Printers, copiers, scanners and multi-function devices sit in offices and homes for years, drawing power in bursts of activity and long stretches of standby. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) rates their efficiency through its Standards & Labelling programme, under which office automation products are a notified category (Schedule 16). A BEE star label gives procurement teams a verified energy figure to compare.
For manufacturers and importers, the label speaks directly to the corporate and government buyers who dominate this category. This guide explains where office equipment sits in the scheme, what the rating measures, how to register a model, and the documents, timeline and pitfalls involved.
⚖ Is BEE Star Labelling Mandatory or Voluntary?
Office automation products are covered under the voluntary phase of the BEE programme (Schedule 16). Voluntary means labelling is optional today, but energy criteria feature heavily in corporate and public-sector IT procurement, making the label commercially useful.
📌 Because this category is bought overwhelmingly by organisations rather than individuals, a verified energy rating aligns neatly with the green-procurement and total-cost-of-ownership criteria buyers apply.
🏷 What the BEE Star Label Displays
The label is designed so a buyer can compare two models in seconds. Every BEE star label carries the same core information:
Star Rating (1–5)
The headline energy-efficiency band, from 1 star (least efficient) to 5 stars (most efficient) in its category.
Energy / Performance Figure
The model's measured energy, fuel or performance figure under the standard test, so buyers can compare running cost at a glance.
Make, Model & Category
Brand, model designation and equipment category the star band applies to.
BEE Licence No. & QR
The registration/licence number and a QR code allowing anyone to verify the label on the BEE portal.
🔬 What the Office Equipment Star Rating Measures
The star band for an office automation product is based on its typical electricity consumption — broadly, a usage-weighted energy figure that captures active printing/copying along with the sleep and standby states where these devices spend most of their life, measured under the standardised test method. Effective power management drives a higher star band.
⭐ How the 1–5 Star Rating Works
The scale runs from 1 to 5 stars, and for a office automation product the thresholds are relative and tightened periodically as market efficiency improves. A office automation product can be re-rated at a band revision even without any design change, so treat the star level as something to maintain rather than a permanent attribute.
📋 Step-by-Step: Getting the BEE Star Label
The star label is granted on a test-and-register basis. The sequence is:
- Confirm the schedule and test methodVerify the current BEE schedule, star-band table and test method that apply to your product before testing.
- Test at an accredited laboratoryHave representative samples tested for energy performance at a BEE-recognised / NABL-accredited laboratory. The test report is the basis of the star rating.
- Prepare documents and the scheme agreementCompile company, brand and product documents and sign the standard label-use agreement on non-judicial stamp paper (INR 100).
- Register and apply on the BEE portalCreate the manufacturer account and file the model application with the test report on the BEE Star Label portal (beestarlabel.com).
- BEE scrutiny and model approvalBEE reviews the application, assigns the star band, and grants permission to use the label with a registration/licence number.
- Print and display the labelApply the approved star label with the correct rating, energy value, licence number and QR on the product and packaging.
- Maintain, check-test and re-rateKeep conformity under BEE check-testing and re-rate the model when star bands are periodically revised or the model changes.
📄 Documents Required
A complete file at the outset is the biggest single lever on approval speed. You will typically need:
- Certificate of Incorporation / business registration of the manufacturer, trader or seller
- Duly signed and stamped BEE application form
- Energy-performance test report from a BEE-recognised / NABL-accredited laboratory
- Product technical specifications and datasheet
- Brand / trademark ownership or authorisation documents
- Model list with photographs and rating-plate details
- Label artwork showing the star rating, energy value, licence number and QR code
- Signed label-use agreement on non-judicial stamp paper (INR 100)
- Authorised signatory details and declarations
⏱ Timeline, Validity & Re-Rating
Budget a few weeks to test a office automation product at a recognised laboratory, followed by a relatively quick approval once a complete application is on the BEE portal. The label permission is time-bound and tied to the scheme agreement, and must be refreshed when the office automation product bands are revised, so plan for periodic re-rating.
💰 Why the Voluntary Label Is Still Worth It
Even though the label is not compulsory for this category today, manufacturers increasingly choose to carry it for hard commercial reasons:
- A visible shelf and e-commerce advantage — the star label is what many buyers scan for when comparing models, and marketplaces surface it in filters and specifications.
- Credible, verifiable efficiency claims — a BEE band is a government-verified number, far stronger than a self-declared “energy-saving” claim.
- Readiness for a mandatory transition — BEE routinely moves categories from voluntary to mandatory; early adopters are already compliant when that happens.
- Access to tenders and green procurement — government and institutional buyers frequently specify a minimum star rating.
- A platform for premium positioning — a high star band supports a higher price point against unrated competition.
⚠ Common Mistakes That Delay a BEE Registration
- Treating the label as cosmetic — the printed star band must match a valid, current test report; mismatches are the first thing BEE check-testing catches.
- Using an outdated star-band table — bands are revised periodically, and a model that was 5-star can drop a star at the next revision.
- Label artwork errors — wrong performance figure, missing licence number, or a non-working QR code.
- Testing at a non-recognised lab — only reports from BEE-recognised / NABL-accredited laboratories are accepted.
- Not re-rating after a design change — changing a core component can alter the measured performance and the rating.
- Wrong product-class basis — devices are rated within function and throughput classes; each model must be registered against the correct class and test data.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is BEE star labelling mandatory for printers and copiers?
No. Office automation products are in the voluntary phase of the BEE programme (Schedule 16). Registration is optional but useful for institutional procurement.
What does the office equipment star rating measure?
Its typical electricity consumption — a usage-weighted figure including active, sleep and standby modes — mapped to a 1-to-5 star band.
Which devices does Schedule 16 cover?
Printers, copiers, scanners and multi-function devices (MFDs). Confirm the exact scope and classes in the current Schedule 16 documentation.
How long does BEE registration take?
A few weeks for testing at a recognised laboratory, then relatively quick model approval on the BEE portal once a complete application is filed.
Do these products also need BIS registration?
Electronic-product safety registration can apply separately from BEE energy labelling; treat them as distinct obligations.
Can multiple models be registered together?
Yes. Several models can be registered under one manufacturer account, each with its own star band and licence number.
⭐ Why Choose Global Approbation
- End-to-end BEE handling — schedule confirmation, lab coordination, portal filing and label approval.
- Accredited-lab testing — we route samples to the right BEE-recognised laboratory and manage the report.
- Accurate star-band mapping — we position your model correctly against the current band table.
- Portfolio registration — efficient handling of multiple models and variants.
- Re-rating and renewal tracking — so your labels stay valid as BEE revises the bands.
- One compliance partner — BEE alongside BIS, WPC, TEC and EPR where your product needs them.
Office Equipment BEE Star Labelling Partner
Global Approbation manages the complete BEE star-labelling process for office automation products — from energy testing and star-band mapping to model approval and renewal.
BEE Star Labelling Services Talk to Our Team