BIS (ISI) Certification for Steel
The Ministry of Steel is one of the Indian government departments responsible for ensuring that all steel and steel products comply with regulations. It has issued the Steel Quality Control Order, outlining the requirements for regulatory compliance for steel and products for BIS Certification. All the manufacturers and importers must comply with the IS specification to obtain approval marks, like the ISI mark, from the Bureau of Indian Standards, the nation’s official standards organization. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution currently oversees BIS, which was once India’s biggest third-party inspection organization. BIS launched a variety of schemes for approving different product categories.
Overview of BIS Certification for Steel Products
BIS is the national standards organization under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act. BIS Certification (ISI) is obtained by the manufacturers in the name of the product when it is certified by BIS to meet all the essential standards for dependability, safety, and quality. BIS approval is required in India for structural steel, steel plates, steel pipes, and reinforcing steel bars, also known as TMT bars, that are used for reinforcing concrete structures, providing strength, flexibility, and durability in construction.
Types of BIS Certificate for Steel
Below are the different certification schemes for both the Indian manufacturers and foreign manufacturers:
1. BIS Certification Scheme for Indian Manufacturers: The purpose of the BIS Certification Scheme for Indian manufacturers is to guarantee that the goods meet the necessary standards for performance, quality, and safety in India. As proof of conformity with Indian standards, this certificate is crucial for local producers in order to gain access to government contracts, exports, and customer trust.
2. Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has a Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme under FMCD for foreign manufacturers who want to sell products in India or export them to the Indian market. The scheme makes sure that products from foreign countries meet Indian Standards (IS) with respect to quality, safety, and even performance requirements.
BIS Certification for Steel Imports
To ensure that steel imported into India meets Indian Standards when it enters the market, BIS standards for steel products need to be followed to check whether the goods comply with the provided regulations or not. To prevent the introduction of below-average items into the market that can be dangerous for customers, it only tests the standards, safety, and other suitability of steel for other factories and constructions. To ensure seamless trade operations and comply with regulatory requirements, importers must get BIS certification for specific steel products.
Eligibility Criteria of BIS Certification for Steel Products in India
These are some of the basic requirements for getting your products BIS certified. Please take note of the following:
- Before applying, the applicant must locate the relevant Indian standard (IS).
- Chemical and Mechanical (Grades) of the material should be covered in the standard.
- Only the production unit (where a finished product is made) receives the ISI Certificate from BIS.
- The license is not granted by BIS to the importer, distributor, or retailer.
- The applicants must submit a separate application for each factory address if they have several factories spread across various areas.
- The production process chart, from raw material receipt to final packing, must be displayed by the manufacturer. BIS clearance must be needed if any manufacturing is outsourced.
- In order to perform in accordance with the relevant Indian standard and SIT, the applicant (manufacturer) must make sure they have all the necessary testing equipment and qualified quality control personnel (QCI).
Mandatory Product List for BIS (ISI) Certification for Steel
| S.No. | Product Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | General-Purpose Chairs and Stools IS 17632 |
| 2 | Wear Abrasion Resistant Steel and Plates IS 18809:2024 |
| 3 | Carbon and Low Alloy Steel Billets, Blooms, Slabs and Bars for Manufacture of Shell Bodies and Proof Shots IS 14698:1999 |
| 4 | Hot – Rolled Mild Steel Sheet and Strip in Coil Form IS 2385: 1977 |
| 5 | Steel Ingots, blooms, and billets for production of mild steel wire for production of mild steel wire rods for general engineering purposes – Specification IS 8952: 1995 |
| 6 | Specification for Cold rolled medium, high carbon and low alloy steel strip for general engineering purposes IS 7226: 1974 |
| 7 | Cold Rolled Non-Oriented Electrical Steel Sheet and Strip –Semi-Processed Type Specification IS 15391:2003 |
| 8 | Steel Pipes For Water And Sewage IS 3589 |
| 9 | Hollow Steel Sections For Structural Use IS 4923 |
| 10 | Steel Tubes For Mechanical And General Engineering Purposes IS 3601:2006 |
Required Documents for Steel Product Certification
The following are the important documents needed for BIS approval for steel goods:
- Fill out the application.
- Documents for factory registration (KYC)
- Flow chart for the manufacturing process.
- List of necessary testing tools that have been properly calibrated (in-house testing facilities)
- Details of the raw materials and their certifications of testing
- Details of the authorized signatory and QCI
- Report on factory testing
- Layout of the plant and other relevant documentation
BIS Certification Process for Steel and Stainless Products
There are two procedures for obtaining a BIS license; let’s have a look at both:
1. The Simplified Process
The steps involved in the process are:
Step 1: A candidate should set up a laboratory of their own for product testing and acquire the relevant Indian Standards.
Step 2: The applicant must submit their application via the BIS portal, along with test results from a lab that BIS has approved.
Step 3: The factory inspection will be carried out by a BIS officer.
Step 4: After being sealed by a BIS inspector during the plant inspection, the sample was delivered to a BIS-approved facility for analysis.
Step 5: Any non-conformance issues brought to light by BIS must be fixed, and instructions must be followed.
Step 6: The ISI certificate is issued by the BIS.
Benefits of BIS Certification for Steel in India
The primary advantages of BIS licensing are as follows:
1. Certification: Customers and regulatory bodies would receive a quality certification confirming that this product meets the essential specifications of the Indian standard for structural quality. Thus, it would demonstrate that this specific product has completed stringent testing and inspection processes.
2. Increased market acceptance: ISI certified items are preferred by the consumers. Most of the government tenders for major construction projects require ISI certified equipment, which improves the company’s chances.
3. Conventional rules are followed: ISI accreditation guarantees that a company won’t be fined or run afoul of the law for employing subpar building materials.
4. Competitive Advantage: The ISI mark will serve as a national symbol of quality and dependability, helping businesses stand out from the competition and eventually win over more customers.
5. Customer confidence: Consumers associate the ISI mark with their brands’ dependability, quality, and safety; as a result, it increases brand awareness and fosters greater customer loyalty.
6. Responsibility and risk: Manufacturers, suppliers, and end users don’t have to worry as much about responsibility when certification lowers the chance of structural collapse or compliance problems.