Inspection of sites, premises and buildings

(1) Every local authority shall, with such directions from the Director and other members of Service as the local authority may deem necessary, prepare a schedule of periodic inspections of buildings depending upon the risk classification of buildings. (2) The Nominated Authority may enter any sites, premises and buildings to determine whether the building is compliant with such fire prevention and life safety measures with which the building must comply as per the provisions of this Act. The Nominated Authority, during an inspection as per the schedule of periodic inspection, shall not enter any building before sunrise and after sunset, and shall give a prior notice before entering any building for inspection. (3) The Nominated Authority shall be provided with all possible assistance by the owners and occupiers, as the case may be, of such sites, premises and buildings for carrying out the inspection. (4) The owners or occupiers or any other person shall not obstruct or cause any obstruction to the entry of any person authorized to enter the building under this section, and no such person shall be molested after such entry. (5) The Nominated Authority shall, after the completion of the inspection of the building, record its views in such proforma, as may be prescribed, on the deviations from or the contravention of, the applicable fire prevention and life safety measures, issue a notice to the owners or occupiers of such building, directing them to undertake such measures as specified in the notice, and within such period of time, as may be specified in the notice. (6) Within ten business days or within such time period as may be prescribed, from the day on which the inspection was carried out, the owner or occupier, as the case may be, of every building inspected shall be provided with a detailed inspection report recording all the observations made by the Nominated Authority with respect to the building. (7) In case the owners or occupiers, as the case may be, fail to comply with the notice issued to them after inspection within the specified time period, they shall be liable to be penalized as per the provisions of Chapter- VII of this Act. (8) The Government may commission any other person or entity, with such qualifications as may be notified, to perform the functions of the Nominated Authority under this section, in such manner, as may be prescribed. (9) The Government or the Director or the local authority may conduct or cause to be conducted by the auditors who possess such qualifications and experience, as may be prescribed, a periodic audit of any or all activities in relation to inspection of buildings.