ISI Certification (BIS) for TEXTILES - PROTECTIVE CLOTHING FOR FIREFIGHTERS – SPECIFICATION IS 16890

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.