Fire audit in Bihar: the fire service's own audit under rule 22, from Form C-1 to sealing
Updated By Flamekite Editorial DeskFacts checked against official sources on
Quick answer
In Bihar the fire audit is done by Bihar Fire Service itself, not by a licensed private auditor. Rule 22 of the Bihar Fire Service Rules 2021 lets a Fire Station Officer or a senior officer serve a Form C-1 notice, enter between sunrise and sunset after 3 hours' notice, check the building against the 65 points of Form D-1, and order the gaps closed. Hospitals come first, then educational institutions. An owner can also ask for an audit on firenoc.bihar.gov.in and pay online.
The fee is Schedule C's audit rate on the total floor area of all floors, basement included: Rs 1 per m² for homes, Rs 2 for assembly and institutional, Rs 3 academic, Rs 4 commercial and Rs 5 storage, industrial and hazardous. An appeal costs Rs 1,000 and must be filed within 30 days; ignoring the notices leads to a fine of up to Rs 50,000, eviction and sealing under sections 37 and 44 of the 2014 Act.
- Notice before an audit visit
- 3 hours
- Sunrise to sunset; none if urgent (s.33, Form C-1)
- The notice ladder
- Appeal against an audit order
- 30 days, Rs 1,000
- Section 36 and rule 22(f), Form F-1
- After a failed audit
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Bihar fire audit under rule 22 at a glance
| What | The rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| The rule | Rule 22 (Fire Audit) of the Bihar Fire Service Rules 2021, sub-rules (a) to (k), notified 20 March 2021 | Bihar Rules 2021 |
| Powers used | Sections 33, 34, 35, 43 and 44 of the Bihar Fire Service Act 2014 (Bihar Act 6 of 2014) | Bihar Act 6 of 2014 |
| Definition | "Fire Audit" is the inspection by the designated authority to ensure the adequacy of fire prevention and fire safety measures in any building or premises (rule 2) | Bihar Rules 2021, forms |
| Who audits | The Fire Station Officer or his superiors on notice; or, at the owner's instance, a Fire Consultant registered with the Fire Service or an authorised fire officer at the pre-fixed rate (rule 22(a), (k)) | Bihar Rules 2021 |
| Order of priority | Hospitals first, then educational institutions (rule 22(b)) | Bihar Rules 2021 |
| Standard checked against | NBC 2016 as amended from time to time, the Bihar Building Byelaws 2014 as amended, and other rules in force (rule 22(b)) | Bihar Rules 2021 |
| Entry | Sunrise to sunset after 3 hours' notice to the occupier, or at any time if urgent (section 33(1), Form C-1) | Bihar Rules 2021, forms |
| Audit fee | Rs 1 to Rs 5 per m² of the total floor area of all floors including the basement, by category (Schedule C) | BFS fee PDF |
| Where to file | Fire Audit Filing on firenoc.bihar.gov.in, paid through the OGRAS gateway; the certificate downloads from Issued certificates | BFS audit manual |
| Old buildings without a NOC | Must add the minimum measures of Schedule H on the Director's advice (rule 22(c)) | Bihar Rules 2021 |
| Who answers for the systems | The builder until handover; then the owners, occupants or their association under the Bihar Apartment Ownership Act 2006 (rule 22(g), (h)) | Bihar Rules 2021 |
| Appeal | Within 30 days under section 36 on Form F-1, fee Rs 1,000 by bank draft or treasury challan (rule 22(e), (f)) | Bihar Rules 2021 |
| Collective fine | Double the provisional NOC fee for the building's category, on owners or occupants of a multi-storied building (rule 22(j)) | Bihar Rules 2021 |
| How often | Not fixed by any rule; rule 27 prices an "annual fire audit" and the Form D undertaking promises audits "at regular intervals" | Bihar Rules 2021, forms |
Three ways a Bihar fire audit happens, compared
| Option | Audit on a fire service notice | Audit the owner files on the portal | Audit by a registered Fire Consultant | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who starts it | The Fire Station Officer or a superior officer, by Form C-1 (rule 22(a)) | The owner, on Fire Audit Filing at firenoc.bihar.gov.in | The owner, who engages a consultant registered under Schedule G (rule 22(k)) | Bihar Rules 2021, forms |
| Typical trigger | Priority drives (hospitals, then educational institutions), a building with no NOC (rule 15(i)) or a complaint | The owner's own compliance, the undertaking to call the Fire Service for audits | The owner's own compliance, or a fire expert's report for NOC renewal (rule 21(c), Form M) | Bihar Rules 2021, forms |
| Fee | Schedule C audit rate, Rs 1 to Rs 5 per m² | Schedule C audit rate, worked out on screen from the area entered | Schedule G item 08: Rs 0.4 to Rs 2.5 per m² as printed, to the consultant | BFS fee PDF |
| Paid how | Rule 27(c): bank draft or treasury challan to the Director | OGRAS online payment, then a file number | Not stated in the Rules | BFS audit manual |
| What it produces | Form D-1 findings, then a Form E-1 notice with a time to comply | An audit certificate under Issued certificates | A fire audit report; rule 21(c) lets a renewal rest on the adviser's certificate | Bihar Rules 2021, forms |
| If gaps stay | Form G-1 show cause, Form H-1 sealing, Form I-1 unsafe report | Not described in the manual | The consultant has no enforcement power; the fire service does | Bihar Rules 2021, forms |
How to file a fire audit request on firenoc.bihar.gov.in
Work out the fee first
Add up the floor area of every floor, basement included, and multiply by the Schedule C audit rate for the category: Rs 1 per m² for a home up to Rs 5 for storage, industrial or hazardous use.
