Hospitals Can Now Build Higher Under Revised Safety Norms

India’s Revised Safety Norms are set to change how hospitals grow, with the Centre easing long-standing restrictions on building height.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has removed the 45-metre cap on hospital structures under the newly released National Building Construction Standards (NBCS) 2026, as long as strong fire safety measures are in place.

The earlier 2016 code limited hospitals to around 12–15 floors and required intensive care units (ICUs) to be located within 30 metres.

Under the Revised Safety Norms, ICUs are now “preferred” to be within 45 metres, but there is no strict height limit or fixed placement requirement.

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The decision follows consistent pressure from industry bodies like Nathealth, which had raised the issue with the Directorate General of Health Services last year. Officials say the update reflects changing realities, including rising land costs, growing infrastructure needs, and advancements in construction and safety systems.

Hospital operators say the move could significantly lower expansion costs. Ashutosh Raghuvanshi, Managing Director and CEO at Fortis Healthcare, pointed out that land and construction remain major cost drivers. Allowing hospitals to add more floors instead of buying new land could cut expansion expenses by 20 to 25 percent.

Varun Khanna Vice President of healthcare industry body Nathealth and Group Managing Director at Quality Care India said the change will help hospitals scale up capacity without a matching rise in capital spending. Sangita Reddy, Nathealth President and Group Managing Director at Apollo Hospitals Group added that the policy could unlock much-needed capacity and improve efficiency across the sector.

With demand for healthcare rising, experts believe these Revised Safety Norms will help hospitals expand faster, add more beds, and improve access while maintaining safety standards.