The Fire Service Department, Puducherry May 26, 2026, issued Fire Safety Guidelines for Residential & Commercial Buildings (Summer Season).
The guidelines emphasize preventive measures to reduce fire risks during summer, when increased use of electrical appliances raises the chances of overheating and short circuits. For residential buildings, regular inspection of wiring and appliances such as air conditioners, coolers, and refrigerators is essential. Safe practices include using ISI-marked equipment, avoiding overloading sockets, switching off unused appliances, maintaining proper ventilation, and ensuring LPG cylinders are stored upright with no leaks. Households are also advised to keep basic firefighting tools like water, sand, or fire extinguishers readily available and educate family members about emergency responses.
Residents should avoid hazardous practices such as overloading electrical outlets, using damaged wiring, leaving cooking unattended, or storing flammable materials like petrol and kerosene indoors. Maintaining clutter-free balconies, corridors, and staircases is important to ensure safe evacuation and access for fire service vehicles in case of emergencies.
For commercial establishments such as offices, shops, and institutions, strict adherence to fire safety regulations is mandatory. This includes installing and maintaining fire protection systems like extinguishers, hydrants, sprinklers, and alarm systems, along with conducting regular safety audits and mock drills. Proper training of employees in fire prevention and evacuation procedures, clear marking of emergency exits, and maintaining good housekeeping practices are key requirements.
Commercial spaces must avoid blocking exits, overloading electrical systems, storing flammable goods improperly, or operating without functional fire safety systems. Unauthorized structural changes that compromise fire safety and disabling fire protection equipment are strictly prohibited.
The special summer advisory highlights the need for increased vigilance due to higher electrical loads from cooling systems. Regular servicing of transformers, DG sets, HVAC systems, and inverters is crucial. Additional precautions include avoiding temporary wiring, not charging devices unattended overnight, ensuring proper ventilation for equipment, and exercising extra care in high-risk areas such as kitchens, storage rooms, and server rooms. Overall, awareness, preparedness, and adherence to safety norms are critical to preventing fire accidents.
