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What is DGMS Approval?
The Directorate General of Mines Safety, short DGMS, is a regulatory agency under the Ministry of labour and employment of the Government of India. It´s main task is to ensure the occupational safety, health and welfare of persons employed in the Indian mining industry (coal, metalliferous and oil mines). DGMS is responsible for issuing and enforcing the relevant regulations for the Indian mining sector, such as the Mines Act of 1952 as well as all rules and regulations it includes. The DGMS is responsible for the DGMS certification of mining equipment.
Which Products are Subject to DGMS Approval?
Most equipment, machinery, appliances and/or materials intended to be used in the Indian mining sector need to undergo the approval procedure of DGMS. The authority categorizes such products into eight different categories:
- Environmental monitoring instruments and devices
- Personal protective equipment
- Rescue apparatus
- Electrical equipment and cables
- Machines and other equipment for carrying out mining operations
- Explosives and related accessories
- Safety materials for use in underground mines
- Other specific equipment and materials
An overview of equipment and materials requiring DGMS approval can be found on our list below, along with the relevant standards.
DGMS Certification Process in India
The following section provides an overview of the DGMS Approval Process in India. While this procedure is followed in most cases, there might be slight deviations for some approvals due to special circumstances or due to the unique nature of the equipment or material.
Preparation and submission of application documents
Proof of conformity with relevant standards
Submission of product tests and technical drawings
Field test is carried out
Carrying out type and routine tests
Reports and application are reviewed
DGMS approval is granted
Application for renewed approval after 1-5 years
| 1. | The first step involves submitting all relevant application documents for the DGMS certification. These need to be prepared in the format required by DGMS and then submitted by the owner, proprietor or partner of the company seeking approval. |
| 2. | If applicable Indian Standards exist for the products to be certified, then compliance to these regulations needs to be demonstrated to the authority. This means that certain equipment requires a BIS certification prior to the DGMS approval. Equipment that does not fall under any Indian Standard needs to be compliant with internationally recognized norms (such as ISO, EN, DIN, etc.). These norms may then be accepted by DGMS for the approval process. |
| 3. | Test reports from an accredited laboratory need to be submitted together with the application, as well as technical drawings which have been approved by the laboratory. Like most other certifications in India, non-Indian companies require an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) for the application. The AIR must be an Indian company and serves as the main contact for the authority throughout the application process. In case applicants do not want to involve local business partners for that matter, MPR India Certification can also provide the AIR service. |
| 4. | Once all the aforementioned documents have been scrutinized and approved by the authority a “field trial approval” is granted. The validity period for the field trial approval in India is ranging from three months to one year, depending on the equipment type. After the field trial has been successfully completed, the applicant needs to submit performance reports from the user and/or DGMS officer in charge. |
| 5. | For the next step DGMS requests applicants to perform further product testing on their equipment, namely type tests and routine tests. For type tests, prototypes are being checked against the relevant standards. Routine tests are carried out by the manufacturers on-site for quality assurance. |
| 6. | Once the field trial reports and test reports have been scrutinized and approved by DGMS, the case is examined, and recommendations are made for the grant of the regular approval. If there are any shortcomings during the field trial the trial period may be extended to solve the related issues by using appropriate corrective measures. |
| 7. | When the DGMS approval has been granted by the authority, manufacturers receive unique equipment numbers for their approved products. These numbers need to be marked accordingly on the product prior to installation on-site. |
| 8. | The initial DGMS registration has a validity of 1-5 years. To apply for reapproval of their products, manufacturers must submit performance reports from their Indian users as well as BIS certificates wherever applicable to the authority. |
What documents are required for the DGMS approval?
- Application form
- BIS certificates (if applicable)
- Business license (in English)
- Test reports from an accredited laboratory
- Technical drawings approved by an accredited laboratory
- Proof of quality control capabilities of the manufacturer (relevant licenses, testing and storage facilities, marketing and after-sales capabilities, etc.)
- Documentation for the appointment of the Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) (only for non-Indian applicants)
DGMS Change Management
Products with a valid DGMS approval must comply with the applicable Indian regulations for DGMS registration. The applicant must assure that the authority will be notified of changes prior to change implementation. These changes include, but are not limited to:
- Change to the product design
- Change in the structure of the product
- Changes to a core component
- Change in raw material and/or material supplier
The regulations explicitly state that the authority decides in each individual case whether an official application for a change must be submitted and, if so, what the consequences are for the holders of DGMS approval as a result of the change.
It should also be noted that the Indian standards and regulations are subject to revisions and might be updated over time. In case of such updates, any equipment that has received approval in accordance with previous regulations needs to demonstrate compliance with the new regulations. In such a case, manufacturers need to need to file an application for the amendment of the existing approval.
