The National Building Code of India 2016, Part 4 — Fire and Life Safety — mandates fire compartmentation in all commercial, institutional, and high-occupancy buildings. Fire curtains certified under EN 1634-1 satisfy this requirement. There is no specific clause in NBC 2016 that prohibits fire curtains — they are an accepted passive fire protection solution provided they meet the required fire integrity rating for the building type.
Fire safety compliance is non-negotiable in Indian construction. NBC 2016 is the governing document, and Part 4 — Fire and Life Safety — is the section that every architect, structural consultant, and facility manager must understand when specifying passive fire protection systems for a building in India.
This guide explains what NBC 2016 requires, how fire curtains satisfy those requirements, and what certifications you need to demonstrate compliance to building control and fire department authorities.
What is NBC 2016 and Who Does It Apply To?
The National Building Code of India 2016 is the comprehensive building standard published by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). It applies to the design, construction, and maintenance of all buildings in India. Part 4 — Fire and Life Safety — covers fire prevention, fire detection, suppression systems, escape routes, and passive fire protection including compartmentation.
NBC 2016 applies to all occupancy types — residential, educational, institutional, assembly (including hotels, restaurants, theatres), business, mercantile (retail), industrial, storage, and hazardous — with varying requirements based on building height, area, and occupancy classification.
The Core Requirement: Fire Compartmentation
The fundamental fire safety principle in NBC 2016 is compartmentation — dividing a building into fire compartments that contain fire and smoke to the area of origin, giving occupants time to evacuate and limiting structural damage. This is achieved through fire-resistant walls, floors, and barriers across openings.
NBC 2016 does not prescribe a specific product type for fire compartmentation. It prescribes a performance outcome — the opening must be protected by a barrier that achieves the required fire resistance period for that building type and occupancy. EN 1634-1 certified fire curtains meeting the required integrity rating satisfy this performance requirement.
Fire Resistance Requirements by Building Type
| Building Type | Typical Fire Resistance Required | Window Techs Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial offices (high-rise) | 120–240 minutes | WFC-01 / WFC-02 (E240) |
| Shopping malls and retail | 60–120 minutes | WFC-01 / WSC (D120) |
| Hospitals and healthcare | 120 minutes | WFC-02 (E240) / WSC (D120) |
| Hotels and hospitality | 60–120 minutes | WFC-01 (E240) / WSC (D120) |
| Airports and transport | 60–120 minutes | WFC-01 / WFC-02 (E240) |
| Industrial and warehousing | 60–240 minutes | WFC-02 / WFC-03 (E240) |
| Government and institutional | 120–240 minutes | WFC-02 / WFC-03 (E240) |
Key NBC 2016 Clauses Relevant to Fire Curtains
Clause 4.2 — Classification of Buildings
NBC 2016 classifies buildings by occupancy type. Each occupancy classification has specific fire safety requirements including compartment sizes, fire resistance periods, and escape route protection. Fire curtains are relevant across all occupancy types that require compartmentation of large openings — particularly Group C (institutional), Group D (assembly), and Group E (business/commercial) buildings.
Clause 4.9 — Compartmentation
This clause establishes the maximum compartment floor areas and volumes for each building type, and requires that compartment boundaries — including openings — are protected by fire-resistant barriers achieving the specified integrity period. Fire curtains satisfying the required integrity period under EN 1634-1 comply with this clause.
Clause 4.12 — Means of Escape
Escape routes must be protected from fire and smoke. Fire curtains across atria, lift lobbies, and escalator openings protect escape routes by compartmenting fire and smoke to the area of origin. Window Techs egress fire curtains (WEFC-01) allow occupants to push through the curtain during evacuation — maintaining a protected escape route even after deployment.
Clause 4.13 — Smoke Control
NBC 2016 requires smoke control systems in buildings with atriums, large undivided floor areas, and high-occupancy spaces. Smoke curtains certified under EN 12101-1 satisfy the smoke control requirement, creating smoke reservoirs and channelling smoke toward extraction units. Window Techs smoke curtains (WSC range) are designed specifically for this application.
Indian Standards Relevant to Fire Curtains
IS 16947
The Indian Standard for fire-resistance tests for door and shutter assemblies — aligned with the EN 1634-1 testing methodology. Window Techs fire doors are certified under IS 16947. Some fire curtain specifications for Indian government projects may reference IS 16947 in addition to EN 1634-1.
IS 3614
Specification for fire check doors — the Indian standard for fire-rated door assemblies. Referenced for door products in government and institutional projects.
