Quality Control Order 2023 for Fire Extinguishers

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has introduced the Fire Extinguishers (Quality Control) Order, 2023, aimed at regulating the quality standards of fire extinguishers across India. This Order is set to come into effect six months from its publication in the Official Gazette. However, for Micro enterprises under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006, the implementation will commence twelve months from the publication date, while Small Enterprises are provided with an extended period of nine months. Under this Order, all fire extinguishers must comply with relevant Indian Standards, including IS 15683:2018 for Portable Fire Extinguishers — Performance and Construction and IS 16018:2012 for Wheeled Fire Extinguishers — Performance and Construction. Products meeting these standards must prominently display the ISI Mark, indicating conformity to Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) requirements under Scheme-1 of Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. This Order exempts domestically manufactured goods intended solely for export. The Bureau of Indian Standards serves as the certifying and enforcing authority for fire extinguishers under this mandate. Non-compliance with the provisions of this Order will result in penalties as specified in The Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, underscoring the importance of adhering to these regulatory guidelines to uphold safety and quality standards in fire safety equipment across the country.