Register and log in
Open the Online Fire NOC and Audit Portal and log in with your mobile number or e-mail and password, or register as a new user. The dashboard shows draft and filed fire audit requests.
Open Fire Audit Filing
Choose Fire Audit Filing from the side menu. The state is fixed as Bihar; pick the district and then the fire station for your building.
Enter the applicant and building
Give the name, district, address, e-mail, mobile, PIN and a payer ID proof with its number. Then the building type, the total built-up area in m², the number of floors and of basements.
Check the amount and pay
Save and Next shows a reference number, the calculated amount and the total payable. Online Payment takes you to the OGRAS gateway; keep the receipt.
Track the file number
A file number is allotted after payment. Unpaid forms stay under draft requests; use the status search to follow the paid one.
Prepare for the visit
Keep the NOC, plans, the monthly Form Q self-appraisals and the extinguisher records ready: Form D-1 asks for serial numbers, ISI marks and refilling dates.
Download the certificate
When issued, the audit certificate appears under Issued certificates, to view or download.
What rule 22(b) says about the order of Bihar fire audits
Sub-rule (b) of rule 22 sets the standard, the order of priority and the Form D-1 advice. On page 25 of the official English copy it reads:
Word for word
Under section 33 and 43 (2) (3) of the Act, Fire Audit of the building may be conducted in the light of the National Building Code, 2016 as amended from time to time, Bihar Building Byelaws, 2014 as amended from time to time and other rules for the time being in force. In different category of building, the Fire Audit should be done on the basis of priority, first of all hospitals and after that educational institutions. In addition to this, the owner of the concerned building or premises may be required to take responsibility of deficiency found in fire prevention and fire safety and advised in Form-'D-1' to remove such deficiency. The concerned form may be modified by the Director.
The National Building Code 2016 was withdrawn on 30 April 2026 and replaced by the voluntary NBCS 2026 (SP 7:2026). Bihar has issued no order on whether "as amended from time to time" now carries the new standard, so audits still cite NBC 2016 Part 4 (Form D-1 item 50 names its Table 7).
Which Bihar buildings the fire service audits first
Rule 22 reaches any building or premises, but it names 2 priorities and 2 special cases. Find your building below.
If A hospital or nursing home
First in line under rule 22(b). The audit adds the 21-item hospital checklist to Form D-1, including a Hospital Fire Safety Committee and a patient evacuation plan. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
If A school, college or coaching institute
Second priority under rule 22(b) as an educational institution; Schedule C charges academic buildings Rs 3 per m². Bihar Rules 2021
If A cinema hall
Form D-1 adds 6 cinema points, from an approved evacuation plan to a green, yellow or red fire safety rating on display and a yearly mock drill. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
If Any building that needed a NOC and never got one
Rule 15(i) sends it to audit; Form L directs the measures in the audit report, then a provisional NOC application, and Schedule H sets the minimum for old buildings. Fire NOC Bihar Bihar Rules 2021, forms
If A building that holds a valid NOC
Still open to audit: Form O lets the Director propose cancelling the NOC when an audit finds the conditions broken. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
If An apartment block handed over by the builder
The builder answers for the systems until handover (rule 22(g)); after it, the owners or their association (rule 22(h)). Bihar Rules 2021
The Bihar fire audit notice ladder, Form C-1 to Form I-1
Rule 22 and the Form list in rule 38 set 7 forms in order. Each later form refers back to the letter number of the one before it.
