On 30 April 2026, BIS withdrew the National Building Code 2016 and released its replacement — the National Building Construction Standards 2026. Buried in Part F, Clause 2.22, one line quietly made every uninsulated fire door in India non-compliant. If you specify, approve, or supply fire doors — your drawings must change today.
By Gazette of India CG-DL-E-30042026-272177, the Bureau of Indian Standards withdrew NBC 2016 and established SP 7 : 2026 — the National Building Construction Standards 2026 — as the country's binding code for building construction, fire safety, and life safety.
NBCS 2026 doesn't just rename a code — it closes the gaps that uninsulated metal doors have exploited for years. Here is exactly what changed, clause by clause.
Shutter, frame, hardware, seals, hinges, closers — every component must be certified together as one assembly from a single manufacturer. Site-mixed combinations are no longer a fire door, regardless of how good the shutter is on paper.
Every fire door in an exit must carry an intumescent seal or equivalent globally accepted technology that expands on contact with heat to close the perimeter gap. Without it, integrity cannot be held under fire load.
Fire doors must remain closed at all times. Hold-open devices are prohibited; closure must be by a spring-based door closer. Magnetic hold-open is permitted only when wired to release automatically on fire alarm trigger.
Where a panic bar is fitted, a handle or trim lock must be provided on the opposite face at designated floors — so firefighters can re-enter the stairwell from inside. Architects: this must appear in your BOQ from day one, or the door manufacturer cannot quote correctly.
Curtains may continue to be used for compartmentation, but never as the exit itself. An independent fire door meeting all exit requirements must be provided within the prescribed travel distance — regardless of curtain coverage.
Every fire door in an Indian exit must now meet a 30-minute insulation criterion. Uninsulated (UD) doors are non-compliant by code. Only PI — Partially Insulated and ID — Insulated classifications under IS 3614:2023 are permitted from this date forward.
Reading Clauses 2.22, 2.24, 2.40 and 4.4.2.4.3.2 together gives a clean specification grid for every project class.
| Application | Minimum Spec | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Internal staircases & exit corridors | FD 120 PI | FD 120 ID |
| Firefighting shafts & fire towers | FD 120 PI | FD 120 ID |
| Horizontal exits in fire-resistant walls | FD 120 PI | FD 120 ID |
| Hospitals, sleeping accommodations | FD 120 ID | FD 120 ID |
| Hotel guest room main doors | FD 60 PI | FD 60 ID |
| Basements & fire command centres | FD 120 PI | FD 120 ID |
| High-hazard areas (industrial / storage) | FD 120 ID | FD 120 ID |
All classifications above reference IS 3614 : 2023 — the only product standard cross-referenced in NBCS 2026, Clause 2.22.
Until 30 April 2026, a cheaper UD (uninsulated) metal door could be quoted into a high-rise BOQ. From this date onward, the same quote is non-compliant by code — and the specifier carries personal liability for heat-injury and smoke-inhalation casualties.
IS 3614 : 2023 · Category 1
IS 3614 : 2023 · Categories 2 & 3
Every door we ship has been built around exactly the standards NBCS 2026 has now made mandatory. Here is what comes standard on every Tufwud fire door — without negotiation, without upgrade pricing.
NBCS 2026 shifts liability to the specifier. From the date of the gazette notification, drawings approved with non-compliant fire doors expose the signer to personal responsibility in the event of a fire incident.
Every drawing approved after 30 April 2026 must reflect the new clauses. Door schedules need PI/ID specs.
NOC drawings now require evidence of insulation certification. UD doors will not pass scrutiny.
Sleeping accommodations now require ID-class insulation. Guest safety is no longer optional or aspirational.
Non-ambulatory patients cannot evacuate quickly. Full ID-class insulation is the only defensible spec.
Project handovers will be audited against NBCS 2026. Non-compliant doors block occupancy certificates.
BOQ review for every active project should flag UD doors immediately for re-specification.
Operational facilities will face retrofit obligations during major renovations and audits.
Compliance language in handover and purchase agreements must reference SP 7 : 2026 going forward.
Send us your project drawings, current BOQ, or fire-NOC scope. We'll respond with an NBCS 2026-compliant specification, sample certifications, and indicative pricing — usually within 24 hours.
Choose Insulated.
Choose Tufwud.
+91 84200 50758
