Get BIS Certification for Footwear | ISI Mark for Shoes by Aleph INDIA

by Aleph India BIS Registration Consultant

The Bureau of Indian Standards is a national standard organisation in charge of controlling the quality standards of various items sold in India. The BIS issues ISI Marks/Licenses to enterprises that manufacture products that are subject to the Compulsory Certification Scheme (CRS). This licence allows producers to continue manufacturing and selling their products in India without interruption. Only when the product complies with the quality compliances and recommendations of the conformity of the products and required quality standards does BIS give the licence. The Bureau of Indian Standards assigns an auditor to conduct a company audit, and product sample testing is performed by a BIS Authorized Laboratory. BIS starts the licencing process if the product sample meets the required standards.

According to the standards, a number of products are required to have BIS Certification. Footwear, often known as shoes, is subject to BIS certification and is governed by a number of Indian standards. In this post, we'll go over the many types of footwear that are covered by the mandatory certification programme.

CANVAS SHOES WITH RUBBER SOLE (IS 3735:1996)

IS 3735:1996 covers canvas shoes with a rubber sole. This standard specifies the sampling and testing procedures, as well as the design and patterns for canvas shoes that are used for a variety of applications, including gaming and physical training. PT shoes are another name for these shoes. IS 1638:1969 specifies the shoe sizes. These shoes are subject to the Compulsory Certification Scheme (CRS) and must have the ISI Mark in order to be marketed in India. To get BIS License these shoes must pass various tests like:

Adhesion Test
Consolidation Test
Tensile Test
Dimension Test

LEATHER SAFETY BOOTS & SHOES FOR METAL INDUSTRIES (IS 1989 (Part 2):1986)

Leather Safety Boots and Shoes for Metal Industries are covered by IS 1989 (Part 2):1986 and must bear the ISI Mark before being offered in the market. Workers in the heavy metal industry wear these boots to protect themselves from any unexpected situations, thus they demand particular care during the manufacturing process. All raw materials used in the production of these shoes/boots must meet the requirements of IS 1989 (Part 2):1986. As per quality standard standards, each boot/shoe must be labelled with the manufacturer's name, size number, manufacturing year, batch number, and other vital information. To be equipped with the ISI Mark label, these boots must have to pass the tests like:

Impact Test
Tensile Strength Test
Performance Test
Dimension measurement test

LEATHER SAFETY BOOTS & SHOES FOR MINERS (IS 1989 (Part 1):1986)

IS 1989 (Part 1):1986 covers leather safety boots and shoes for miners, and they must have an ISI mark on them to be sold in the market. These shoes are worn by miners to protect themselves from any accidents that may occur in the mine. BIS has made it mandatory for leather safety shoemakers to get a BIS licence in order to safeguard the safety of these workers. Leather safety boots should meet IS 578:1985 and IS 3840:1979 quality standards in terms of design, material, manufacturing process, and finishing. To get qualify for the licensing these leather boots have to pass the following tests:

Impact Test
Dimension Measurement Test
Tensile Strength Test

LEATHER SAFETY FOOTWEAR MOULDED RUBBER SOLE (IS 11226:1993)

IS 11226:1993 covers leather safety footwear with a moulded rubber sole, and it requires a BIS licence to sell in India. These shoes are used by workers in refineries, mines, fertiliser factories, and other areas to safeguard them from slipping on greasy surfaces. Ankle Boots, Jodhpuri Shoes, and Derby Shoes are the three varieties of shoes available. These shoes must pass the following tests to receive BIS Certification for Leather Safety Footwear with Moulded Rubber Sole:

Adhesion Test
Hardness
Relative Density
Workmanship & Finish
Tensile Strength & Elongation at break
Mass
Flexing Resistance
Performance Test
Thickness

SPORTS FOOTWEAR (IS 15844:2010)

Sports footwear requires a BIS licence to manufacture and sell in India, and is governed by IS 15844:2010. After a satisfactory inspection of the manufacturer's manufacturing infrastructure, production process, testing facilities, and quality control, the Bureau of Indian Standards issues a licence. Sports footwear must flex smoothly from foot to toe and swiftly revert to its original shape when force is withdrawn. An insole must be present and cannot be removed without hurting the footwear unless it has a hard sole. These sports footwear are put through the following tests to determine their quality standard:

