BIS Draft QCO, 2025 for Fire-Resistant Cabinets

Introduction to the BIS (Quality Control) Order, 2025 for Fire-Resistant Cabinets

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, has recently issued a draft quality control order for fire-resistant cabinets.

This order will be called the Fire-Resistant Cabinets (Quality Control) Order, 2025.

It shall come into effect from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

The order is issued under the provisions of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, after consultation with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

Key Changes of the QCO You Should Know

As per this draft Quality Control Order:

1. Fire-resistant cabinets must conform to the prescribed Indian Standards
2. The products must comply with:
3. IS 14203:2023 – Fire Resisting Record Protection Cabinets
4. IS 14561:2014 – Fire Resisting (Insulating) Filing Cabinets
5. The cabinets must bear the BIS Standard Mark (ISI Mark)
6. Certification will be granted under Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018
7. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) will be the certifying and enforcing authority
8. Any violation of this order will attract penalties under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016
9. The latest version of the Indian Standards, including amendments issued by BIS from time to time, shall apply

Exemptions to this QCO

Goods or articles manufactured domestically for export purposes are exempt.

What is the Date of Implementation?

The implementation timeline under this draft QCO is as follows:

• General enterprises (other than Micro and Small Enterprises): 
  6 months from the date of publication in the Official Gazette
• Small enterprises: 
  9 months from the date of publication in the Official Gazette
• Micro enterprises: 
  12 months from the date of publication in the Official Gazette

Manufacturers must obtain BIS certification within the prescribed timeline to continue manufacturing, importing, or selling fire-resistant cabinets in India.

Now, What to Do?

Manufacturers and importers of fire-resistant cabinets should:

• Check whether their products fall under this QCO
• Understand the requirements of IS 14203:2023 and IS 14561:2014
• Arrange product testing as per BIS standards
• Apply for BIS certification under Scheme-I
• Prepare and submit the required documents
• Complete certification within the given timeline to avoid penalties

Early action will help avoid supply disruption and ensure smooth market access.

Brand Liaison provides complete support for BIS compliance under the Draft BIS Order 2025 for Fire-Resistant Cabinets, including identification of applicable standards, BIS application filing, coordination for product testing, documentation support, and follow-ups with BIS authorities to ensure timely certification.