BIS ISI Certification for Safety Glass in India: Standards, Process & Requirements

Safety glass is engineered to resist shattering into dangerous shards, and its use spans everything from building facades and balustrades to vehicle windscreens and side windows. Because a failure mode here is a direct injury risk, BIS regulates it tightly under the Safety Glass (Quality Control) Order, 2020 (S.O. 1045(E), dated 12 March 2020) — one of the most frequently revised QCOs on the Scheme-I list, amended five times since notification.

For glass processors and importers, this guide lists both notified IS 2553 standards, explains what BIS certification verifies, and walks through the ISI licensing process, documentation, timeline and common pitfalls.

🎯 What Is BIS ISI (Scheme-I) Certification?

BIS Scheme-I is the classical Indian Standards Institution (ISI) mark scheme — India's original and most rigorous product certification route. Unlike the self-declaration model used under CRS for electronics, Scheme-I certification requires the manufacturer to hold a BIS licence granted only after laboratory testing and a physical BIS audit of the factory's manufacturing process and quality control system. The ISI mark on a product is a direct assurance that both the product and the process producing it meet the notified Indian Standard.

📄 The Governing Quality Control Order

This category is notified under the Safety Glass (Quality Control) Order, 2020 (S.O. 1045(E), dated 12 March 2020). Amended by the Amendment Order, 2020 (S.O. 2018(E), 23 June 2020), the Second Amendment Order, 2020 (S.O. 3190(E), 18 September 2020), the Amendment Order, 2021, the Amendment Order, 2022 (S.O. 620(E), 10 February 2022), and the Amendment Order, 2023 (S.O. 1431(E), 24 March 2023).

📜 All 2 IS Standards Covered Under This QCO

The Safety Glass (Quality Control) Order notifies the following 2 Indian Standards, split by end-use application:

⚙ What BIS ISI Certification Verifies

BIS testing for safety glass evaluates fragmentation behaviour on impact (ensuring the glass breaks into small, blunt-edged pieces rather than sharp shards), impact resistance appropriate to the application, optical clarity and distortion limits, and — for road transport glass under Part 2 — additional requirements for windscreen visibility and resistance to ball-drop and pendulum impact tests that simulate real-world collision scenarios.

📋 Step-by-Step: BIS ISI (Scheme-I) Licensing Process

Scheme-I is a test-and-audit certification, more rigorous than the self-declaration route used for CRS-scheme electronics. The sequence is:

1. Identify the applicable IS standard(s)Confirm which of the notified Indian Standards under this QCO apply to your exact product variant and specification.
2. Test at a BIS-recognised laboratorySubmit representative samples for testing against the applicable IS standard. The test report is the foundation of the ISI licence application.
3. Prepare documentationCompile factory details, quality control records, product technical data, and — for foreign manufacturers — the Authorised Indian Representative (AIR) nomination under FMCS.
4. File the online applicationSubmit the application on the BIS Manak Online portal with the test report, factory details, and supporting documents.
5. Factory auditUnlike the CRS self-declaration route, Scheme-I (ISI) certification involves a physical BIS assessment of the manufacturing unit and its quality control system.
6. Grant of licence and ISI markBIS reviews the application and audit findings and grants the licence with a unique licence number, allowing use of the ISI mark on the product.
7. Surveillance, renewal and market samplingLicensees remain under periodic BIS surveillance, including market sample testing, and must renew the licence on schedule.

📂 Documents Required

A complete file at the outset shortens both the review and audit stages. You will typically need:

• Test report from a BIS-recognised laboratory against the applicable IS standard
• Factory registration, business incorporation and address proof
• Product technical specifications, drawings and bill of materials
• In-house quality control and testing facility details
• Manufacturing process flow chart and machinery list
• Trademark / brand authorisation documents
• For foreign manufacturers: Authorised Indian Representative (AIR) nomination under FMCS
• Marking / label artwork showing the IS standard and ISI licence number
• Authorised signatory details and application declarations

⏱ Timeline & Renewal

Because Scheme-I combines laboratory testing with a factory audit, timelines run longer than the self-declaration CRS route. Once granted, the BIS ISI licence remains subject to ongoing surveillance, including unannounced market sampling, and must be renewed on schedule to stay valid.

⚠ Common Mistakes That Delay ISI Licensing

• Certifying against a superseded standard — with five amendments since 2020, confirm the current in-force version of the QCO before every application.
• Confusing architectural and automotive safety glass — Part 1 (building use) and Part 2 (road transport) test different impact and optical criteria; a windscreen manufacturer cannot rely on Part 1 testing alone.
• Treating it like CRS self-declaration — Scheme-I requires a factory audit in addition to testing; manufacturers who plan only for lab testing are caught off guard by the audit stage.
• Foreign manufacturers skipping AIR appointment — an Authorised Indian Representative is required under FMCS before a foreign manufacturer's application can proceed.
• Letting surveillance and renewal lapse — an expired or surveillance-failed licence stops the ISI mark from being used, even mid-production run.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

⭐ Why Choose Global Approbation

• Standard mapping — we identify exactly which notified IS standard(s) apply to your product variant.
• Lab & factory-audit coordination — testing at BIS-recognised laboratories and audit readiness, managed end to end.
• AIR for foreign manufacturers — we act as your Authorised Indian Representative under FMCS and hold the India compliance interface.
• Complete documentation — quality control manuals, process charts and application filing handled for you.
• Surveillance & renewal tracking — so your ISI licence stays valid and market-sample-ready.
• One compliance partner — ISI/Scheme-I alongside CRS, BEE, WPC, TEC and EPR where your product needs them.