India should adopt the global standards for fire safety : NFPA

19 Jan 2023 CW Team

In order to establish India as a global manufacturing powerhouse, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has urged the government to improve the quality of electrical products to meet international standards.Faulty or broken electrical equipment is to blame for about 70 per cent of industrial accidents and large fires, but this is often overlooked. It stated that even though India has its own Bureau of India Standards, it does not set the agenda for end user safety.

According to the Association, the BIS mandates only PVC-insulated wires, which can only withstand temperatures of 70 degrees Celsius, for regular wires that are used in nearly every household.This gives a small window of safety in the event of a fire in a tropical nation like India, where the temperature can reach 50 degrees in some states. According to the report, this PVC insulation also emits toxic smoke that impairs the health of those who inhale it and reduces visibility to zero.

According to the association, India does not need to re-invent the wheel. Instead, it can adopt the established standards in Europe and the United States and ensure strict compliance. A study conducted by the association found that electrical fires are responsible for over 50 deaths per day in India. A representative of the association stated, "Quality electrical products not only reduce imports but also ensure higher efficiency, leading to lower costs that will ensure our export competitiveness and better revenues."

According to Ajit Kulkarni, Managing Director, Ajit Kulkarni Consultants, lack of inspection, and a failure to adhere to safety regulations are the primary causes of nearly all fires, when they are not man made.

Infrastructure Transport

01 Jun 2026

MMRDA advances 250 m on Orange Gate–Marine Drive tunnel

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has completed 250 m of underground tunnelling for the Orange Gate–Marine Drive Urban Road Tunnel using India’s largest slurry shield tunnel boring machine (TBM) deployed for an urban road project.The project involves twin tunnels extending over 7 km beneath critical transport corridors, including Central Railway, Western Railway and Metro Line 3. The work requires high-precision engineering to navigate densely developed urban infrastructure.Once completed, the tunnel is expected to reduce travel time between Orange Gate and Marin..

Hindustan Zinc Pays Rs 188.46 Billion in FY26

Hindustan Zinc contributed Rs 188.46 billion to the public exchequer in FY 2025-26, according to its 9th Tax Transparency Report. The contribution, equivalent to 46 per cent of the company’s revenue, included direct and indirect taxes, government royalties, dividends to the Government of India, withholding taxes and other statutory levies.The company’s five-year cumulative contribution to the exchequer stood at Rs 915.72 billion. In FY26, Hindustan Zinc reported revenue of Rs 408.44 billion, EBITDA of Rs 221.62 billion and profit after tax of Rs 138.32 billion. It also achieved its highest..

World of Concrete India 2026 Opens in Mumbai

Informa Markets in India will host the 12th edition of World of Concrete India 2026 from 3–5 June 2026 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai. The specialised B2B exhibition will bring together manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, developers, architects, consultants, infrastructure companies, project leaders and government stakeholders.The event is expected to feature over 350 brands and more than 18,000 trade professionals. It will cover concrete and cement, dry mortar, precast technologies, formwork, construction chemicals, industrial and commercial flooring, scaffolding, safety solutio..