1. Form C-1, notice of audit
Served personally, by registered post or as a summons under the CrPC 1973. It gives the date and hour and asks the owner or a representative to attend with documents; entry is sunrise to sunset after 3 hours' notice, or any time if urgent. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
2. Form D-1, check points and advice
The officer fills 65 points, records the defaults and gives "within ... days" to resolve them, citing sections 37 and 44 and byelaw 16(7). Bihar Rules 2021, forms
3. Form E-1, the Director's notice
After the Director's own audit or a nominated officer's report, the Director fixes responsibility and a period to remove the inadequacies (rule 22(d)). Bihar Rules 2021, forms
4. Form F-1, the owner's appeal
Signed by the owner or association member and by the architect, engineer or builder with a listing number; section 36 allows 30 days and rule 22(f) a Rs 1,000 fee. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
5. Form G-1, show cause
If the gaps remain: show cause within 10 days why section 37 penal action, a section 44 evacuation and sealing, or an unsafe declaration should not follow. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
6. Form H-1, sealing
The building is vacated and sealed and the notice is pasted on its wall; removing the seal is an offence under section 44(5). Bihar Rules 2021, forms
7. Form I-1, unsafe report
A report to the municipal body or competent authority to declare the building legally unsafe under byelaw 16(7) of the Bihar Building Byelaws 2014. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
The 65 check points on Bihar's Form D-1
Form D-1 is the officer's audit sheet. Its 65 points fall into the 10 groups below; point 65 lets the officer add anything from the Form C checklist.
- Identity, points 1 to 16: name and address, year of construction, NOC years (provisional, final, renewal), date of the last fire audit, occupancy and sub-occupancy, height, distance from electric lines, covered area including basement and stilt, floors, basements, blocks and occupant load per floor. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
- Access, points 17 to 24: approach road name and width (the form notes a minimum of 12 to 20 feet), a hard surface, no dead end, set-backs on all sides, vehicle movement round the building, gate size for fire engines, parking and projections. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
- Escape, points 25 to 31: entry and exit doors and head room, internal and exit stairs with tread, riser and handrail sizes, travel distance to a stair, and ramps. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
- Lifts and refuges, points 32 to 39: passenger, service and fire lifts with capacity, refuge area, fire tower, enclosed shafts, corridor widths and horizontal exits. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
- Passive protection, points 40 to 44: lit exit signs, basement ventilation, fire-rating papers, compartmentation and smoke evacuation. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
- Electrical and services, points 45 to 49: electrical installation, substation or transformer, alternate power, air conditioning and lightning protection. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
- Fixed fire fighting, points 50 to 57: the minimum installations of NBC 2016 Part 4 Table 7, detection and alarm, sprinklers, hose reel, wet and dry risers, downcomer and yard hydrant. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
- Water and pumps, points 58 to 60: underground and roof tanks by number and litres, and the main electric, standby diesel, sprinkler and booster pumps by capacity per minute. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
- Extinguishers, point 61: number, capacity, make, serial number, year of manufacture and of purchase, ISI mark and refilling date of each type. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
- Management, points 62 to 64: fire control room, fire drills and fire orders with the evacuation plan, and the Fire Safety Officer. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
What a Bihar fire audit costs in fees, appeals and fines
The audit itself costs Rs 1 to Rs 5 per m² of all floors. The other charges below arise only if you appeal, use a consultant or leave the gaps open.
As published
- Audit fee, residentialRs 1 per m²Total floor area of all floors, basement included (Schedule C) BFS fee PDF
- Audit fee, assembly or institutional (hospitals)Rs 2 per m²Schedule C BFS fee PDF
- Audit fee, academicRs 3 per m²Schedule C BFS fee PDF
- Audit fee, commercial or mercantileRs 4 per m²Schedule C BFS fee PDF
- Audit fee, storage, industrial or hazardousRs 5 per m²Schedule C BFS fee PDF
- Appeal against an audit orderRs 1,000 per appealRule 22(f), by bank draft or treasury challan Bihar Rules 2021
- Registered Fire Consultant's audit rateRs 0.4 to Rs 2.5 per m²Schedule G item 08, by category, as printed Bihar Rules 2021, forms
- Collective fine on a non-compliant multi-storied buildingDouble the provisional NOC feeRs 4 to Rs 20 per m² in effect, by category (rule 22(j) with Schedule C) Bihar Rules 2021
- Court fine for ignoring the noticesUp to Rs 50,000Plus up to Rs 3,000 a day while it continues (section 37) Bihar Act 6 of 2014
The portal's sample shows a 1 m² residential building charged Rs 1, which matches Schedule C. No minimum, cap or GST line is printed. What you pay a consultant or contractor to fix the gaps is not a fire service fee and is not listed.