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Clarification of the DGMS approval and BIS certification requirement for your products
Application preparation and advice
Handling of all communication with the authorities and test labs
Provision of the Authorized Indian Representative (AIR), if required
Organization of the renewal of your DGMS approval
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DGMS Certification Overview
| Validity of the approval | 1-5 years |
| Time required for approval | Approximately 1 year after submission of the application (Approval of field trial: 3 months; Field trial: 6 months; Final product assessment 3 months) |
| Tests required? | Yes, type tests & routine tests |
| Factory audit required? | Can be requested by DGMS; Also relevant for BIS certification, if applicable |
| Representative in country | AIR (Authorized Indian Representative) is required |
| Renewal process | Renewal must be applied for before the approval expires (60 days – 6 months prior to expiration, depending on overall validity period of the approval) |
DGMS Certification FAQ
Most equipment, machinery, appliances and/or materials intended to be used in the Indian mining sector need to undergo the approval procedure of DGMS. Feel free to reach out to us if you would like us to check the requirements for your products.
After the submission of the application, the process can normally be completed within 1 year. During the first step, DGMS will scrutinize all submitted documents as part of their approval for field trial. Once the field trial has been approved, the equipment needs to be tested on-site in India, for usually a period of 6 months. In the final step the authority will scrutinize the results of the field trial and grant the final approval if they are satisfied with the outcome. This last step usually takes around 3 months.
The initial DGMS approval is valid for 1-5 years. The validity can also be extended when manufacturers apply for extension 60 days to 6 months prior to the approval´s expiration. How long applicants need to apply for reapproval in advance depends on the validity period of their approval.
All required documents should be carefully prepared before submission to the authority. Applicants need to make confirm that their products comply with the Indian requirements, especially regarding the BIS certification of their products as well as the availability of test reports issued by an accredited laboratory.
The AIR must be provided by a local Indian company. The company can be the manufacturers subsidiary or a distribution partner. External service providers such as MPR India Certification can also provide this service.
If factory inspections are required is decided on a case-by-case basis by DGMS. If the equipment also requires a BIS certification, BIS will conduct a factory inspection at the manufacturer’s premises.
No, information on DGMS approvals is provided in English on the website of the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS). Companies are obliged to inform themselves about changes if they have not contracted a consultancy firm to monitor changes.
EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS REQUIRING DGMS APPROVAL
| No. | EQUIPMENT | PROVISION OF CMR, 1957 | PROVISION OF MMR, 1961 | PROVISION OF OMR, 1984 | PROVISION OF MRR, 1985 | STANDARD FOLLOWED |
| 1. | Flame Safety Lamp | 2(2) | 2(2) | 11(5) | IS:7577-1986 | |
| 2. | Cap Lamp a. Flexible cable for miners' cap lamps b. Miners' cap lamp assemblies (incorporating Pb-acid batteries) c. Miners' cap lamp batteries (Pb-acid type) | 2(2) | 2(2) | IS:2593-1984, IS:5679-1986, IS:2512-1978 |
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| 3. | Permitted Explosives a. Permitted Explosives b. Detonators c. Detonating Fuses | 2(23) | 2(23) | IS:6609 (part-2/ Sec.2)-1974, IS:6609(part 3) - 1974, IS: 6609 (part 4)-1984 |
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| 4. | Tub Couplings | 89(1)(c) | 97(1)(c) | |||
| 5. | CO Detector | 113(3)(c), 118A(3)(a)(I), 119(1)(b), 121, 125(3)(b), 142(5) | 116(3)(b), 120(1)(b), 120(2)(c), 122, 126(3)(b), 141(5) | Tubes - IS: 13293- 1992, CO detectors - |
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| 6. | Dust Sampler | 123(3)(b) | 124(2)(b) | NCB MRE 113A design as prototype | ||
| 7. | Stone Dust Barrier | 123(c)(2) | - | |||
| 8. | Methanometers | 145(1)(a) | - | Portable (electrical type) IS: 9937-1981 | ||
