What Form B Is

Form B is the fire safety maintenance certificate. Under Section 3(3) of the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006 and Rule 4(2) of the 2009 Rules, a Licensed Agency inspects your fire systems and certifies that they are maintained in good working condition. The certificate is signed by the Licensed Agency and by the owner or occupier (for a society, usually the chairman or secretary), and submitted to the Chief Fire Officer. See Form A vs Form B vs Fire NOC if you are not sure which document you need.

Which Period Each Form B Covers

  • Form B issued in January covers 1 July to 31 December of the previous year.
  • Form B issued in July covers 1 January to 30 June of the same year.

So the January certificate is about how your systems were maintained in the last six months — not only about the day of inspection. Service reports from those six months matter.

What the Licensed Agency Checks

The official guidelines ask for systems to be maintained as per the Indian Standards. In practice the agency inspects and tests:

  • Fire extinguishers — type, pressure, refill and hydro test dates
  • Hydrants, landing valves, hoses and hose reels
  • Fire pumps — main, jockey and diesel pump — and the water tank
  • Sprinklers, where installed
  • Fire alarm panel, detectors, manual call points and hooters
  • Fire safety signs and emergency lighting

The owner also declares that exits are not blocked, refuge areas are not misused, no unauthorised changes have been made, and mock drills are being held.

Documents That Go With Form B

As per the Maharashtra Fire Services guidelines, keep these ready:

  1. Covering letter from the society or owner
  2. Form B signed by the Licensed Agency and the owner or occupier
  3. Maintenance contract or work order with the agency (the amount need not be shown)
  4. Service and test reports for the period
  5. Site inspection report
  6. Copy of the agency’s valid licence

A December Plan for the January Form B

  1. Early December — book the inspection. Ask your agency for a date in the first half of December.
  2. Inspection day. Keep the pump room, terrace tank, electrical room and refuge areas open; ask the security supervisor and the society’s electrician to be present.
  3. Same week — defect list. Get the defect list with photos and a quote.
  4. Mid December — repairs. Approve the quote at a committee meeting quickly; most repairs take a few days, but pump and panel parts can take longer.
  5. Late December — re-test and paperwork. The agency re-tests the repaired items and prepares Form B with the reports.
  6. January — sign and submit. Keep a signed copy, all reports and the submission proof in the society office.

Common faults we find in Pune societies: the jockey pump starting again and again because of a leak, a diesel pump not run for months, jammed hose reel drums, hoses missing from cabinets, extinguishers past their refill date, and fire alarm panels showing faults that nobody has reset. For the July Form B, follow the same plan in June.

Where to Submit in Pune and PCMC

For buildings in PMC limits, the PMC Fire Brigade has asked owners and occupiers to submit Form B to the Chief Fire Officer at the Central Fire Station, Mahatma Phule Peth (New Timber Market), Pune 411042, in person or by email. Buildings in PCMC or PMRDA limits submit to their own fire department. Your Licensed Agency will tell you the current address and email for your area. The list of licensed agencies is published by Maharashtra Fire Services.

What Happens If Form B Is Missed

The PMC Fire Brigade has warned that if Form B is not submitted or equipment is not maintained, the owner or occupier is fully responsible if a fire happens. Giving a certificate without actually maintaining the systems is an offence under Section 36 of the Act, with imprisonment of six months to three years and a fine of ₹20,000 to ₹50,000. Where there is imminent danger, the Chief Fire Officer can also seal premises and disconnect supply. A working system and a Form B on file every January and July is the simplest protection.

How FIRENET Helps

FIRENET is a Licensed Agency (Maharashtra Fire Services). We inspect, list defects with photos, repair, re-test and issue Form B with all supporting reports, and remind you before the next cycle. Societies can cover all of this with a society fire safety AMC, and the free Refilling & Service Reminder works out your next Form B, refill and hydro test dates. Call or WhatsApp +91 75664 99966 to book your January Form B inspection.

F
FIRENET Fire Safety TeamLicensed Agency issuing Form A and Form B for housing societies, offices and factories across Pune and PCMC since 2008.