India's NBCS 2026 permits hospital ICUs above 45 metres subject to enhanced fire safety provisions
Hospital design teams planning ICUs above 45 metres must specify enhanced fire safety provisions per NBCS 2026
Change
India's National Building Construction Standards (NBCS) 2026 was notified, easing the prior height restriction on hospitals and permitting hospital intensive care units above 45 metres subject to enhanced fire safety provisions defined in the standard.
Why it matters
Hospitals siting ICUs above the prior 45-metre height cap must meet enhanced fire safety provisions defined in NBCS 2026 to claim compliance with the standard. Designs that previously could not place ICUs above 45 metres may now do so only when the enhanced provisions are incorporated.
Implications
- — Hospital project design teams planning ICUs above 45 metres must specify the enhanced fire safety provisions defined in NBCS 2026 — designs without those provisions cannot be claimed as compliant with the standard.
Who is affected
- — Hospital project design teams