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IS 368 BIS Certification for Electric Immersion Water Heaters

Electric Immersion Water Heaters made, imported or sold in India must be certified against IS 368 under an ISI mark licence (Scheme-I). What the standard covers, how testing works and how to get the licence.

About IS 368

StandardIS 368: 2014
TitleElectric Immersion Water Heaters
Product coveredElectric Immersion Water Heaters
CategoryElectrical Appliances for domestic water heating
SchemeISI mark licence (Scheme-I)
Notified underElectrical Appliances for domestic water heating (Quality Control) Order, 2023, S.O. 1253(E), dated 05th March 2024 · Order PDF

Editions and amendments of IS 368

EditionPublishedStatus
IS 368:2014
Electric immersion water heaters - Specification (Fifth Revision)
31 Mar 2014Current, next review 16 Jan 2031

Amendments:First Amendment (2025). Test reports must reflect the standard with its amendments.

Marking fee for IS 368

BIS charges an annual minimum marking fee for the ISI mark under IS 368, set by unit size, plus a per-unit rate once production passes the minimum:

Unit sizeMinimum marking fee (per year)
Large₹89,000
Medium₹72,000
Small₹44,500
Micro₹17,800

Unit rate: ₹1.3 per piece. Source: BIS marking fee schedule for Scheme-I products, September 2026.

Sampling and key tests for IS 368

From the BIS product manual for IS 368, which BIS officers and applicants follow for certification:

Tests BIS can carry out in a day during factory inspection:

  • Earth Continuity test (A-1 of IS 302 (Part 1))
  • Electric strength test (A-2 of IS 302 (Part 1))
  • Functional test (A-3 of IS 302 (Part 1))
  • Marking and Instruction (Cl. 7)
  • Protection against access to live parts (Cl. 8)
  • Power input and current (Cl. 10)
  • Leakage current and Electric strength (Cl. 16)
  • Provision for earthing (Cl. 27)

The full type test covers every clause of IS 368; the list above is what can be checked on site.

ISI licences under IS 368

BIS records 79 operative licences (84 including deferred, cancelled or under stop marking). Most licensed factories are in Delhi (51), Haryana (13), Uttar Pradesh (7), Himachal Pradesh (5), Rajasthan (2).

Testing against IS 368

BIS inspects the factory and has samples tested to the full Indian Standard at a BIS or BIS-recognised laboratory. After grant, the factory keeps testing production under the Scheme of Inspection and Testing, and BIS draws factory and market samples.

The test report has to cover every clause of IS 368 that applies to the product, in the edition current on the date of testing. When BIS revises IS 368 or replaces it with a new edition, existing licence holders move to the new edition by the date BIS sets in its notification.

How to get an ISI mark licence under IS 368

The licence is granted to the manufacturer for a specific factory and product. Indian factories apply under Scheme-I; overseas factories apply under the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS) and must nominate an Authorised Indian Representative.

  1. Confirm the exact Indian Standard and the varieties to cover
  2. Get the product tested at a BIS-recognised lab (simplified procedure) or arrange BIS sampling
  3. Apply on Manak Online with factory, quality-control and test documents
  4. BIS factory inspection and sample verification
  5. Grant of licence, then marking with the ISI mark and CM/L number

Timeline. BIS targets 30 days under the simplified procedure (applying with a recent lab test report) and 90 days under the normal procedure. Overseas factories under FMCS typically take around 6 months.

Fees. Application fee ₹1,000 and annual licence fee ₹1,000, inspection charges of ₹7,000 per man-day, testing charges, and an annual minimum marking fee set for each Indian Standard (with concessions for micro and small units).

Mark. Certified products carry the ISI Standard Mark with the IS number and the CM/L-XXXXXXXXXX licence number.

Frequently asked questions

What does IS 368 cover?

IS 368: 2014: Electric Immersion Water Heaters. BIS has made certification against it compulsory for electric immersion water heaters.

Is BIS certification under IS 368 mandatory?

Yes, for electric immersion water heaters, under the Electrical Appliances for domestic water heating (Quality Control) Order, 2023, S.O. 1253(E). The product needs a valid BIS licence (ISI mark) and must carry the ISI Standard Mark with the IS number and the CM/L-XXXXXXXXXX licence number.

Where is a product tested for IS 368?

BIS inspects the factory and has samples tested to the full Indian Standard at a BIS or BIS-recognised laboratory. After grant, the factory keeps testing production under the Scheme of Inspection and Testing, and BIS draws factory and market samples.

How long does IS 368 BIS certification take?

BIS targets 30 days under the simplified procedure (applying with a recent lab test report) and 90 days under the normal procedure. Overseas factories under FMCS typically take around 6 months.

Other standards in Electrical Appliances for domestic water heating

  • IS 302 20 products
  • IS 2082 Stationary Storage Type Electric Water Heaters
  • IS 17150 Mini Domestic Water Heater for Use with Piped Natural Gas (PNG)s

Source: BIS lists of products under compulsory certification (Scheme-I, Scheme-II), checked October 2026. See the full BIS product list or all Indian Standards.

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