BIS Certification for Furniture– Overview, Procedure, Documents, Govt. Fee

The Department of Commerce and Industry (DPIIT) has issued an order making it mandatory for several categories of furniture, whether manufactured in India or imported from other countries, to bear the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) quality mark and have a valid BIS license. This means that furniture manufacturers, both in India and abroad, must immediately apply for a BIS license and obtain a valid BIS certification for furniture covered under this order. It covers the requirements relating to the performance and safety, that is, strength, stability, and durability of various types of furniture for domestic and non-domestic use.

BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) certification is a seal of quality and safety issued by the Government of India. In the case of furniture, this certification ensures that the product meets the standards set by BIS. Furniture Quality Control Order (QCO) is a regulatory measure enacted by the Government of India to ensure that furniture meets the established standards. In the case of furniture, QCO lays down the mandatory requirements that manufacturers must meet to ensure the safety and quality of their products.

Products covered under the BIS certification for furniture:

Work chairs– IS 17631: 2022 (e.g., steel work chairs, aluminium work chairs, etc.) This Standard applies to completely manufactured/ fabricated work chairs as well as ready-to-assemble units with/without armrests, with/without castors, and the Type of castors, with/without reclining provisions, Material of Fabric and Leather, with/without Locking Device.

General-purpose chairs and stools– IS 17632: 2022

• Type 1 (dining, folding, easy chairs or stools, etc., for domestic use),
• Type 2 (Training, conference, visitor, cafeteria chairs and stools, including highchairs, etc, for institutional use)

Tables and desks– IS 17633: 2022- made of natural wood, engineered wood, steel, aluminium, etc. This Standard applies to completely manufactured/fabricated tables and desks, as well as ready-to-assemble units with/without castors, with/without extension elements, and with fixed or adjustable heights (with modes of operation such as motorized or manual). Tables and Desks covered in IS 17633:2022 are classified into 2 categories as follows:

• Performance category: Office Tables (office work areas, meeting tables, pantry tables, etc.), and Domestic Tables (used for bedroom, living room, study uses, and other domestic uses, etc.).
• Model category (by name/number/code)

Storage units– IS 17634: 2022- made of natural wood, engineered wood, steel, aluminium, etc. This Standard applies to completely manufactured/fabricated storage units, as well as ready-to-assemble units with/without castors, with/without extension elements, with/without seating surface, free-standing / units mounted to the building or other structure, type of Door (pivoted/ sliding/ horizontal roll-fronts/ vertical roll-fronts / flaps), Material of fabric and leather. Storage Units covered in IS 17634:2022 are classified as follows :

• Performance Category: Domestic, Institutional (light), Institutional (heavy) storage units
• Model (by name/number/code)

Beds– IS 17635: 2022 (e.g., wooden bed, steel bed, plastic bed, etc.).

Bunk Beds– IS 17636: 2022 (e.g., wooden bunk bed, steel bunk bed, plastic bunk bed, etc.). This Standard applies to completely manufactured/ fabricated bunk beds as well as ready-to-assemble units.

List of documents required to obtain BIS registration for furniture

• GST and MSME Registration
• Quality Assurance Plan
• Manufacturing Flow Chart
• Brand name or trademark registration
• Factory address proof, such as a rental agreement, lease deed, or title deed.
• Drawings of the furniture
• Google Business Registration
• List of machinery
• Plant Layout
• Details such as family and dimensions, etc., of the furniture
• Company Incorporation Certificate
• Calibration plan for the in-house test equipment, etc. For MSME manufacturers, maintaining an in-house testing facility for routine tests is optional.

Govt. Fee for BIS certification for furniture:

• Application fee: 1,000/-
• Annual fee: 1,000/-
• BIS inspection fee: 7,000/-
• BIS testing fee: As applicable
• Minimum marking fee:

Step-by-step procedure to get BIS certification for furniture

• Testing of the products from a third-party laboratory approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards, located in India.
• Submission of the application along with the requisite documents.
• Payment of the Govt. Fee on the BIS portal.
• Scrutiny of the application by the BIS officer.
• Answer to the query, if any, raised during scrutiny of the application.
• The BIS officer will conduct a factory inspection to check adherence to quality control measures.
• Upon successful completion of testing and inspection, a BIS License is granted.

Tests applicable to BIS certification for furniture:

• Stability Tests under Vertical and Horizontal Load
• Stability tests with Extension Elements Open
• Strength tests under Vertical and Horizontal Static Force, Stated load, for occasional heavy loads
• Durability and Stiffness Tests under Horizontal Force, Vertical Force, and Durability of the Height Adjustment Mechanism
• Drop test
• Vertical impact tests
• Dimensions, design, and workmanship
• Surface performance requirements (of materials)

Validity of BIS certification for furniture

A BIS license is valid for one year after it is obtained and must be renewed annually.

Advantages of BIS certification for furniture

1. The ISI mark on furniture ensures that your furniture is free from defects and meets safety standards. This reduces the risk of accidents caused by non-compliant furniture. 
2. The BIS Act, 2016, requires certain furniture to be BIS certified. Manufacturers who do not comply with this requirement are subject to penalties and restrictions. 
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