Bihar audit rate per m²: Schedule C fee against Schedule G consultant rate
The Rules print two audit rates. Schedule C is the fee Bihar Fire Service collects; Schedule G item 08 is what a registered Fire Consultant charges for an audit.
| Schedule C fire audit fee | Schedule G consultant's audit rate | Schedule G renewal recommendation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Bihar Rules 2021, forms | Rs 1 | Rs 0.5 | Rs 0.5 |
| Assembly Bihar Rules 2021, forms | Rs 2 (with institutional) | Rs 1.5 | Rs 1.5 |
| Educational and institutional Bihar Rules 2021, forms | Rs 3 academic; Rs 2 institutional | Rs 2.5 | Rs 2.5 |
| Mercantile and business Bihar Rules 2021, forms | Rs 4 | Rs 0.4 as printed | Rs 0.4 as printed |
| Industrial, storage and hazardous Bihar Rules 2021, forms | Rs 5 | Rs 0.5 | Rs 0.5 |
Schedule C groups assembly with institutional and puts academic alone; Schedule G groups educational with institutional. The 0.4 for mercantile is read from the page-117 image and breaks the rising pattern of every other Schedule G row, so it may be a misprint for 4; Flamekite prints it as published. Rule 22(k) speaks of a "pre fixed rate" without saying which schedule applies when a consultant audits.
Bihar fire audit deadlines and figures in the 2014 Act and 2021 Rules
Every figure here is printed in the Act, rule 22, the forms or Schedules C and G.
3 hours
Notice before an audit visit between sunrise and sunset (section 33(1)) Bihar Act 6 of 2014
30 days
To appeal against an audit notice or order (section 36(1)) Bihar Act 6 of 2014
Rs 1,000
Fee for each appeal (rule 22(f)) Bihar Rules 2021
10 days
To answer a Form G-1 show cause before penal action starts Bihar Rules 2021, forms
65
Numbered check points on Form D-1 Bihar Rules 2021, forms
21
Items on the hospital checklist inside Form D-1 Bihar Rules 2021, forms
2 x
The provisional NOC fee, as a collective fine on a non-compliant multi-storied building (rule 22(j)) Bihar Rules 2021
Rs 25,000
Maximum fine for removing a fire service seal, with up to 3 months (section 44(5)) Bihar Act 6 of 2014
Who may carry out a fire audit in Bihar, and on what papers
Rules 21 and 22 and Schedule G name 4 roles. Only the first 2 can enforce.
Rule 22(a)
The Fire Station Officer or a superior officer
Serves Form C-1, audits in the owner's presence, writes the Form D-1 findings and reports to the State Fire headquarters (Schedule A, the station officer's duty (r)). Bihar Rules 2021, forms
Rule 22(d)
The Director or a nominated officer
Audits in person or acts on the station officer's report, then serves Form E-1 and, if needed, Forms G-1 to I-1. Bihar Rules 2021
Rule 22(k)
A Fire Consultant registered with the Fire Service
May audit at the owner's request. Schedule G asks for a fire qualification (IFE, NFSC Nagpur or AMIFE) or 3 to 5 years as a senior fire officer, plus 5 years as a Divisional Fire Officer or 10 as a Station Fire Officer. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
Rule 21(c)
A registered Fire Adviser, for renewal
May advise on fire audit reports, and the NOC may be renewed on the basis of the adviser's certificate; Form M asks for a fire expert's checking report. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
Not an audit
The owner's monthly Form Q
A self-appraisal of 18 items sent every month to the area's Fire Station Officer (rule 17(b)); it prepares for the audit but does not replace it. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
Bihar fire audit vocabulary from the 2021 Rules
9 words and forms an owner meets between the Form C-1 notice and the audit certificate.
- Nominated authority
- The officer the Act lets enter and inspect under sections 33 to 35 and 43, and who reports each inspection to the Director. Bihar Act 6 of 2014
- Form L
- The notice to a building built without a NOC: install the measures in the enclosed audit report within the days given, then apply for a NOC (rule 15(i)). Bihar Rules 2021, forms
- Form O
- The show cause to cancel an existing NOC after an audit finds the conditions broken; once cancelled, no public or commercial use (rule 15(k)). Bihar Rules 2021, forms
- Form Q
- The monthly self-appraisal of 18 equipment lines filed with the Fire Station Officer (rule 17(b)). Bihar Rules 2021, forms
- Schedule H
- The minimum measures an old building without a NOC must add after an audit (rule 22(c)). Bihar Rules 2021
- Collective fine
- Double the provisional NOC fee, charged to the owners or occupants of a multi-storied building that does not provide the measures (rule 22(j)). Bihar Rules 2021
- Registered Fire Consultant
- A person or firm registered under Schedule G for 1 year, then 5-year terms, who may recommend NOCs and carry out fire audits. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
- OGRAS
- The state's online payment gateway the portal uses for the audit fee. BFS audit manual
- Byelaw 16(7)
- The Bihar Building Byelaws 2014 provision under which the local body declares a building unsafe on the fire service's Form I-1 report. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
What follows a failed Bihar fire audit, stage by stage
Rule 22(i) chains the Act's penalties to the audit forms. 7 outcomes, with the provision behind each.
