Glass standards in India: IS 2553, the BIS mark and NBC 2016
Since 1 April 2023, safety glass sold in India must be BIS-certified to IS 2553 and carry an etched ISI mark. This guide explains what the standards actually say, where safety glass is effectively mandatory, and how to check the glass that lands at your site — written for homeowners and architects, not lawyers.
“Toughened”, “laminated” and “safety glass”: what the words mean
Colloquially, people use these words loosely — “toughened” often just means “the good glass”. The standards are precise. Toughened (tempered) glass is float glass heat-treated so that it is roughly four to five times stronger than annealed glass and, when it breaks, crumbles into small blunt granules instead of shards. Laminated glass is two or more panes bonded with a plastic interlayer (usually PVB) that holds the fragments in place after breakage.
“Safety glass” has a legal meaning in India: glass that meets IS 2553 (Part 1): 2018 — a standard that tests how the glass breaks and how it resists impact, not just how strong it is. A pane is not safety glass because a shopkeeper calls it toughened; it is safety glass because it passed IS 2553 testing and carries a BIS licence mark. Plain annealed float glass, however thick, is never safety glass.
The key Indian Standards for glass
| Standard | What it covers | Who needs to care |
|---|---|---|
| IS 2553 (Part 1): 2018 | Safety glass (toughened and laminated) for architectural, building and general uses — fragmentation, impact and optical requirements. ISI mark mandatory under the 2020 Quality Control Order. | Homeowners, architects, fabricators, importers — anyone buying or specifying safety glass for a building. |
| IS 2553 (Part 2): 2019 | Safety glass for road transport — windscreens and vehicle glazing. | Automotive manufacturers and glass suppliers; not relevant to building work. |
| IS 2553 (Part 3): 2019 | Safety glass for solar applications — glass used in solar panels and modules. | Solar module manufacturers and EPC contractors. |
| IS 14900: 2018 | Transparent float glass — the base annealed glass that toughened and laminated glass are made from. A quality spec, not a safety spec. | Float glass makers (Saint-Gobain, AIS, Gold Plus etc.) and processors; buyers rarely need to cite it directly. |
| IS 16231 (Part 4) | Code of practice for use of glass in buildings — safety related to human impact. Identifies "critical locations" (doors, low glazing, bathing areas) where safety glass should be used. | Architects, façade consultants and structural engineers; it is the technical basis of the NBC glazing section. |
| NBC 2016, Part 6 / Section 8 | The National Building Code chapter on glass and glazing — where and how glass should be used in buildings, drawing on IS 16231. A model code that states adopt through building bylaws. | Architects, builders and approving authorities; homeowners indirectly, via their architect. |
One-sentence rule: IS 14900 is the base glass, IS 2553 (Part 1) is the safety glass made from it, and NBC 2016 / IS 16231 tell you where the safety glass must go.
The BIS Quality Control Order: when the ISI mark became mandatory
The Safety Glass (Quality Control) Order, 2020, issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, made BIS certification compulsory for safety glass. After a series of extensions and amendment orders, it has been in force since 1 April 2023. From that date, safety glass for architectural, building and general uses cannot legally be manufactured, imported, stored or sold in India unless it conforms to IS 2553 (Part 1): 2018 and carries the ISI mark under a valid BIS licence.
What this means for a buyer is simple: any toughened or laminated glass you are sold as “safety glass” today should carry a permanent etched ISI mark on every pane. Glass without the mark is either plain annealed glass, unlicensed processing, or old stock — and in a shower, door or railing, none of those is acceptable. The Order applies to the product itself, so it covers both Indian processors and imports.
Where safety glass is effectively mandatory in India
The NBC 2016 glazing section (drawing on IS 16231 Part 4) identifies critical locations where glass is likely to be struck by a person. The NBC is a model code — it binds only where a state or local authority adopts it in building bylaws, so exact legal mandates vary by state. In practice, though, architects, lenders and reputable fabricators treat the following as non-negotiable:
| Location | Standard practice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Shower enclosures and bathroom glass | Toughened glass, typically 8–10mm, with the etched ISI mark | Wet, slippery area with bare skin next to the glass — if it breaks, it must crumble into blunt granules, not shards. |
| Frameless glass doors and full-height partitions | Toughened glass, typically 10–12mm | People walk into glass they cannot see. Doors are the classic "critical location" for human impact in IS 16231 / NBC 2016. |
| Railings and balustrades | Toughened, or laminated (often laminated-toughened) where the glass must stay in place after breakage — thickness set by structural design | A railing that vanishes when it breaks is a fall hazard; laminated glass holds together on the interlayer. |
| Glazing close to floor level (low sills) | Safety glass for panes that start near the floor | Glass at shin-to-waist height is easy to fall against or kick; NBC guidance treats low glazing as a critical location. |
| Building façades, skylights and overhead glazing | Toughened or laminated per design; laminated preferred overhead so broken glass stays in the frame | Falling glass endangers people below; wind load and post-breakage behaviour drive the specification. |
| Schools, hospitals, gyms and public buildings | Safety glass throughout glazed circulation areas; laminated where fragment retention matters | High footfall and vulnerable occupants — the cost difference is small next to the liability. |
Thicknesses above are indicative starting points — the right specification depends on panel size, fixing method, height above ground and wind load, and for railings and façades it should come from a structural check, not a rule of thumb.
