 months
Drill interval in a high-rise for its first 2 years; 6 months after that (Annex D-3.1) BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
2 months
Longest gap between factory fire drills under Model Rule 68(12)(c) DGOSH Model Rules
3 years
How long written drill records stay on the premises (D-3.3) BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
30 days
Time to file an amended Fire Safety Plan after a change in the building (D-5.4) BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
45 minutes
Least time for the activation phase of a Gujarat mock drill Gujarat Fire Safety Compliance Portal
40 %
Share of a Karnataka school's staff to be trained within 3 months, as a 2026 certificate condition KSFES certificate
12 hours
Time to report a fire as a dangerous occurrence under the OSH Central Rules 2026 Gazette of India
Fire safety training records an inspector asks for
No national "training certificate format" exists. These are the records official texts name, and who reads them.
| What it shows | Kept for or filed | Asked by | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drill record BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D | Date, how the drill ran, who took part, controls, details | 3 years on the premises | NBC 2016 Annex D-3.3, D-8.9 |
| Mock drill attendance sheet MFS Form B guidelines | Names of those who took part | With each half-yearly Form B | Maharashtra Form B guidelines |
| Annexure 11 drill form Gujarat Fire Safety Compliance Portal | Scenario, geo-tagged photo, a 4 to 5 minute video, observations | On the portal; next drill set 6 months on | Gujarat Regulations 2023 |
| Form Q Bihar Rules 2021, forms | Monthly return including the mock drill date | Every month to the Fire Station Officer | Bihar fire rules |
| Fire drill register Goa DIP release | Drills held, with maintenance logs and equipment service reports | For inspection | Goa DFES guidelines 2025 |
| Training records Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and NDMA | Staff trained, with the fire SOP | With the NOC renewal papers | MoHFW and NDMA advisory 2024 (hospitals) |
| Organisation chart BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D | Each employee's drill and evacuation job | Posted on every floor, copy with the director | NBC 2016 Annex D-9.3.4 |
Fire drill dos and don'ts
What separates a drill that teaches from one that only fills a register.
Do
- Hold a drill on a night shift too where people sleep on site; Goa asks night drills in hotels, hostels and residential institutions. Goa DIP release
- Give wardens an armband or vest so people can find them in a crowd (D-9.3.6). BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
- Keep a current list of people who need help on stairs and assign helpers by name (D-9.3.5). BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
- Test the alarm and communication system every month, between drills (D-9.7). BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
- Update the plan and retrain within 30 days of a change in layout, tenants or exits (D-5.4). BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
Don’t
- Send everyone down the lifts; lifts serving the fire floor are not used (D-9.3.3(f)). BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
- Let a drill become a fire: in Gujarat a fire torch sets off a sprinkler head only under the officer's control. Gujarat Fire Safety Compliance Portal
- Skip the drill a licence or NOC makes a condition; Punjab school certificates require mock drills twice a year. Punjab Fire certificate
- Treat a sprinklered or alarmed building as needing no drill; equipment does not replace people who know what to do (4.11). BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
Fire drill failures and how to fix them
Six problems drills commonly expose, with the rule that answers each.
If Staff wait for a manager before calling the fire brigade.
Remove the rule: anyone who finds a fire reports it at once, and no order may require a delay (D-2). BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
If Nobody knows who the warden is on the late shift.
Name a warden and deputies for every shift and post the organisation chart on each floor (D-9.3.4, D-9.1.6). BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
If People crowd into the lift lobby.
Post the "use stairs" sign at each lift landing, at least 250 mm by 300 mm with a stair diagram, and drill the stair route (D-4.1). BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
If Head count does not match.
Keep daily attendance with the warden and search toilets and closed rooms before leaving the floor (D-9.3.7, D-9.3.9). BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
If No one used an extinguisher during the drill.
Add hands-on practice; the Fire Officer's duty includes training occupants in the equipment on the premises (4.10.2). BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
If The last drill was 9 months ago in a 2-year-old tower.