| Offence | Penalty | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Gaps left after the Form D-1 or E-1 period | Form G-1 show cause; penal action begins if no reply within 10 days | Rule 22(i), Form G-1 Bihar Rules 2021, forms |
| Contravening Chapter VI, which covers audits and their notices | Up to 6 months, a fine up to Rs 50,000, or both; up to Rs 3,000 a day while it continues | Section 37, 2014 Act Bihar Act 6 of 2014 |
| Building found dangerous to life or property | Occupants ordered out, removed by police if they refuse, and the building sealed | Section 44(1) to (3), Forms G-1 and H-1 Bihar Act 6 of 2014 |
| Removing the seal without the Director's order | Up to 3 months, a fine up to Rs 25,000, or both | Section 44(5) Bihar Act 6 of 2014 |
| Measures not provided in a multi-storied building | Collective fine of double the provisional NOC fee for the category | Rule 22(j) Bihar Rules 2021 |
| NOC conditions found broken at audit | Show cause and cancellation of the NOC; no public or commercial use after it | Rule 15(k), Form O Bihar Rules 2021, forms |
| Gaps still open after sealing | Report to the local body to declare the building legally unsafe | Byelaw 16(7), Form I-1 Bihar Rules 2021, forms |
Section 36 allows an appeal within 30 days against any Chapter VI notice or order; the Appellate Authority's order is final. The Act also says courts act only on the Director's complaint, and section 54 lets notified officers compound offences under sections 37 and 44.
Bihar fire audit drives, 2014 to 2026
From the 2014 Act's inspection powers to the 2026 statewide hospital and hotel audits. Entries marked as reported come from the press.
27 March 2014
The Bihar Fire Service Act is gazetted; sections 33 to 35 and 43 give the inspection and notice powers the audit uses. Bihar Act 6 of 2014
20 March 2021
The Rules are notified: rule 22 sets the audit, Forms C-1 to I-1 its notices and Schedule C its fee. Bihar Rules 2021
12 May 2022
As reported, after the Visvesvaraya Bhavan fire, an electrical safety audit is ordered for every Patna building above 15 m, with at least 7 teams. Drishti IASnews report
25 April 2024
A fire at a hotel near Patna Junction kills 6; the District Magistrate orders audits of hotels and commercial buildings. UNInews report
11 April 2026
As reported, Patna's audit tally: 394 of 513 hospitals compliant, 119 given 30 days; 80 of 241 hotels certified. Patna Pressnews report
4 June 2026
A fire in a private hospital ICU in Muzaffarpur kills at least 3, according to All India Radio. AIR Newsnews report
5 June 2026
The Governor reviews fire safety compliance in hospitals and hotels at Lok Bhavan and orders a state seminar. Bihar Lok Bhavan
27 June 2026
As reported, the Governor asks for proper fire safety systems in every hospital, nursing home and coaching institute within 6 months. UNInews report
24 July 2026
As reported, more than 200 Patna City premises audited in 10 days after the Karmalichak warehouse fire. Patna Pressnews report
Bihar hospital, hotel and coaching audits reported in 2026
From news reports, not yet an official source.
By June 2026 the governor's secretariat put audits and compliance as complete in 1,679 of 1,943 hospitals and 3,744 of 4,020 hotels, as PTI reported. No official order behind the drive, and no school audit order, was found online.
23 June 2026
Patna Press reports the DIG of Fire Services inspecting a Boring Road coaching institute, with seating under an electrical panel and no sprinklers; all 12 coaching institutes checked in Musallahpur had deficiencies. Patna Pressnews report
7 June 2026
PTI quotes the governor's secretariat: audits and the compliance process complete in 1,679 of Bihar's 1,943 hospitals and 3,744 of its 4,020 hotels, the rest told to comply at the earliest. PTInews report
6 June 2026
Patna Press reports the Tirhut Divisional Commissioner ordering an audit of every private hospital, clinic and nursing home in the division, reports due by 15 June, with sealing and licence cancellation possible. Patna Pressnews report
6 June 2026
Patna Press reports 5 hospitals and 6 hotels in Patna ordered sealed, after 27 audit teams across 9 fire stations checked about 250 premises. Patna Pressnews report
11 April 2026
Patna Press reports a meeting of hospital, hotel and coaching operators: 178 of 284 coaching institutes inspected met the standards, and mock drills at least twice a year were advised. Patna Pressnews report
Five Bihar buildings: audit fee, priority and NOC term worked out
Flamekite’s working from the official rules; no government publishes this figure.
