Product Certification Scheme of BIS
The Product Certification Scheme of BIS aims at providing Third Party Guarantee of quality, safety and reliability of products to the ultimate customer. Presence of ISI certification mark known as Standard Mark on a product is an assurance of conformity to the specifications. The conformity is ensured by regular surveillance of the licensee's performance by surprise inspections and testing of samples, drawn both from the market and factory. |
1.INTRODUCTION |
The Bureau of Indian Standards, empowered through a legislative Act of the Indian Parliament, known as the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986, operates a product certification scheme, and has till date granted more than 30 000 licenses to manufacturers covering practically every industrial discipline from Agriculture to Textiles to Electronics. The certification allows the licensees to use the popular ISI Mark, which has become synonymous with Quality products for the Indian and neighboring markets over the past 50 years. The Bureau's predecessor, the Indian Standards Institution began operating the product certification Scheme in 1955. Presently more than 19000 licences are in operation covering about 1000 products.
2. OPERATING PRINCIPLE
The BIS Product certification Scheme operates in an impartial, non discriminatory and transparent manner. The documents stating the powers, rights and responsibilities of BIS and the affected sectors of society are published by the Government of India as the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986, Rules and (Certification) Regulations, 1988. The specific procedure for operating a licence are given in another document called the Scheme of Testing and Inspection (STI), described later. Procedures provide for maintaining a very high degree of confidentiality and integrity among its personnel who perform certification related tasks. A body called the ' Certification Advisory Committee' composed of persons from varied sectors like manufacturers, consumers, Government agencies, industries associations reviews the performance of the scheme and advises on key policy issues. Internally, a senior functionary designated as 'Additional Director General (Marks)' is responsible for ensuring that the scheme operates within the framework of rules and procedures established.
3.CERTIFICATION SYSTEM
The BIS product certification scheme is essentially voluntary in nature, and is largely based on ISO Guide 28, which provides general rules for third party certification system of determining conformity with product standards through initial testing and assessment of a factory quality management system and its acceptance followed by surveillance that takes into account the factory Quality management system and the testing of samples from the factory and the open market. All BIS certifications are carried out in accordance with Indian Standards, which are amenable to certification. A large number of operational elements of the BIS product certification scheme correspond with the requirements of ISO Guide 65.
4.TYPES OF LICENSING
Although, the scheme itself is voluntary in nature, the Government of India, on considerations of public health and safety, security, infrastructure requirements and mass consumption has enforced mandatory certification on various products through Orders issued from time to time under various Acts. While BIS continues to grant licences on application, the enforcement of compulsory certification is done by the notified authorities. For the list of items brought under mandatory certification, together with the corresponding Indian Standard Number, and the authorities responsible for enforcing the orders,
Under separate arrangements with Statutory agencies, some products have been placed under special certification schemes of lot or batch inspection carried out by BIS Inspecting officers. A majority of Gas cylinders, regulators and valves are certified through such schemes. Under agreement with UNICEF, Deep well hand-pumps, a critical potable water supply source for rural areas is also certified under a lot inspection scheme.
For all other products, the manufacturer is permitted to self certify the products after ascertaining its conformity to the Standard licensed for. Through its surveillance operations, the Bureau maintains a close vigil on the quality of certified goods.
Overseas applicants and Indian Importers are also granted licence for use of ISI mark under separately designed schemes. For details, please see BIS Foreign Manufacturers Scheme and Indian Importers Scheme. |
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5. Resources:
The finances of the Bureau are self managed, with certification operations accounting for more than 90 percent of the revenue. The BIS employs a staff complement of engineers and scientists to cater to all its fields of operations. They are trained into evaluation and assessment techniques to a high degree of professional competence. All preliminary and surveillance inspections are carried out by qualified personnel only. BIS has set up eight laboratories in different cities of India for testing samples of products taken during preliminary and surveillance operations. In addition, independent laboratories having demonstrated ability and a quality system complying with ISO/IEC Guide 17025:1999 have been recognized for testing of samples.
The certification scheme operates through a network of 33 Branch Offices set up in State capitals or major industrial towns and 5 Regional Offices overseeing the work of the Branch offices.
PROCEDURE FOR GRANT OF BIS LICENCE FOR DOMESTIC MANUFACTURERS
(Updated on 21 05 2007)
The applicant has the option to choose any of the following two procedures for grant of BIS licence:
i) Normal Procedure – In the normal procedure, the applicant is required to submit the filled in application along with required documents and requisite fee to the nearest BIS branch office. Subsequently, after recording of the application, a preliminary factory evaluation is carried out by BIS officer to ascertain the capability of the applicant/manufacturer to produce goods according to the relevant Indian Standard and to verify the availability of complete testing facility and competent technical personnel. Samples are tested in the factory and also drawn for independent testing. Grant of licence is considered by BIS provided the samples pass during independent testing, preliminary evaluation is satisfactory and the applicant agrees to operate the defined Scheme of Testing & Inspection and pay the prescribed marking fee. For details,
ii) Simplified Procedure – In the simplified procedure, applicant is required to furnish the test report(s) of the sample(s) got tested by him in the BIS approved laboratories, along with the application. If the test report(s) and other documents are found satisfactory, a verification visit is carried out by BIS. The licence is granted thereafter if the verification report is found satisfactory. The applicant also has the option to get the documents and other details as specified in the application, certified by a Chartered Engineer and submit the same to BIS. The licence then shall be granted after scrutiny of the documents and report submitted by Chartered Engineer. By this procedure the licence is expected to be granted within 30 days of receipt of application by BIS, provided all required documents are furnished and found satisfactory.
Note 1: Simplified procedure is available for all products except certain items under mandatory certification like gas cylinders, valves, regulators, cement, etc.
