New version of IS standard for plugs and sockets
23. December 2020The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has updated the Indian Standard (IS) 1293: “Plugs and Socket Outlets for Household and Similar Purposes of Rated Voltage up to and Including 250 V and Rated Current up to and Including 16 A — Specification” from 2005 this year and the update is now called IS 1293:2019. The update was originally set to come into effect 25 July 2020, but due to the CoVid-19 pandemic, they have postponed the coming into effect of the new standard to 23 October 2020.
Just like the previous version of the standard, only AC plugs or portable socket outlets for household or similar purposes (indoors or outdoors) with a rated voltage not exceeding 250 V and a rated current no exceeding 16 A are covered. Such plugs and sockets can be singular units, incorporated in cord sets, cord extensions sets or as a component in a different device. The household limitation excludes industrial plugs, appliance couplers, extra low voltage components or when combined with fuses, automatic switches etc.
The updated 2019 version made some changes to technical requirements, but a more urgent change is that with this update, the marking of covered products with the ISI logo is now mandatory and was started to be checked in Indian customs starting 1 December 2020. Other changes include:
- 10A are now no longer a preferred rating.
- Plugs and socket outlets of a 16.5mm pitch for 2.5 A sockets are no longer accepted.
- The 5-pin design has been deleted.
- There are additional gauges requirements.
- Oval shaped socket outlet designs are no longer accepted.
- Additional requirements to floating terminals have been added.
- New construction requirements for socket contacts, pins of socket contacts and screwless terminals were added.
- New test requirements to ensure zero strain on non-rewireable plugs and non-rewireable portable sockets were added.
- A few more options for membranes and grommets were given and some other options.
The updated standard is based on IEC 60884-1 (2013) ‘Plugs and socket outlet for household and similar purposes — Part 1: General requirements’ with modifications in scope: a) Accessories ratings covered are only up to and including 16 A and 250 V; b) Combined socket-outlet has been covered; c) Ambient test condition; d) Schedule of routine, acceptance and type tests have been included; e) Rated voltage covered up to and including 250 V.
Since 2012, the BIS has been gradually expanding the certification catalog and continuously adding additional goods. BIS certification mandatory for many electronic products for industrial and consumer uses. Factory inspections are also required for some products.
If you are interested in understanding what requirements are needed for your product to be imported into India, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone at +49-69-271 37 69 261. There is no cost or obligation for us to check for you. If a certification need is discovered we can provide a quotation to make sure that all your certification needs are covered.
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