Annex D asks every 3 months for the first 2 years; schedule the next one now and record why it slipped (D-3.1). BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
Fire safety training myths
Four beliefs that leave a building unprepared or a file incomplete.
You may have read
Everyone must leave the building in every drill.
Myth
What the sources say
All occupants take part, but in a high-rise only building service staff must leave the floor and use the exits (D-3.2). BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
You may have read
One fire safety training certificate covers staff for life.
Myth
What the sources say
Training is continuing: Annex D calls the plan a continuing written programme and repeats drills every 3 to 6 months. BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
You may have read
The Factories Act drill rule still applies as written.
Myth
What the sources say
The Act was repealed on 21 November 2025; the OSH Code leaves drill numbers to state rules, so check your state's 2025 or 2026 OSH rules. OSH Code
You may have read
A fire drill is only for high-rise buildings.
Myth
What the sources say
Hospitals, schools, factories and hotels have their own drill rules whatever their height, and Ladakh asks a yearly drill in every class of building. Gazette notification S.O. 140
Fire safety training plans for 4 workplaces
Flamekite’s working from the official rules; no government publishes this figure.
Flamekite's reading of the rules above for four example buildings. Your NOC conditions may add more.
Case 1
A new 18-storey office tower
Completed 2026, 60 m, 4 tenants on each of 18 floors.
What applies A Fire Safety Plan approved by the fire service, a warden for each of 18 floors and a deputy for each of 72 tenancies, drills every 3 months until 2028, then every 6 months, with 3 years of records. BIS, NBC 2016 Annex D
Case 2
A 120-bed hospital
Ground plus 4, 18 m.
What applies Drills twice a year under the 2024 advisory, plus yearly ICU and ward evacuation drills under the NDMA guidelines; training records go with the NOC renewal. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and NDMA
Case 3
A garment factory in Gujarat
Ground plus 2, 600 workers, a Gujarat fire certificate.
What applies The old rule 66-A drill every 2 months gave way to the Gujarat OSH Rules 2025, while the certificate brings 2 officer-run mock drills a year with video. Gujarat Fire Safety Compliance Portal
Case 4
A 3-star hotel in Goa
Ground plus 3, 45 rooms.
What applies Staff trained in fire fighting for the star rating, and quarterly drills including at night, with a drill register for inspectors. Goa DIP release
Questions about fire safety training
Is fire safety training mandatory for employees in India?
How often should fire safety training and drills be held?
A fire drill is to be conducted every how many months?
What are the key points of fire safety training?
What records of fire safety training should be kept?
What does a fire warden do?
How many fire wardens does a building need?
Is there an official fire safety training certificate format?
How long does fire safety training take?
Keep reading
- Fire and safety coursesDiplomas and certificates for safety officers.
- Fire safety officerWho must appoint one and what the job is.
- OSH Code 2020Factory safety duties since November 2025.
- Fire evacuation planThe plan your drills rehearse, with a template.
- Fire exit rulesThe exits, signs and lighting your drill depends on.
- Fire extinguisher refillingRefill the units used in practice.
- Fire audit checklistDrills and records in an audit.
- Fire NOC checkerDoes your building need a fire NOC?