Note 2: If any licence granted as per simplified procedure is cancelled in the event of failure of verification samples, the fresh application shall only be considered as per normal procedure.
Note 3: All India first licence for any product shall be granted as per normal procedure only.
Note 4: There is a separate scheme for Foreign Manufacturers and Indian Importers
Standards & Labeling Programme (BEE)
The Objectives of Standards &Labeling Program is to provide the consumer an informed choice about the energy saving, and thereby the cost saving potential of the marketed household and other equipment. This is expected to impact the energy savings in the medium and long run while at the same time it will position domestic industry to compete in such markets where norms for energy efficiency are mandatory.
The scheme was launched by the Hon'ble Minister of Power in May,2006 and is currently invoked for equipments/appliances (Frost Free(No-Frost) refrigerator, Tubular Fluorescent Lamps, Room Air Conditioners, Direct Cool Refrigerator, Distribution Transformer, Induction Motors, Pump Sets, Ceiling Fans, LPG, Electric Geysers and Colour TV).
Pumps & motors:
Agriculture sector consumes about 35% of the total power generated is consumed in running of electrically operated pump sets in the agriculture sector. Most farmers use inefficient non ISI marked pump sets which consume more electricity and deliver less output. There is a potential of about 25% to 35% improvement in the efficiency of these pump sets by affecting minor/major rectification and shifting to ISI marked pumps
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has unveiled improved energy efficiency norms for the electric motor and pump industry, annueure 4. It may put energy efficiency standards higher than the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) norms for the pump industry.
The motors manufactured by unorganized units do not have ISI standards and is less efficient due to non use of higher quality material resulting in iron loss and copper loss. The no load power factor is above 0.2 which is increasing the no load power consumption. There exists a mismatch in supply of pumps and motors by the unorganized sector as per operating load required by the client. Scope for energy conservation in agricultural pumping is vast since nearly 50% of connected load on the National grid comprises of Agricultural Pumps. Meaningful results in this sector can be achieved only by providing adequate checks and balances. Self certification will result in many unorganized manufacturers like KIT assemblers to wrongly declare their product as FIVE STAR rated products even if it does not meet the parameters of five stars. This will keep the quality conscious organized manufacturers away from the whole process because these KIT sectors can offer such wrongly declared FIVE STAR products at a price much cheaper than quality branded products since they don't pay any Excise Duty, Sales Tax etc. A check on this will really encourage quality manufacturers to enroll themselves in the scheme. Major portion of the connected load on the National grid is for Agricultural Pumps but the farmers have no motivation to conserve energy whereas buyers of refrigerators or air conditioners would themselves be concerned for the energy bills to be paid for. So it is essential that BEE should insist for a certificate from NABL approved lab for the products registered for star ratings.
The star rating plan for pump set specifies the requirements for participating in the energy labeling scheme for pump sets covering Electric mono set pumps, submersible pump sets and open well submersible pump sets. The referred Indian Standard are IS 9079 : 2002 for Electric Mono set pumps for clear, cold water and water supply purposes, IS 8034: 2002 for Submersible pump sets, IS 14220: 1994 Open well submersible pump sets and IS 11346:2004 for testing purposes of the above mentioned pump sets.
The standard ratings covered under the energy labeling scheme
SI.
No |
Product detail electric pumps |
Range Kw |
No. of Poles |
Applicable IS |
1 |
3 Phase open well submersible pump sets |
0.37KW,0.55KW,0.75KW,1.1kW,
1.5kW, 2.2 kW, 3.7 kW & 5.5
kW, 7.5kW, 9.3kW, 11kW, 15kW |
2 Pole |
IS 14220:1994 |
2 |
3 Phase submersible pump sets |
1.1kW, 1.5kW, 2.2 kW, 3.0kW,
3.7 kW ,4.5KW & 5.5 kW,
7.5kW, 9.3kW, 11kW,
|
2 Pole |
IS 8034:2002 |
3 |
3 Phase Mono-set pumps |
0.37kW, 0.55KW,0.75kW,1.1kW,
1.5kW, 2.2 kW, 3.7 kW & 5.5
kW, 7.5kW, 9.3kW, 11kW, 15kW |
2 Pole |
IS 9079:2002 |
Table : Star Rating Plan : The star rating plan for pump sets
Star Rating |
Overall Efficiency of the Pump Set* |
1 Star |
>=1.00 & <1.05 |
2 Star |
>=1.05 & <1.10 |
3 Star |
>=1.10 & <1.15 |
4 Star |
>=1.15 & <1.20 |
5 Star |
>=1.20 |
*Overall efficiency of the pump set is including the efficiency factor for induction motors. The overall efficiency is calculated as per IS 14220:1998, IS 8340:2002 and IS 9079: 2002 for pump sets and IS 12615: 2004, IS: 4029 – 1967, IS 325: 1996 for induction motors.
The energy efficiency of the pumps would be addressed through improvements in winding design, drive control, reducing flow resistance and efficient design of impellers. Most pumps tend to run at constant speed, even though the flow they’re required to deliver may vary. This means they are running too fast and using too much electricity most of the time. Big savings are possible because reducing the flow by 50 per cent will reduce the power required by around 85 per cent. Variable speed can be achieved with a so-called variable-speed drive(VSD), an electrical device which controls power to the motor. Other advantages of a VSD include:
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it acts as a ‘soft starter’ which prevents the electrical system overloading (which can drop the voltage and affect other equipment) and avoids the cost of other starter controllers; |
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the ability to control the speed often results in a higher quality of service (forexample,.better comfort or process control); |
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the ability to control speed allows the motor size to be matched more closely to the actual load, as the VSD can operate the motor at full or higher speed for short periods |
It is estimated that a copper (instead of aluminum) rotor can reduce losses of a motor by 10-15%, |
