Protective clothing is only worth wearing if it performs when the hazard arrives: a flashover, a molten-metal splash, or a truck passing at night. The Ministry of Textiles' Protective Textiles (Quality Control) Order, 2022 (S.O. 1707(E), 10 April 2023), amended by S.O. 3896(E) on 12 September 2024, makes BIS certification compulsory for 11 protective textile products. Below, each one is mapped to the hazard it protects against.
🎯 Standards mapped by hazard
| Hazard | Product | IS Standard | Typical buyers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire and flashover | Protective clothing for firefighters | IS 16890:2018 | Fire and emergency services |
| Protective gloves for firefighters | IS 16874:2018 | Fire and emergency services | |
| Industrial heat and flame | Protective clothing for industrial workers exposed to heat | IS 15748:2022 | Steel, glass, foundries, refineries |
| Clothing of limited flame-spread materials and assemblies | IS 15742:2007 | Oil and gas, chemical plants | |
| Welding spatter and molten metal | Protective clothing for welding and allied processes | IS 16655:2017 | Fabrication, shipyards, construction |
| Low visibility | High-visibility warning clothes | IS 15809:2017 | Highways, airports, ports, logistics |
| Rain and water | Waterproof multipurpose rain poncho | IS 17286:2019 | Police, utilities, field staff |
| Ballistic threat | Bullet-resistant jackets | IS 17051:2018 | Armed and police forces |
| Tactical load carriage | Tactical 3-point sling | IS 16725:2018 | Armed and police forces |
| Ammunition and grenade pouch (disruptive-pattern nylon-66) | IS 16726:2018 | Armed and police forces | |
| Fire spread in buildings | Curtains and drapes | IS 15741:2007 | Hotels, hospitals, theatres, offices |
📜 Fabric vs finished product: who needs the licence?
The order covers the finished protective product. A garment maker who buys compliant fabric still needs its own BIS licence, because seams, closures, reflective tapes, linings and assembly all affect performance. Fabric mills supplying these makers should expect customers to ask for fabric test data to support their licence.
Important: CE, EN or NFPA certificates help demonstrate design capability but are not accepted in place of a BIS licence for notified products sold in India.
🛡 Testing considerations
- Flame-spread, after-flame and after-glow tests for fire and flame-resistant clothing
- Convective and radiant heat transfer for firefighter and heat-protective wear
- Molten-metal splash and spatter resistance for welding clothing
- Retro-reflective and fluorescent colour performance for hi-vis garments
- Hydrostatic head and seam water-tightness for rain ponchos
- Ballistic resistance testing at specialised facilities for body armour
Some of these tests are available at only a few laboratories, so factor testing lead time into tender timelines.
⏱ Licensing roadmap
- Scope and classesMap each product to its IS standard and any performance level or class.
- Supplier controlsSet up incoming checks for fabric, tapes, threads and trims.
- In-house testingEquip the plant for routine tests listed in the Scheme of Inspection and Testing.
- ApplicationManak Online for Indian units. FMCS with an AIR for overseas units.
- Inspection and testingBIS factory audit, sampling and independent testing.
- GrantLicence issued. Apply the ISI mark and CM/L number to each product.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is BIS certification mandatory for welding aprons and jackets?
Protective clothing for welding and allied processes (IS 16655) is notified under the Protective Textiles QCO, so it requires a BIS licence.
Do bullet-resistant jackets need the ISI mark?
Yes. Bullet-resistant jackets under IS 17051:2018 are covered by the Protective Textiles QCO.
Why do hotels ask suppliers for BIS-certified curtains?
Curtains and drapes (IS 15741) are notified for their flammability performance, which matters for fire safety in public and commercial buildings.
Protective Textiles BIS ISI Certification, Handled End to End
Global Approbation manages the complete BIS ISI (Scheme-I) licensing process for protective textiles manufacturers and importers: IS standard mapping, documentation, FMCS and AIR support, factory inspection and testing coordination.
Talk to Our BIS Team BIS ISI Certification Services