Flamekite's working from Schedule C, rule 22 and rule 15(j) for 5 typical premises. Areas are examples; the fee scales with your own floor area.
Case 1
A G+7 apartment block in Patna, 6,750 m² with its basement
Residential, handed over to the owners' association.
What applies Audit fee Rs 6,750 at Rs 1 per m². The association, not the builder, answers for the systems after handover. If it ignores the notices, the collective fine is double the Rs 2 provisional rate: Rs 27,000. The NOC itself runs 5 years. BFS fee PDF
Case 2
A 100-bed hospital in Muzaffarpur, 4,200 m²
Institutional, first priority under rule 22(b).
What applies Audit fee Rs 8,400 at Rs 2 per m², and the 21-item hospital checklist on top of the 65 points. Its NOC runs 3 years. BFS fee PDF
Case 3
A coaching institute on Boring Road, 1,800 m²
Educational use, second priority.
What applies Rs 5,400 if the portal treats it as academic at Rs 3 per m², or Rs 3,600 if as institutional at Rs 2. Schedule C does not name coaching, so check the building type the portal offers before paying. BFS fee PDF
Case 4
A 2,400 m² warehouse in Patna City
Storage, audited in the 2026 Patna City drive.
What applies Audit fee Rs 12,000 at Rs 5 per m². The NOC is 3 years, or 2 if the stock makes it hazardous. BFS fee PDF
Case 5
A 1,000 m² shop-and-office block built without a NOC
Commercial, found on audit under rule 15(i).
What applies Audit fee Rs 4,000 at Rs 4 per m². Form L then orders the measures in the audit report and a provisional NOC application at Rs 8 per m², Rs 8,000, plus a bank guarantee of 15% of the fire-system estimate. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
Six Bihar fire audit traps in the Rules and the portal
6 points where rule 22, the forms and the portal do not line up, read on 25 October 2026.
If Stilts in the area on the portal
The portal asks for the built-up area including basements and stilts; Schedule C says all floors including the basement. Enter what the form asks and keep the plan that shows the split. BFS audit manual
If Two payment modes
Rules 22(f) and 27(c) name a bank draft or treasury challan; the portal takes OGRAS online. Pay the audit fee online and the appeal fee as the rule says unless the office tells you otherwise. BFS audit manual
If No fixed audit interval
Rule 27 prices an "annual fire audit" but no rule says how often one is due. Treat yearly as the safe reading, and file Form Q monthly. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
If Blank deadlines in the forms
Forms D-1 and E-1 leave the number of days blank for the officer to fill. Patna notices in 2026 were reported at 7 to 15 days, and 30 days for hospitals; read your own notice. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
If The appeal form goes to the Director
Section 36 sends appeals to the Appellate Authority, but Form F-1 is addressed to the State Fire Officer-cum-Director. File within 30 days and copy both. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
If Schedule G's 0.4
The consultant's audit rate for mercantile buildings is printed as Rs 0.4 per m², below every other category. Agree a consultant's fee in writing. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
Before and after a Bihar fire officer's audit visit
Form C-1 gives a date and hour, with as little as 3 hours' notice. What to do around it.
Do
- Be present yourself or send a representative with the documents, as Form C-1 asks. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
- Give the officer every assistance: section 33(2) makes it the owner's or occupier's duty. Bihar Act 6 of 2014
- Keep each extinguisher's serial number, ISI mark, year of manufacture and refilling date on file: Form D-1 point 61 asks for all of them. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
- Send Form Q to the Fire Station Officer every month, with the mock drill date. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
- Appeal on Form F-1 within 30 days with the Rs 1,000 fee if a finding is wrong, signed with your architect or engineer. Bihar Rules 2021
Don’t
- Let the 10 days on a Form G-1 show cause pass without a reply: penal action starts after it. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
- Touch a fire service seal: up to 3 months, Rs 25,000, or both under section 44(5). Bihar Act 6 of 2014
- Change the building's use after the audit without a fresh NOC; rule 15(h) ties the NOC to its occupancy class. Bihar Rules 2021
5 myths about fire audits in Bihar
You may have read
Bihar has third-party auditors like Maharashtra.
Myth
What the sources say
The audit is the fire service's. Rule 22(k) lets a consultant registered with the Fire Service audit at the owner's request, but only the fire service serves Forms E-1 to I-1. Bihar Rules 2021
You may have read
A valid NOC means no audit.
Myth
What the sources say
Any building can be audited; Form O lets the Director cancel a NOC when an audit finds its conditions broken. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
You may have read
Officers need an appointment.
