ISI Certification (BIS) for
TEXTILES - Protective Clothing for Firefighters – Specification IS 16890 in India
Introduction to Indian Standard IS 16890; Textiles - Protective Clothing for
Firefighters – Specification
IS 16890 cover Textiles - Protective Clothing for Firefighters –
Specification
This standard specifies test methods and minimum requirements for
protective clothing to be worn during firefighting and associated activities
where there is a risk of heat and/or flame and covers the general clothing
design, the minimum performance levels of the materials used, and the
methods of test for determining these performance levels.
This standard does not cover special clothing for use in other high risk
situations such as specialized firefighting, or clothing for use in long term
firefighting operations in high ambient temperature, for example brush,
wild land, or forest firefighting. It does not cover protection for the head,
hands and feet or protection against other hazards, for example biological,
radiation and electrical hazards. These aspects may be dealt with in other
standards.
IS 16890 specifies the quality parameters or characteristics of the Textiles
- Protective Clothing for Firefighters – Specification as follows :
(i) Restriction of Movement
(ii) Multilayer clothing assemblies
(iii) Seams
(iv) Sleeves ends
(v) Clothing mass
(vi) Ease of cleaning
(vii) Size designation
(viii) Flame resistance
(ix) Heat Transfer
(x) Heat Resistance
(xi) Tensile Strength
(xii) Tear Strength
(xiii) Surface wetting
(xiv) Cleaning shrinkage resistance
(xv) Water penetration Resistance and other
1. Mandate for ISI Mark Certification of Textiles - Protective Clothing for
Firefighters – Specification (IS 16890)
In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (1) and (2) of section
16 read with section 17 and sub-section (3) of section 25 of the Bureau of
Indian Standards Act, 2016 (11 of 2016), the Central Government is of the
opinion that it is necessary so to do in the public interest and after
consulting the Bureau of Indian Standards, hereby makes the following
Order, namely
Protective Textiles (Quality Control) Order, 2022.
As per the Protective Textiles (Quality control) order, all the manufacturers
of Textiles - Protective Clothing for Firefighters – Specification are
obligated to obtain ISI Mark Certification.
2. Types of Textiles - Protective Clothing for Firefighters – Specification
covered under IS 16890
Licence is granted to use Standard Mark as per IS 16890 with the following
scope:
Type/Grade/Variety Type- Single outer garment/Outer Two
piece suit consisting of a pair of
jacket/Series of outer and under
garments designed to be worn together
Sizes - S/M/L/XL/XXL/XXXL
Optional Requirements- Dry
Cleanable/Not Dry Cleanable
3. Procedure to obtain BIS Certification of Textiles - Protective Clothing for
Firefighters – Specification to use ISI mark as per IS 16890
For Indian Manufacturers (Standard Timeframe – 30 days)
For Foreign Manufacturers (Standard Timeframe – 180 days)
Requisites to get the BIS license for Textiles - Protective Clothing for
Firefighters – Specification
Conformity of Raw Material as per IS 16890
In-house testing laboratory for mandatory tests
Competent Quality Control Personnel
Adherence to the BIS guidelines for Textiles - Protective Clothing for
Firefighters – Specification as per Indian standard IS 16890
There are 3 major categories of document required to get the BIS license:
a. Administrative Details
b. Technical Details
c. Quality Control Personnel Details
d. Commercial Details
4. Expenses involved in obtaining BIS certificate for Textiles - Protective
Clothing for Firefighters – Specification as per IS 16890 under the Product
Certification (Scheme-I) of BIS :
For Indian Manufacturers
No. Major Charges Amount Remark
1. BIS Fee Application Fees INR 1000 To be paid in BIS A/c
directly. 20% rebate
on Marking Fee for
MSME units.
Audit Charges INR 7000
License Fee INR 1000
Marking Fee INR 184000
2. Testing Charges Sample Test Fee As
Applicable
To be paid into BIS
approved Lab A/c
3. ERCS Service Fee Consultancy &
others
As per actual, (Depending upon the
product and the region of factory)
For the Foreign Manufacturers
No. Major Charges Particulars Amount Remark
1. BIS Fee Application Fees USD 30 To be paid into BIS
A/c directly in USD
(SWIFT). SAARC
countries can pay in
INR with GST@18%
Audit Charges
(consolidated)
USD 3200 to
USD 5900
License Fee USD 30
Marking Fee USD 2235
2. Testing Charges Sample Test Fee As
applicable
To be paid into BIS
approved Lab A/c
3. ERCS Service Fee Consultancy &
other charges
As per actual, (Depending upon the
product and the location of mfg.)
In the certification process, product testing is the most important stage as it
determines whether the quality of the product meets Indian standards.
For the same purpose, investments in testing facilities are required to install test
equipment for internal factory test laboratories.
Apart from charges mentioned above in the table, we may ask you to
pay/reimbursement for a Pre-Visit at your Factory Premises to ensure the
conformity of your product as per the relevant Indian Standard & BIS guidelines
for its BIS certification.
5. Role of ERCS Private Limited in getting your product certified :
To get BIS certification and produce a standard quality product, the manufacturer
must ensure that their product must follow the specified Indian Standard
Specifications (ISS) which we directly interpret to you from the BIS officials as
per the Indian Standards.
ECRS Private Limited will be your friend, philosopher and guide in the whole
process of getting your product certified by the concerned authorities/
departments.
Scope of work by ECRS Private Limited:
a. Ensuring the conformity of your product as per IS 16890:
ERCS Pvt. Ltd. has developed a vast network within the Protective
textile Industry & various BIS departments to assist for ensuring conformity of
the product Textiles - Protective Clothing for Firefighters – Specification
according to according to IS 16890.
b. Effective documentation with the awareness of the BIS guidelines:
In order to facilitate the manufacturing industry in obtaining BIS certifications,
guidelines have been developed. Our team has the experience of completing
over 150 projects and technically competent acquaintances in various
Industries.
We are familiar with the Indian Standard Specifications & BIS guidelines and
deliver the most suitable interpretation to the Quality Control Personnel so we
can do a reliable and effective documentation of your product in accordance
with the BIS guidelines.
c. A pre-visit can be paid at your factory premises:
In the process of getting BIS certification, the officer from BIS authority visits
the factory for inspection. In order to get good results, the BIS inspection
should go smoothly without any Non-Conformity. By keeping this goal in
mind, our team will organize a pre-visit to your factory premises so that
required changes can be adapted so as to remove the elements of fallibility.
d. Assistance for BIS audits:
We will explain the whole procedure of conducting a BIS inspection and make
you aware of the things which need to be prepared and readily available at
the time of inspection.
6. Benefits of getting ISI Mark for Textiles - Protective Clothing for
Firefighters – Specification to sell in Indian Market with our help :
The term “ISI mark" means, that a certain product conforms to the quality
standards set up by the government.
It is compulsory for Textiles - Protective Clothing for Firefighters – Specification
to obtain the ISI Mark and the violators are penalized with the material seize and
a significant sum as fine.
Getting certification improves the probability of your product to survive and
compete in the market.
Customers have the tendency of buying ISI certified products as it ensured safety
and standard quality. Hence, with the certified products you can win the
confidence and trust of the buyer.
With the word of mouth of such client list, you can establish your credibility in the
market.
Hence with the renowned brand, you can raise the standard and benchmark the
market value of the product.