IS 5509 BIS Certification for Fire Retardant Plywood
Fire Retardant Plywood made, imported or sold in India must be certified against IS 5509 under an ISI mark licence (Scheme-I). What the standard covers, how testing works and how to get the licence.
About IS 5509
| Standard | IS 5509 : 2021 |
|---|---|
| Title | Fire retardant plywood |
| Product covered | Fire Retardant Plywood |
| Category | Plywood and Wooden flush door shutters |
| Scheme | ISI mark licence (Scheme-I) |
| Notified under | Plywood and Wooden flush door shutters (Quality Control) Order, 2023, S.O. 3841(E), dated 29th August 2023 · Order PDF |
Editions and amendments of IS 5509
| Edition | Published | Status |
|---|---|---|
| IS 5509:2021 Fire Retardant Plywood - Specification ( Third Revision ) | 31 Jan 2021 | Current, next review 2 Jan 2031 |
| IS 5509:2000 Fire retardant plywood - Specification (Second Revision) | Withdrawn 14 Mar 2022 |
No amendments to the current edition are listed by BIS.
Marking fee for IS 5509
BIS charges an annual minimum marking fee for the ISI mark under IS 5509, set by unit size, plus a per-unit rate once production passes the minimum:
| Unit size | Minimum marking fee (per year) |
|---|---|
| Large | ₹70,000 |
| Medium | ₹56,000 |
| Small | ₹35,000 |
| Micro | ₹14,000 |
Unit rate: ₹0.7 per sq.m. Source: BIS marking fee schedule for Scheme-I products, September 2026.
Sampling and key tests for IS 5509
From the BIS product manual for IS 5509, which BIS officers and applicants follow for certification:
Sample quantity:1 full size sheet for all tests
Raw material requirements:
- Plywood – BWR grade conforming to IS 303
Tests BIS can carry out in a day during factory inspection:
- Dimension and tolerance (Clause 8)
- Workmanship and finish (Clause 9)
- Moisture content (Clause 12.1)
- Glue Adhesion test (Water Resistance test) and Static Bending strength (Clause 12.2)
The full type test covers every clause of IS 5509; the list above is what can be checked on site.
ISI licences under IS 5509
BIS records 109 operative licences (113 including deferred, cancelled or under stop marking). Most licensed factories are in Haryana (18), Uttar Pradesh (18), Gujarat (16), West Bengal (12), Andhra Pradesh (9).
Testing against IS 5509
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 5509 that applies to the product, in the edition current on the date of testing. When BIS revises IS 5509 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 5509
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.
- Confirm the exact Indian Standard and the varieties to cover
- Get the product tested at a BIS-recognised lab (simplified procedure) or arrange BIS sampling
- Apply on Manak Online with factory, quality-control and test documents
- BIS factory inspection and sample verification
- 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 5509 cover?
IS 5509 : 2021: Fire retardant plywood. BIS has made certification against it compulsory for fire retardant plywood.
Is BIS certification under IS 5509 mandatory?
Yes, for fire retardant plywood, under the Plywood and Wooden flush door shutters (Quality Control) Order, 2023, S.O. 3841(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 5509?
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 5509 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 Plywood and Wooden flush door shutters
- IS 303 Plywood for General Purposes
- IS 710 Marine Plywood
- IS 1328 Veneered Decorative Plywood
- IS 2191 2 products
- IS 2202 2 products
- IS 4990 Plywood for Concrete Shuttering Works
- IS 10701 Structural Plywood
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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