Adhesion Test
Compression Set Test
Hydrolysis Test
Split Tear Strength Test
Heat Resistance, Linear Shrinkage Test
Gripping Strength of Tags
Trouser Tear Strength Test

PPE PROTECTIVE FOOTWEAR (IS 15298(Part 3):2019)

PPE Protective Footwear is governed by IS 15298(Part 3):2019, and its manufacture and sale in India require BIS certification. Protective footwear with toe caps is designed to protect the wearer from injuries caused by accidents when tested at an energy level of at least 100 J and against compression at a compression force of at least 10 kN. To obtain a BIS licence, these shoes must pass a series of tests, including:

Impact Resistance Test
Corrosion Resistance of metallic toe caps
Compressive Resistance Test
Leakproofness Test
Tensile Properties Test
Flexing Resistance Test
Tear Strength Test
PH Value Test
Penetration Resistance Test
Abrasion Resistance Test

PPE SAFETY FOOTWEAR (IS 15298 (Part 2):2016)

IS 15298 (Part 2):2016 applies to PPE Safety Footwear. Safety footwear has built-in protection to protect the wearer from potential injuries caused by accidents. When tested at compression stress of at least 15 KN and an energy level of at least 200 J, it features toe caps and is meant to protect against compression and impact. Depending on the hazards experienced on the job, additional safety footwear standards may be required. In these circumstances, safety footwear must comply with the applicable standards and markings. These shoes are put through the following tests to see if they can resist any dangerous situation:

Bond Strength Test of Upper & Outsole
Leak Proof Test
Compression Resistance Test
Tensile Strength Test
Tear Strength Test
Water Vapor Permeability Test
Flexing Resistance Test
Hydrolysis Test
Abrasion Resistance Test

PPE OCCUPATIONAL FOOTWEAR (IS 15298 (Part 4):2017)

IS 15298 (Part 4):2017 covers the fundamental and additional quality standard requirements for PPE Occupational Footwear. Depending on the risk that will be experienced in the workplace, additional regulations for occupational footwear may be required. In such cases, occupational footwear must meet the required standard. If an Applicant/Licensee applies for both I and II code designations, each must be tested separately. Each pair of occupational footwear must be properly identified with the size, manufacturer's identifying mark, manufacturer's type identification, year of manufacture, European standard number and year, and other information specified by the standard. These shoes must pass the following tests to be eligible for a BIS licence:

Tear Strength Test
PH Value Test
Tensile Test
Dimension Test
Abrasion Resistance Test
Water Vapour Permeability and Coefficient Test
Flexing Resistance Test
Chromium Vl Content Test

LEATHER SAFETY FOOTWEAR MOULDED PVC SOLE (IS 14544:1998)

IS 14544:1998 covers Leather Safety Footwear with Moulded Polyvinyl Chloride Sole. The specifications, testing, and sample processes for leather safety footwear with steel toe caps and directly moulded soles made primarily of PVC are outlined in this standard. The maker must first obtain a BIS licence from the Bureau of Indian Standards in order to utilise a standard mark. The BIS analyses the manufacturing infrastructure, quality control and testing capabilities, and production process during a visit to the manufacturing facilities before issuing a licence. These shoes must pass the following tests in order to survive the conditions:

Performance Test
Impact Test
Adhesion Test on Moulded Bottom

Conclusion

All of the aforementioned footwear/shoes/boots are subject to the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) and require a BIS License in order to be manufactured and marketed in India. If a manufacturer fails to secure the required BIS certificate and sells their products without the ISI mark, it will be regarded as a criminal crime, punishable by a large fine and jail.

Aleph INDIA is a major BIS Registration Consultant in India, providing Technical Certification both in India and internationally. By appointing an Authorized Indian Representative, foreign manufacturers can obtain a BIS licence (AIR). If you're interested in becoming BIS certified, contact us for a free consultation and detailed instructions.