Overview
- The Telangana Fire Department issued the circular on Wednesday that introduces specialised fire and life safety guidelines for data centres and makes the rules apply to provisional Fire NOC applications submitted on or after November 6, 2026.
- The rules require automatic sprinklers in administrative spaces and mandate water‑mist or clean‑agent gas suppression systems in technical halls to protect servers and other sensitive equipment.
- Battery rooms, UPS bays, transformer and switchgear areas must undergo fire risk assessments and meet standards for ventilation, fire‑rated separation and emergency shutdown arrangements.
- Inspecting officers have been directed to check compliance with approved fire‑safety designs during NOC processing, a move the department says will speed clearances but may change project layouts and raise upfront costs for operators.
- The full guidelines are posted on the Telangana Fire Department website and reflect a policy push to balance stronger protection for critical infrastructure with clearer, faster approvals to attract data‑centre investment.