The National Building Code of India, the Factories Act and state fire services rules require fire prevention measures, evacuation plans and trained occupants. A yearly fire drill meets the letter of the requirement but rarely prepares people for a real fire.
Our course teaches prevention, extinguisher use and evacuation in a format people remember. The guide below explains why the annual drill changes so little and what to do instead.
Quick answer
Indian law requires workplaces to prevent fire, keep safe means of escape and firefighting equipment, and make sure every worker knows the escape routes and has been trained in what to do in a fire. This applies to factories under the OSH Code and earlier the Factories Act, and to buildings under state fire laws.
The course
What the law requires
Factories Act, 1948, section 38: precautions in case of fire
Section 38 of the Factories Act, 1948 is the clearest statement of the fire training duty in Indian law. Section 38(1) requires all practicable measures to prevent the outbreak and spread of fire, and to provide and maintain safe means of escape for all persons and the necessary equipment and facilities for extinguishing fire.
Section 38(2) says: "Effective measures shall be taken to ensure that in every factory all the workers are familiar with the means of escape in case of fire and have been adequately trained in the routine to be followed in such cases." The Act itself does not use the words "fire drill" or set a frequency. Section 38(3) lets the State Government make rules on the measures to be adopted, and section 38(4) lets the Chief Inspector order additional measures by a set date if existing ones are inadequate.
The general duty in section 7A(2)(c) to provide "information, instruction, training and supervision" also applies to fire risks.
Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020
The OSH Code is in force from 21 November 2025 (PIB, Ministry of Labour and Employment). Section 143 repeals the Factories Act from that date, but section 143(3) keeps rules, notifications and orders made under it in force to the extent they are not contrary to the Code until the Central Government repeals them. The government has also said that during the transition the existing Acts' rules and standards continue. So State Factories Rules on fire precautions still apply for now.
Under the Code, fire is dealt with through the employer's general duties and through standards. Section 6(1) requires every employer to keep the workplace free from hazards that cause or are likely to cause injury and to comply with the standards declared under section 18. Section 6(2)(c) requires factories, mines, docks, construction sites and plantations to provide the information, instruction, training and supervision needed for health and safety. The Second Schedule, which lists matters for standards under section 18(2)(f), includes "the precaution to be taken in case of fire" (item 62) and "the fire and explosion preventions and protection" (item 31).
National Building Code of India 2016, Part 4: Fire and Life Safety
The National Building Code of India 2016, published by the Bureau of Indian Standards, includes Part 4, Fire and Life Safety. It sets the technical requirements for fire zones, types of construction, exits and means of egress, occupant load, compartmentation, smoke control, detection and alarm systems and firefighting installations. The NBC is a model code. It becomes binding when a state or local authority adopts it in its building bye-laws or fire laws, so check what your local authority has adopted.
For training, the NBC matters because it decides the systems your people must know how to use: the alarm, the exits and the extinguishers or hose reels on each floor.
State fire services laws: Maharashtra as an example
Fire services are a state subject, so the law that applies to an office, warehouse or mall depends on the state. In Maharashtra, section 3(1) of the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006 requires the owner, or the occupier where the owner cannot be traced, of a building listed in Schedule I to provide the minimum fire prevention and life safety measures and maintain them in good repair and efficient condition at all times.
Section 3(3) requires a certificate from a Licensed Agency on compliance and a further certificate twice a year, in January and July, on maintenance of these measures. Section 3(4) prohibits anyone from tampering with, removing or damaging fire safety equipment. Other states have their own Acts and rules, so check the law where each site is located.
Who must be trained and how often
Section 38(2) of the Factories Act covers all workers in a factory: every one of them must know the means of escape and be trained in the fire routine. The OSH Code training duty in section 6(2)(c) likewise covers all employees in factories, mines, docks, construction and plantations. Contract workers on the premises are within the employer's responsibility under section 6(1)(h) of the Code.
Neither Act sets how often fire training or drills must happen. State Factories Rules, state fire rules and the conditions of a fire NOC may set specific requirements, so check them for each site. Common practice, not law, is fire awareness training at induction, a refresher every year, at least one evacuation drill a year for each building and shift, and additional hands-on training for fire wardens.
| Audience | What they need | Common practice |
|---|---|---|
| All employees | Prevention, raising the alarm, escape routes, assembly point | At induction, then yearly |
| Shift and night-shift workers | Same as above, on their own shift | Drill on each shift, not only the day shift |
| Fire wardens and first responders | Extinguisher and hose reel use, sweep and roll call, helping people with disabilities | Hands-on training yearly |
| Contractors and visitors | Exits, alarm sound, hot-work permits | At first entry to site |
| Facility and maintenance teams | Inspection of extinguishers, alarms, exits and housekeeping | As per maintenance schedule |
Penalties and consequences
Penalties stated in the Acts. State fire laws carry their own penalties.