Myth
What the sources say
Section 33 asks for 3 hours' notice between sunrise and sunset, and none at all if the officer thinks it urgent. Bihar Act 6 of 2014
You may have read
The audit fee is a flat amount.
Myth
What the sources say
It is Rs 1 to Rs 5 per m² of all floors, basement included, so a 4,000 m² hospital pays Rs 8,000. BFS fee PDF
You may have read
In a flat, the builder answers for the fire systems forever.
Myth
What the sources say
Only until handover; after it the owners, occupants or their association do, under rule 22(h) and the Bihar Apartment Ownership Act 2006. Bihar Rules 2021
Bihar fire audit online: the portal pages and the 2021 Rules
The audit is filed and tracked on firenoc.bihar.gov.in. These 6 addresses carry the service and the law behind it.
File
Online Fire NOC and Audit Portal
Log in, then Fire Audit Filing; the audit certificate appears under Issued certificates. Bihar Fire Service
firenoc.bihar.gov.inTrack
Track Application Status
Status of an audit file by application number, released after a captcha and an OTP. Bihar Fire Service
firenoc.bihar.gov.in/noc/file_status.phpFee
Schedule C fee table
The audit column, Rs 1 to Rs 5 per m², beside the NOC and renewal rates. BFS fee PDF
firenoc.bihar.gov.in/noc/web_images/fire_noc_fee.pdfManual
Citizen manual, fire audit (Hindi, 14 pages)
Screens for the audit form, the OGRAS payment and the certificate download. BFS audit manual
firenoc.bihar.gov.in/noc/download/Fire%20Audit%20User%20Manual%20for%20Citizen.pdfRules
Bihar Fire Service Rules 2021 (English)
Rule 22, Forms C-1 to I-1 and Schedules C and G. Bihar Rules 2021, forms
fireservice.bihar.gov.in/assets/img/docs/4.%20BFS_Rule_2021_English.pdfAct
Bihar Fire Service Act 2014 (English)
Sections 33 to 37, 43 and 44: entry, notices, appeals, penalties and sealing. Bihar Act 6 of 2014
fireservice.bihar.gov.in/assets/img/docs/2.%20fireact2014eng.pdf
What Bihar's fire audit rules leave open in 2026
7 questions the Rules, the portal and the reports did not answer by 25 October 2026.
How often an audit is due. Rule 27 prices an "annual fire audit" and the Form D undertaking promises audits at regular intervals, but no rule sets a period.
How long the portal's audit certificate lasts, and what it certifies on its face. The manual shows where to download it, not a sample.
Which rate applies when a registered consultant audits: Schedule C's fee to Bihar Fire Service, Schedule G's consultant rate, or both.
Who is registered. No list or count of Fire Consultants is on the portal's public pages, and the fire service's main site refused requests on 25 October 2026, so Flamekite names and counts none.
The official orders behind the 2026 hospital and hotel drives. Only the Governor's 5 June review is on an official site; the counts come from the press.
Any Education Department order on fire audits of schools. None was found in English or Hindi searches.
Whether NBC 2016 "as amended from time to time" in rule 22(b) now means NBCS 2026, which Bihar has not said.
Who answers Bihar fire audit questions
Audits run from 1 headquarters and the district fire offices. The Patna district office is below; other stations are on the fire NOC page.
State Fire Office, Bihar Fire Service Bihar Fire Service
Director-cum-State Fire Officer: Form E-1 notices, appeals and the audit portal
- Address
- Buddh Marg, Lodipur, Patna 800001
- Website
- firenoc.bihar.gov.in
District Fire Office, Patna BFS fire stations
Audits in Patna district's 11 fire station areas; fire-dfo-patna@gov.in
- Phone
- 9031841733
Questions about fire audit in Bihar
Who does a fire audit in Bihar?
- Bihar Fire Service itself: a Fire Station Officer or a superior officer on a Form C-1 notice, or the Director or a nominated officer. Rule 22(k) also lets an owner have the audit done by a Fire Consultant registered with the Fire Service.
What is the fire audit fee in Bihar?
- Schedule C charges per m² of all floors including the basement: Rs 1 for residential, Rs 2 for assembly and institutional, Rs 3 academic, Rs 4 commercial and Rs 5 for storage, industrial and hazardous buildings.
How do I apply for a fire audit in Patna?
- Log in to firenoc.bihar.gov.in, choose Fire Audit Filing, pick Patna district and your fire station, enter the building's area, floors and basements, and pay through OGRAS. A file number follows, and the certificate downloads from Issued certificates.
Which buildings are audited first in Bihar?
- Hospitals, then educational institutions, under rule 22(b). Buildings that needed a NOC and never got one are also sent to audit under rule 15(i).
Can the fire officer audit without notice?
