BIS ISI Mark Registration for Grey Iron Casting IS 210:2009: Complete Guide

If you run a foundry or import castings, the days of flying under the radar are over. The Government of India has slapped a Quality Control Order (QCO) on Grey Iron Castings. This means if your product doesn't have ISI Mark under IS 210:2009 you cannot manufacture, sell or import it in India

This isn’t about "raising standards" anymore it’s about staying in business. If you get caught without the license you face stop-production orders and hefty fines

What is IS 210:2009?

IS 210:2009 is the rulebook for Grey Iron Castings. These are used in everything from engine blocks and flywheels to manhole covers and machine bases.

The "Grey" refers to the color of the fracture caused by graphite flakes in the metal structure. This standard ensures that your casting isn't just a shaped lump of iron but a material with guaranteed strength and durability

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

The 7 Grades You Must Know

The standard doesn't just say "make it strong." It classifies castings into seven specific grades based on their Tensile Strength. You cannot just apply for "Grey Iron" you must apply for the specific grade you manufacture.

Here is the cheat sheet for the grades and their minimum strength requirements:

Note: The number in the grade (e.g., 200) stands for the minimum Tensile Strength in MegaPascals (MPa).

The "Must-Pass" Tests

To get your license BIS officials will visit your factory and pull samples. They will watch you test them, and then send sealed samples to an external lab. If you fail any of these your application is rejected

1. Tensile Test (The Dealbreaker)

This is the primary test. A standardized test bar is pulled until it snaps. It must meet the minimum MPa value of the grade you claimed

• Common Pitfall: Testing a machined part instead of a separately cast test bar. The standard requires test bars to be cast from the same ladle as the batch they represent.

2. Brinell Hardness Test

While tensile strength is king, the customer often demands a specific hardness to ensure machinability. The standard specifies hardness ranges typical for each grade

3. Chemical Composition

Surprisingly, IS 210 is flexible here. It leaves the "recipe" (Carbon, Silicon, Manganese) largely up to you. However you strictly must control Phosphorus and Sulfur if specified by the buyer. High sulfur makes it brittle high phosphorus kills machinability

4. Hydrostatic Test

If you are making pipes or valves your casting must not leak under pressure. This is mandatory for pressure-tight parts

Read More IS 2190: BIS ISI Mark Certificate for Portable First-Aid Fire Extinguishers

The Certification Process

Do not try to game the system. The process is rigid.

• Step 1: Fix Your Lab

You must have a Universal Testing Machine (UTM) and a Brinell Hardness Tester in your factory. They must be calibrated. No lab equipment = No license.

• Step 2: File the Application

Submit Form V on the BIS MANAK Online portal. You will need to upload your factory layout and machine list.

• Step 3: The Factory Audit

A BIS officer will physically inspect your foundry. They aren't looking at the walls; they are checking your Process Control. Do you record the temperature of the molten metal? Do you test every ladle? If your records are blank, you fail.

• Step 4: Sample Testing

The officer will seal samples from your production line and send them to a BIS-recognized lab. This takes about 2-4 weeks.

• Step 5: Grant of License

If your factory audit is clean and the independent lab report passes, you get the license (CM/L number). You must now mark every casting with the ISI logo.

Required Documents

Gather these before you start. Missing paperwork is the #1 reason for delays.

• Factory Layout Plan
• Manufacturing Machinery List
• Test Equipment List
• Calibration Certificates
• Raw Material Specs
• Lab Personnel Details

Why This Matters Now (The Legal Part)

The "Cast Iron Products (Quality Control) Order" is law.

• Large/Medium Manufacturers: The deadline has likely already passed or is imminent.
• Small/Micro Enterprises: You have a slight grace period (check the latest notification), but the clock is ticking.

If you are caught manufacturing without a license the Bureau of Indian Standards Act 2016 allows for imprisonment up to two years or a fine of at least ₹2 Lakhs (often much higher)

Final Advice

Don't view IS 210 registration as just a certificate to hang on the wall. It is a gatekeeper. It filters out the backyard foundries that melt scrap without quality control. If you are a serious player, this license proves your metal—literally. Get in touch with Agile Regulatory to get your lab ready, standardize your mix and apply.