European Standards That Satisfy NBC 2016
NBC 2016 explicitly references and accepts products certified under European Standards (EN) as satisfying its fire safety performance requirements. This is why EN 1634-1 certification — the primary standard for fire curtains — is the accepted certification basis for fire curtain specifications across Indian building projects.
EN 1634-1
Fire resistance and smoke control tests for door and shutter assemblies and openable windows. This is the primary performance standard for fire curtains. Window Techs curtains are tested at Efectis laboratory (Turkey) and certified by TÜV SÜD.
EN 12101-1
Specification for smoke barriers — the standard for smoke curtains. Window Techs smoke curtains carry EN 12101-1 certification with full CE Marking.
EN 15269-11
Extended application of test results — allows the certified test data from a specific curtain size to be applied to larger or smaller sizes within defined parameters. Window Techs curtains are certified under this standard, enabling any custom size to be supplied with certified performance data.
What Certifications to Demand When Specifying Fire Curtains
The Indian fire curtain market includes imported products and locally assembled systems of widely varying quality. When specifying or procuring fire curtains for an NBC 2016 compliant project, always demand the following documentation:
- EN 1634-1 fire test certificate — from an accredited independent laboratory (not self-certified)
- CE Marking certificate with Declaration of Performance
- Test laboratory accreditation certificate — confirm the lab is notified by an EU member state
- EN 15269-11 extended application report — confirming the test data covers the project’s specific curtain size
- Installation methodology statement — confirming installation methodology matches the certified test configuration
- Manufacturer’s declaration of NBC 2016 compliance
Window Techs provides all of the above documentation as standard with every fire curtain project. Our certifications are issued by TÜV SÜD and Efectis — two of the most recognised fire safety testing bodies globally, both accredited as notified bodies under the EU Construction Products Regulation.
Government Projects and Fire Curtain Compliance
Window Techs has delivered fire curtain systems for some of India’s most prominent government infrastructure projects — demonstrating that EN 1634-1 certified systems satisfy the compliance requirements of government building authorities and fire departments.
International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Window Techs delivered a 100-metre wide, 20-metre high fire curtain installation — the largest in India — meeting all compliance requirements for this iconic government venue.
India’s premier convention destination. Window Techs installed the same scale 100-metre wide, 20-metre high fire curtain system at this landmark government project in Delhi.
Close to 60 fire curtains installed across the terminal — a critical aviation infrastructure project where fire safety compliance requirements are among the most stringent in India.
Need NBC 2016 Compliance Documentation for Your Project?
Window Techs provides complete compliance documentation — EN 1634-1 certificates, CE Marking, test reports, and NBC 2016 compliance declarations — for every project.
Request DocumentationFrequently Asked Questions
Are fire curtains legal in India?
Yes. Fire curtains certified under EN 1634-1 are a legally accepted passive fire protection solution in India. NBC 2016 Part 4 prescribes fire compartmentation performance requirements — it does not prohibit fire curtains. EN 1634-1 certified curtains meeting the required integrity rating satisfy NBC 2016. Window Techs has supplied compliant fire curtain systems for government infrastructure projects including Bharat Mandapam and IICC Dwarka.
Which part of NBC 2016 covers fire curtains?
NBC 2016 Part 4 — Fire and Life Safety — covers fire compartmentation requirements that fire curtains satisfy. Key clauses include Clause 4.9 (Compartmentation), Clause 4.12 (Means of Escape), and Clause 4.13 (Smoke Control). Fire curtains certified under EN 1634-1 comply with the compartmentation and escape route protection requirements of these clauses.
Does NBC 2016 specifically mention fire curtains?
NBC 2016 does not specifically name fire curtains as a product type, but mandates fire compartmentation across openings using barriers achieving the specified integrity rating. EN 1634-1 certified fire curtains achieving the required rating satisfy this performance requirement and are accepted by building control authorities and fire departments across India.
What fire resistance period does NBC 2016 require?
The required fire resistance period varies by building occupancy type and height. Typical requirements range from 60 minutes for low-rise retail to 240 minutes for high-rise commercial and institutional buildings. Window Techs fire curtains provide up to E240 — satisfying the most demanding NBC 2016 requirements.
What documents does Window Techs provide for NBC 2016 compliance?
Window Techs provides: EN 1634-1 fire test certificate from TÜV SÜD / Efectis, CE Marking certificate, EN 15269-11 extended application report covering the project’s curtain size, installation methodology statement, and a manufacturer’s declaration of NBC 2016 compliance.
