BIS ISI Mark Certificate for Grain Oriented Electrical Steel Sheet and Strip (CRGO) IS 3024

If you are manufacturing, importing, or dealing in Grain Oriented Electrical Steel (CRGO) for the Indian market, you don’t need a lecture on why quality matters. You need to know how to clear the regulatory hurdles so you can keep doing business.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has made the ISI Mark mandatory for CRGO steel sheets and strips under IS 3024:2015. This isn't optional. If your product doesn't carry the Standard Mark it cannot be sold in India

This guide explains exactly what IS 3024 entails, the technical parameters you must hit and the direct path to getting your license 

What is IS 3024:2015?

IS 3024:2015 is the Indian Standard specifically for Cold Rolled Grain Oriented (CRGO) Electrical Steel Sheet and Strip

These are low-carbon, silicon-iron alloys (typically around 3% silicon) used primarily in transformer cores. The "grain-oriented" part means the material has been processed to have optimal magnetic properties in the direction of rolling. This results in low core loss and high permeability which is critical for energy efficiency in transformers

The standard covers flat-rolled, fully processed sheets or strips. It mandates that the material must be coated on both sides with inorganic insulation to withstand stress-relief annealing

Key Technical Parameters You Must Meet

To get certified, your product isn't just checked for "quality" in a vague sense. It is tested against specific, hard numbers. If your material fails these your application is rejected

Here are the non-negotiable technical requirements:

• Chemical Composition: The steel must be a silicon-iron alloy with low carbon content. While the exact recipe is your trade secret, the final result must meet the standard's performance metrics
• Magnetic Properties: This is the most critical test. Your steel must meet defined limits for Total Specific Loss (Core Loss) and Magnetic Polarization
• Stacking Factor: The standard usually requires a stacking factor (or lamination factor) of approximately 95% to 97%.
• Surface Quality: The inorganic coating must be uniform, heat-resistant and provide adequate insulation resistivity
• Physical Condition: Sheets must be free from waves, buckles and edge burrs that could affect the stacking factor or cause short circuits in a transformer core

Read More BIS Registration Process in India

Grades and Core Loss Limits.

The standard classifies CRGO steel into various grades (like M3, M4, M5 etc.) based on their maximum core loss. Your product will be tested to ensure it actually performs at the grade you claim.

The Certification Process

Getting the license involves a predictable sequence of events. Do not try to skip steps.

1. Documentation Prep.

Before you even login to the BIS portal, have your paperwork ready. BIS officials will scrutinize your manufacturing process to ensure you can produce compliant steel

2. Application Submission.

Submit your application (Form V) online. You will need to pay the application fee and nominate an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) if you are a foreign manufacturer

3. The Factory Audit

This is the hurdle where most fail. A BIS officer will visit your factory. They are not there for a tour they are there to verify your Quality Control (QC) infrastructure. They will check:

• Do you have in-house testing equipment for core loss and magnetic polarization?
• Is your equipment calibrated?
• Do your raw materials match your records?
• Is your production line capable of the declared capacity?

4. Sample Testing

During the audit the officer will select samples of your CRGO steel

• Factory Test: Some tests will be witnessed immediately in your lab
• Independent Test: The officer will seal another set of samples and send them to a BIS-recognized laboratory

5. Grant of License

If the factory audit is clean and the independent lab report confirms your steel meets IS 3024 parameters BIS grants the license. You will receive a CM/L number which you must print on your material

Read More BIS ISI Mark Registration for Grey Iron Casting IS 210:2009

Mandatory Documents Checklist

Missing documents delays the process by weeks. Ensure you have these files ready:

• Proof of Address
• Certificate of Incorporation
• Process Flow Chart
• List of Manufacturing Machinery
• List of Testing Equipment
• Calibration Certificates.
• Raw Material Specs
• Plant Layout

Why Applications Get Rejected (And How to Avoid It)

We see manufacturers make the same mistakes repeatedly. Avoid these to ensure a smooth approval:

• Inadequate Lab Equipment: You cannot outsource all testing. You must have the basic equipment (like an Epstein frame) in-house to check quality during production runs
• Mismatched Grades: If you apply for Grade M3 but your samples test at M4 levels, you will fail
• Incomplete Marking: The standard requires specific marking on the coils/sheets, including the grade, manufacturer name and ISI mark
• Foreign Manufacturer Issues: If you are outside India your Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) must be responsive

The Bottom Line

Obtaining the BIS ISI mark for IS 3024 CRGO steel is a regulatory necessity but it is also a badge of trust. In a market flooded with second-hand or sub-standard electrical steel the ISI mark distinguishes your product as genuine, new and efficient. Get help from experts like Agile Regulatory and apply with confidence.