| Breach | Provision | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Contravention of the Code, rules, standards or written orders (for example fire precautions) with no specific penalty | OSH Code s.94 | Penalty of Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh on the employer, plus up to Rs 2,000 a day if it continues after conviction |
| Breach of a duty that causes an accident resulting in death | OSH Code s.103(1)(a) | Imprisonment up to 2 years, or fine of at least Rs 5 lakh, or both |
| Breach of a duty that causes serious bodily injury | OSH Code s.103(1)(b) | Imprisonment up to 1 year, or fine of Rs 2 lakh to Rs 4 lakh, or both |
| Contravention of s.38 or other provisions (before 21 November 2025) | Factories Act s.92 | Occupier and manager each liable to imprisonment up to 2 years, or fine up to Rs 1 lakh, or both, plus up to Rs 1,000 a day; minimum fine Rs 25,000 for a death and Rs 5,000 for serious bodily injury where Chapter IV (which includes s.38) was breached |
| Failure to provide and maintain fire safety measures, or tampering with fire equipment (Maharashtra) | Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act s.36(1) | Rigorous imprisonment of 6 months to 3 years and fine of Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000, plus up to Rs 3,000 a day if continuing (as enacted) |
The Maharashtra figures are from the Act as originally published by the Maharashtra Fire Services; the Act has since been amended, so confirm the current text before relying on them.
What good Fire Safety training covers
- How fire starts and spreads: the fire triangle and the classes of fire
- The common causes on your site: electrical overload, hot work, flammable liquids, poor housekeeping and smoking
- Choosing the right extinguisher for the class of fire and using it with the PASS method
- When not to fight a fire and to evacuate instead
- Raising the alarm and calling the fire service
- Your building's escape routes, refuge areas and assembly point, and why lifts must not be used
- Keeping exits, corridors and fire doors clear, and never tampering with fire equipment
- Roles of fire wardens, roll call and helping colleagues with disabilities and visitors
- Hot-work and other permit-to-work controls for maintenance and contractors
- Learning from drills: what went wrong and what changes next time
Our courses for this topic
| Course | Audience | Duration | Language | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Safety Awareness | All Staff | 35 min | English | SCORM eLearning |
Laws & standards covered
- National Building Code of India (NBC) 2016
- Factories Act 1948 – Section 38 (Fire Safety)
- Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code 2020
- Fire Services Act (State-level regulations)
Who it's for
- All employees
- Safety officers
- Operations and Facility managers
- Contractors and visitors
Guides & insights
Frequently asked questions
Does the law require a fire drill every year?
The Factories Act requires that all workers are familiar with the means of escape and adequately trained in the fire routine, but does not itself use the words "fire drill" or set a frequency. State rules or fire NOC conditions may set one, so check them; a yearly drill per building and shift is common practice.
Is the Factories Act section 38 still relevant after the OSH Code?
The OSH Code repealed the Factories Act from 21 November 2025, but rules and orders made under it continue to the extent they are not contrary to the Code until the Central Government repeals them. State Factories Rules made under section 38(3) therefore still apply during the transition.
Who is responsible for fire safety in a leased office?
It depends on the state law and the lease. In Maharashtra, the 2006 Act places the duty on the owner, or on the occupier where the owner cannot be traced, and the owner or occupier must file the January and July maintenance certificates. Training your own staff remains the employer's job.
Does every employee need hands-on extinguisher training?
The law requires workers to be trained in the routine to follow in a fire, not necessarily to fight it. Most companies give everyone awareness training and give fire wardens and first responders practical extinguisher training.
How does an online fire safety course fit with drills?
An online course gives everyone, on every shift and site, the same knowledge of prevention, alarms, extinguishers and escape, and creates a training record. The drill then tests that knowledge in your building. One does not replace the other.
Does the National Building Code apply to us?
The NBC 2016 is a model code from the Bureau of Indian Standards. It applies to your building to the extent your state or local authority has adopted it in building bye-laws or fire rules.
Which Fire Safety Training courses does Compliance at Workplace offer?
Fire Safety Awareness (35 min, for All Staff).
Which laws and standards does Fire Safety Training cover?
National Building Code of India (NBC) 2016; Factories Act 1948 – Section 38 (Fire Safety); Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code 2020; Fire Services Act (State-level regulations).
Who should take Fire Safety Training?
All employees, Safety officers, Operations and Facility managers, Contractors and visitors.
Can the Fire Safety Training be customised to our organisation?
Yes. Every course can be customised to your policies, branding and industry scenarios, and delivered on your LMS as SCORM or on our Compliance Central platform.
Sources
- Factories Act, 1948 (India Code)
- Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (India Code)
- Government makes the four Labour Codes effective from 21 November 2025 (PIB, Ministry of Labour and Employment)
- National Building Code of India 2016 (Bureau of Indian Standards)
- Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006 (Maharashtra Fire Services)
Last updated by the Compliance at Workplace Editorial Team.