- Normally the officer gives 3 hours' notice and comes between sunrise and sunset. Section 33 lets the officer enter at any time if it is expedient for the safety of life and property.
How do I appeal a Bihar fire audit notice?
- File Form F-1 within 30 days of the notice or order under section 36, with a fee of Rs 1,000 by bank draft or treasury challan to the Director-cum-State Fire Officer, Patna.
What happens if I do not fix the audit findings?
- A Form G-1 show cause with 10 days to reply, then a fine of up to Rs 50,000 or up to 6 months, eviction and sealing under section 44, and a report to the local body to declare the building unsafe.
Does a Bihar fire audit renew my fire NOC?
- No. The NOC is renewed on Form M 45 days before it expires, with a fire expert's checking report; a registered Fire Adviser's certificate can support it. The audit is a separate check.
Keep reading
- Fire audit in IndiaHow Bihar's fire service audit compares with other states' auditors.
- Fire NOC in BiharProvisional, final and renewal NOCs, validity and Schedule H.
- Fire NOC feesBihar's Schedule C beside every other state's published rate.
- Fire audit checklistWhat an auditor checks, item by item.
- Fire audit report formatThe report formats states prescribe, from Form D-1 to Form V.
- Fire audit consultantsWhat consultants do around an audit, and what they cannot certify.
- Fire NOC renewal date calculatorWork out when a 5, 3 or 2-year Bihar NOC falls due.
- Free fire NOC checkerSee whether your Bihar building needs a NOC at all.
Free tools for this
Keep exploring
Fire Audit in other states
More in Fire Audit
Sources
Each source was opened and read on the date shown. How Flamekite checks its sources
- Government of Bihar, Home Department notification (English copy hosted by Bihar Fire Service): Bihar Fire Service Rules, 2021: rules 14 to 27, 33, 34 and 38, Schedules C (fees), D (online NOC), E (pandals) and H (existing buildings) (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)
- Bihar Gazette Extraordinary, 27 March 2014 (copy hosted by Bihar Fire Service): Bihar Fire Service Act, 2014 (Bihar Act 6 of 2014): sections 1, 2, 20, 29 to 37, 44 and 49 to 57 (opens in a new tab)
- Bihar Fire Service: Fire NOC and Audit portal: Schedule C, prescribed rate of fee for NOC, renewal, fire audit and fire consultation (opens in a new tab)
- Bihar Fire Service: Citizen User Manual, Fire Audit Application, version 1.0 (Hindi) (opens in a new tab)
- Bihar Fire Service: Online Fire NOC and Audit Portal: home page (menus, State Fire Office contacts and helpline) (opens in a new tab)
Show all 20 sourcesShow fewer
- Bihar Fire Service: Bihar Fire NOC and Audit portal: introduction and State Fire Office contacts (opens in a new tab)
- Governor's Secretariat, Bihar (Lok Bhavan): Governor reviews compliance of fire safety standards in hospitals and hotels; state-level seminar on fire safety ordered (5 June 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- Bihar Fire Service: Track Application Status: NOC or Audit, application number, captcha and OTP (opens in a new tab)
- Bihar Fire Service: Know your fire station: Patna Division, Patna district, 11 stations with officer, mobile and e-mail (opens in a new tab)
- Drishti IAS, 13 May 2022: Power safety audit of buildings above 15 metres in height to be conducted in Patna (opens in a new tab)
- UNI, 25 April 2024: Six killed in fire at hotel near Patna railway station (opens in a new tab)
- Patna Press, 11 April 2026: Patna fire safety audit: only 80 of 241 hotels meet norms, 151 given notice (opens in a new tab)
- All India Radio News, 4 June 2026: Three killed in fire at private hospital in Bihar's Muzaffarpur (opens in a new tab)
- UNI, 27 June 2026: Bihar Governor calls for fire safety systems in hospitals, coaching centres within six months (opens in a new tab)
- Patna Press, 24 July 2026: Fire audits conducted at over 200 locations in Patna City; notices issued over safety lapses (opens in a new tab)
- Patna Press, 23 June 2026: Fire safety audit at Khan Global Studies finds seating under electrical panel, no sprinkler system: DIG (opens in a new tab)
- Press Trust of India via Careers360, 7 June 2026: Fire audit finds safety lapses at Khan Global Studies; Bihar officials to issue notice (with the governor's secretariat audit figures) (opens in a new tab)
- Patna Press, 6 June 2026: Hospital buildings, fire systems and emergency exits to be checked across Tirhut division after deadly ICU fire (opens in a new tab)
- Patna Press, 6 June 2026: Bihar Government orders sealing of five hospitals and six hotels in Patna; notice issued to Khan Global Studies (opens in a new tab)