Words on this page, explained
Keep exploring
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- About Flamekite
Sources
Each source was opened and read on the date shown. How Flamekite checks its sources
- Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS-licensed copy hosted by Nagpur Municipal Corporation): National Building Code of India 2016, Part 4: clauses 4.10 (Fire Officer) and 4.11 (fire drills and fire orders), and Annex D, Guidelines for Fire Drill and Evacuation Procedures for High Rise Buildings (D-2 to D-9.11) (opens in a new tab)
- Directorate General Occupational Safety and Health (formerly DGFASLI), Ministry of Labour and Employment: Model Rules under the Factories Act, 1948 (corrected up to 15 December 2020): rule 68 fire protection with Schedules I and II, rule 69 safety officers, rule 82A site appraisal committee, rule 82I emergency plan (opens in a new tab)
- Gujarat Fire Safety Compliance Portal (GujFireSafety CoP): Gujarat Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Regulations, 2023 (fees in Annexure 8) (opens in a new tab)
- Directorate General Occupational Safety and Health (formerly DGFASLI), Ministry of Labour and Employment: The Factories Act, 1948 (as amended): ss.2(m), 38, 40B, 41G, 92 and the First Schedule (opens in a new tab)
- Gazette of India (copy hosted by PRS Legislative Research): Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (Act 37 of 2020), section 22 (opens in a new tab)
- Gazette of India Extraordinary, Part II Section 3(i) (Ministry of Labour and Employment): Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026, G.S.R. 345(E), 8 May 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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- Bureau of Indian Standards: IS 15683:2018, Portable Fire Extinguishers, Performance and Construction, Specification (second revision) (free download after registration) (opens in a new tab)
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and NDMA (text reproduced by NABH): Joint advisory to prevent hospital fires, 23 March 2024 (HFW/Advisory to prevent hospital fires/23rdMarch2024/1) (opens in a new tab)
- National Disaster Management Authority, Government of India: National Disaster Management Guidelines: School Safety Policy, February 2016 (ISBN 978-93-84792-01-5): fire prevention list, quarterly safety audits, mock drills (opens in a new tab)
- Ministry of Tourism, Government of India: Revised guidelines for approval of hotels at project stage and star classification, No. 8-TI-I-1(3)/2013-PI-1 (opens in a new tab)
- Karnataka Fire and Emergency Services, District Fire Officer, Secretariat Fire Station (certificate copy published by the school that holds it): Fire Safety Compliance Certificate No. 27/FSCR/DFO/SVFS/BEN/2026, 23 June 2026: Annexure-B, B1 and B2 schools, valid to 21-06-2027, 40% staff training in 3 months (opens in a new tab)
- Maharashtra Fire and Emergency Services: Guidelines for Form B, Annexure A: to be followed by licensed agencies issuing Form B under section 3(3) and rule 4(2) (circular of 7 July 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- Government of Bihar, Home Department notification (English copy hosted by Bihar Fire Service): Bihar Fire Service Rules, 2021: rule 2 (definition of fire audit), rules 17, 21, 22 and 27, Forms C-1 to I-1, L, M, N, O and Q, and Schedule G (registration of Fire Consultants) (opens in a new tab)
- Department of Information and Publicity, Government of Goa: Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services issues fire, life safety guidelines for all occupancies, release DIP/NB/AXP/CR/SM/2025/1041 (17 December 2025) (opens in a new tab)
- Punjab Fire and Emergency Service, Fire Station Rajasansi (certificate copy hosted by the school): Fire Safety Certificate (NEW) No. PBIP-(FIRE) 2025/534, 15 November 2025, valid till 14 November 2028 (3 years) (opens in a new tab)
- Gazette notification S.O. 140 (copy hosted by Simpliance): Ladakh Fire Prevention and Fire Safety Rules, 2025 (S.O. 140, 28 November 2025) (opens in a new tab)
- Directorate General Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards, MHA (copy on the CG Fire NOC portal): Fire Safety Audit / Inspection Checklist for Mix Occupancy Building (shopping complex, mall, multiplex, restaurants and parking), F. No. VIII-11011/07/2025-DGCD (F), 19 numbered pages, advisory (opens in a new tab)
- Government of Telangana, MA&UD (Plg.III) Department (copy on the fire department's GOs page): G.O.Ms.No.162, 16 August 2023: amendments to the Fire Prevention and Safety Measures in High-Rise Hospital Buildings Rules, 2011, including fire drills and new rules 24.0 (third-party review of the fire and life safety design) and 25.0 (existing buildings) (read from the page images) (opens in a new tab)
- Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (copy of Tamil Nadu Government Gazette Extraordinary No. 43): Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019 (G.O. Ms. No. 18, MAWS, 4 February 2019): rules 2(58), 7, 20, 39, 64 and Annexure IX (opens in a new tab)
- Urban Development, Housing and Local Self Government Departments, Rajasthan: Joint order No. P.11(9)UDH/2020 Part, 14 September 2023, on the fire safety certificate and fire NOC (18-page Hindi scan) (opens in a new tab)