How to check the BIS mark on delivered glass
- Find the etched stamp.Genuine safety glass has a permanent mark sandblasted or ceramic-fired into a corner of the pane — usually the ISI logo, the maker’s brand, the word TOUGHENED or LAMINATED, and “IS 2553 (Part 1)”. A paper sticker or a mark only on the packaging does not count.
- Read the licence number. The mark includes a BIS licence number in the form CM/L-XXXXXXX. Note it down.
- Verify it with BIS. Search the licence number on the BIS website (bis.gov.in) or the BIS Care mobile app to confirm the licence is valid, issued for IS 2553 (Part 1), and belongs to the manufacturer named on the stamp.
- Check every pane, not just one. Each piece of safety glass is marked individually. If only two of your six shower panels carry the stamp, ask why before installation — not after.
- Match the mark to your order. Confirm the thickness and type on the stamp match what you paid for — an 8mm toughened stamp on a panel quoted as 10mm is a common substitution.
What to ask your fabricator
- “Do you hold a BIS licence for IS 2553 (Part 1)?” Ask for the CM/L number up front and verify it — a genuine licensee will share it without hesitation.
- “Will every pane carry the etched ISI mark?” Get this in writing on the quotation, so unmarked glass can be rejected at delivery.
- “Toughened or heat-strengthened?” Heat-strengthened glass is stronger than annealed but does not fragment safely and is not safety glass on its own — it is legitimate only inside a laminated build-up.
- “For laminated: which interlayer, and how thick?” PVB is the default; ask for the nominal build-up (e.g. 5+1.52+5) so you can compare quotes like-for-like.
- “Who is doing the structural check?” For railings, façades and overhead glass, thickness should come from a design calculation, not from whatever sheet is in stock.
- “What happens after breakage?” For balustrades and overhead glazing, ask specifically whether the glass will stay in place if it breaks — that is the argument for laminated over plain toughened in those spots.
Frequently asked questions
Is BIS certification mandatory for toughened glass in India?
Yes, for safety glass. The Safety Glass (Quality Control) Order, 2020 — in force since 1 April 2023 after extensions — requires toughened and laminated safety glass made, imported or sold in India to meet IS 2553 (Part 1): 2018 and carry the ISI mark under a BIS licence.
What is the difference between IS 2553 and IS 14900?
IS 14900: 2018 is the quality specification for plain float glass — the annealed base material. IS 2553 (Part 1): 2018 covers what happens after processing: toughened and laminated safety glass, with fragmentation and impact tests. Float glass meeting IS 14900 becomes safety glass only when processed and certified to IS 2553.
Is toughened glass compulsory for shower enclosures in India?
In practice, yes. NBC 2016 and IS 16231 treat bathing areas as critical locations for human impact, and since the 2020 Quality Control Order any safety glass sold must be BIS-marked. Legal enforcement depends on your state adopting the NBC in its bylaws, but no reputable fabricator installs annealed glass in a shower.
How do I verify the ISI mark on glass?
Look for a permanently etched or sandblasted stamp on each pane showing the ISI logo, IS 2553 (Part 1), the maker’s brand and a licence number in the form CM/L-XXXXXXX. Check that licence number on the BIS website or the BIS Care app. A paper sticker alone is not the mark.
Can I use ordinary annealed glass for a glass door?
You should not. Annealed glass breaks into long, sharp shards, and doors are exactly where people collide with glass. NBC 2016 guidance calls for safety glass in doors and adjacent panels, and a full-height door pane in annealed glass is the single most common cause of serious glass injuries.
What thickness of toughened glass do railings need?
It depends on span, height, fixing method and wind load, so a structural check decides — 12mm toughened is a common starting point for framed residential railings, and laminated glass is preferred where panes must stay in place after breakage. Treat any single quoted thickness as indicative, not a rule.
Need BIS-marked safety glass?
Tell us the size and type — we'll connect you with verified glass suppliers near you for a free, no-obligation quote.
Request a free quotation →Also see: types of glass compared, glass HSN codes & GST, glass thickness guide.