| 9. | Glass for Flame Safety Lamp | 157(4) | 151(4) | IS:5676-1986 | ||
| 10. | Cap Lamp Bulbs | 157(4) | 151(4) | For 4V, 0.8A- IS: 2596-1980, 4V, 1.0 A - BIS under formulation |
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| 11. | Oil for Flame Safety Lamp | 157(5) | - | IS: 7577-1986 | ||
| 12. | Mechanically propelled vehicle for transport of explosives | 164(A)(2)(a) | - | |||
| 13. | Exploders | 174 | 165(3) | IS: 9836-1981 Circuit tester: IS:9836-1981 Appendix I |
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| 14. | Protective Footwear a. Safety rubber canvas boots b. Protective boots for oilfield workmen c. Leather safety footwear having direct moulded soles d. Miners' safety boots with leather soles e. Rubber knee boots f. Leather safety shoes for women workers in mines and steel plants | 191 | 182 | 87 | IS: 3976-1995, IS:9885(Part I) -1981, IS: 11226-1993, IS:1989(part I) - 1986, IS:3738-1975, IS: 11225-1985 |
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| 15. | Helmet | 191-A | 182A | 88 | IS: 2925-1984 | |
| 16. | Fire-Resistant Brattices including plastic sheeting and ventilation ducting. a. Fire resistant brattice cloth b. Fire resistant brattice sheeting made from unsupported plastics c. Ventilation ducting- vinyl coated semi rigid d. PVC ventilation tubing (flexible ducting) | 181(3) | IS: 4355-1977, IS: 11884-1986, IS: 12814-1989, IS: 3768-1996 |
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| 17. | Safety Belt | 181(3) | 27 & 93 | IS-3521-1983 | ||
| 18. | Friction Props and Prop Setting Devices | 181(3) | IS-7586:1975 | |||
| 19. | Hydraulic Roof Support | 181(3) | IS-8421:1977 | |||
| 20. | Link Bars | 181(3) | IS-9171:1979 | |||
| 21. | Powered Supports | 181(3) | ICIS-001:1991 | |||
| 22. | Man-Riding Haulage System | 181(3) | IS-9494:1980 | |||
| 23. | Detaching Hook | 181(3) | IS-7587: 1993 & IS-9011:1978 | |||
| 24. | Cage Suspension Gear Including Bridle Chains | 181(3) | IS-7587: 1993 & IS-9011:1978 | |||
| 25. | Winding Rope | 181(3) | IS-1856:1977; IS-3626:1978 | |||
| 26. | Balance Rope | 181(3) | IS-5203:1969 | |||
| 27. | Haulage Rope for Man-Riding | 181(3) | IS-1856:1977; IS-3626:1978 | |||
| 28. | Underground Conveyor Belting | 181(3) | IS-3181:1992 for PVC belting; BCS-730 for Steel cord belting | |||
| 29. | Underground Locomotive | 181(3) | Reg 95(1) & TM 12 of British Coal, BIS - 9999:1981 | |||
| 30. | Internal Combustion Engine | 181(3) | Reg. 181(1) & Appendix of Reg. 95(1) of CMR '57 | |||
| 31. | Flame Proof and Intrinsically Safe Equipment | 181(3) | IS-2148:1981, IS-5780:1980 |
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| 32. | Automatic Contrivance | 181(3) | Reg. 76(7) of CMR '57 | |||
| 33. | Power Brake | 181(3) | Reg. 74(2) of CMR '57 | |||
| 34. | Automatic Speed Chart Recorder | 181(3) | Reg. 76(6) of CMR '57 | |||
| 35. | Emergency Steam Valve | 181(3) | Reg. 74 (3) of CMR '57 | |||
| 36. | Water Ampoules/ Gel Ampoules for stemming high explosives, (a) Self sealing PVC water ampoules for use in shot holes | 181(3) | NCB 414/ 1964 | |||
| 37. | High Pressure Hydraulic Hose with its end fittings | 181(3) | BCS-174:1992; BCS 638 | |||
| 38. | Dust Respirators | 181(3) | IS: 9473-1980 | |||
| 39. | Hydraulic Fluid used in underground machinery | IS 10532:1983; IS 7895:1975 | ||||
| 40. | Cables used in high, medium and low voltage electrical systems & also flexible cables/ control cables used for electrical systems of all voltages. | 181(3) | IS-1554(Part-I& II), IS-9968 (Part-I & II), IS-1026; IS-691, 7098 (Part-I & II) |
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| 41. | Breathing Apparatus | 11(5) | IS-10245 (Part-I & II)(1st rev.) | |||
| 42. | Smoke Helmets & apparatus serving same purpose | 11(5) | IS-10245 (Part-III): 1982 | |||
| 43. | Reviving Apparatus | 11(5) | IS-13366:1992 | |||
| 44. | Self Rescuers | 191 D | 11(5) | IS-9563: 1980 | ||
| 45. | Electrical Lighting Apparatus | 181(3) | 75(2) | IS-2148, IS-2206 (Part-I) | ||
| 46. | Electrical Equipment for use in hazardous area (Zone 1 & 2) | 75(2) | IS-2148, 5780,13408, 13346, 13947 | |||
| 47. | Gas Detectors | 11(5) | IS-5780:1980 | |||
| 48. | Portable Hand Lamps for use in storage tanks | 55(6)(c)(ii) | ||||
| 49. | Lifeline | 27 & 93 | ||||
| 50. | Petroleum Storage Tanks | 55 | ||||
| 51. | Pipelines and fittings (Specification approval if not as per ISS) | 62 |
