Industry Outlook

IS 302, Part 2, Section 46 covers safety requirements of household and similar electrical appliances, particularly emphasizing on general safety requirements of Electric Steam Cookers. 

The Bureau of Indian Standards has adopted this standard, proceeding to the finalization of a draft by the Electrical Appliances Sectional Committee that had been approved by the Electrotechnical Division Council. 

Moreover, it is to be noted that, IS 302, Part 2, Section 46 excludes safety and general performance requirements. There it only emphasizes the safety and general requirements of electrical steam cookers.

Furthermore, the specifications of IS 302, Part 2, Section 46 have been derived from below mentioned publications, issued by International Electrotechnical Commission -

  • IEC Pub 335-l ( 1976 ) Safety of household and similar electrical appliances: Part 1 General requirements.
  • IEC Pub 335-2-46 ( 1986 ) Safety of household and similar electrical appliances: Part 2 Particular requirements for commercial electric steam cookers. 

It is to be noted that, it is not mandatory to test and certify your product under IS 302, Part 2, Section 46. Though, being professionals, we would advise you to test and certify your product as provided in the IS 302, Part 2, Section 46, considering that a tested product helps a manufacturer in retaining customers and earning high profit as a tested product is safe and preferred by customers. 

Being a professional we would advise you to appropriately test and certify your product for customer retention and consumer safety, which is ensured after product testing. Therefore, product testing is beneficial for both, the manufacturer and consumer of the product. For a better understanding of the importance of product testing, let’s move on to the next section. 

Why is Product Testing Crucial | Importance of Product Testing

  • One of the most important purposes of testing is quality assurance of a product that reflects high quality, safety, and reliability.
  • Product testing allows the manufacturer to ensure conformance with established technical standards to produce high-quality and safe products.
  • Build reputation and maximize the profit, considering that a tested product indicates quality assurance. 
  • Helps in retaining customers, thus, providing a competitive edge.
  • Helps in understanding distinct types of stress a product can endure, be it in case of weather, wear tear, and other conditions.
  • In the initial prototyping stage, if you are trying to avail investment in order to manufacture your product in mass quantities, a tested product can allow you to achieve patent and investors as it shows the quality and functionality of the product.

With the benefits of product testing, we can clearly estimate how testing ensures quality assurance and product credibility. 

Since, it has been established how essential product testing is, now let’s move to the benefits of complying with standards.

What Are the Benefits of Complying With Standards?

Complying with standards offers numerous benefits to manufacturers and importers of the product, which further helps in building trustworthiness and reliability, thus retaining the customers.

Why, don’t we look at other benefits of the same -

  • A certified product acts as a shield against penalties and fines which could be imposed for not certifying a product.
  • A certified product serves as evidence that a product has been tested and certified as per prescribed standards.
  • A certified product provides a sense of security and safety to the consumers, thus ensuring easy acceptance.
  • It provides a competitive advantage over competitors.
  • Easy market acceptance as a product is tested and certified.
  • Confirm the unmatched quality standards.
  • Seamless to file government tenders.

With these benefits of ensuring conformance with IS 302, part 2, section 46 standards and specifications, a manufacturer can establish that a product is safe, reliable, and credible, thus, confirming unmatched quality standards. 

Scope of Product of IS 302, Part 2, Section 46

This Indian Standard includes the safety of general and safety requirements for electrically operated household steam cookers, their rated voltage not exceeding 250 V, ac single phase, or dc. The electrical part of appliances making use of other forms of energy is also within the scope of this standard and the influence of the nonelectrical parts on the electrical parts is taken into consideration. 

Though it is not applicable on -

  • steam cookers for industrial purposes;
  • continuous process steam cookers for the mass production of food; 
  • steam cookers with electrode heaters;
  • appliances intended to be used in locations where special conditions prevail, such as the presence of a corrosive or explosive atmosphere (dust, vapor or gas).

Test Requirements and Characteristics Tested

1. Type test

Type test includes below mentioned test -

  • Protection against access to live parts
  • Power input and current
  • Heating
  • Leakage current and electric strength 13 at operating temperature
  • Transient overvoltages
  • Moisture resistance
  • Leakage current and electric strength
  • Overload protection of transformers and 17 associated circuits
  • Abnormal operation
  • Stability and mechanical hazards
  • Mechanical strength
  • Construction
  • Internal wiring
  • Components
  • Supply connection and external flexible 25 cords
  • Terminals for external conductors
  •  Provision for earthing
  •  Screws and connections 
  • Clearances, creepage distances and solid insulation 
  • Resistance to heat and fire 
  • Resistance to rusting 
  • Radiation, toxicity and similar hazards

2. Acceptance test

Acceptance test includes below mentioned test -

  • Protection against access to live parts
  • Power input and current 
  • Heating
  • Leakage current and electric strength at operating temperature
  • Moisture resistance
  • Leakage current and electric strength
  • Provision for earthing

3. Marking and instructions

The appliances must be immersed partially in water for cleaning and shall be marked with the maximum level.

4. Routine test

Routine test includes below mentioned test -

  • Protection against access to live parts
  • High voltage
  • Provision for earthing 

How We Help Ensuring Conformance With IS 302 Specifications?

  • We will educate you concerning every aspect of IS 302.
  • We will check whether a product falls under the purview of BIS or not, including whether a product complies with the BIS standards or not, then, after mutual understanding, the project will move forward. 
  • There is no better place to obtain it than JR Compliance because we will analyze the product requirements to give clear guidelines.
  • JR Compliance has experienced expert professionals, who can assist you in the documentation, evaluation, and examination.
  • We are equipped with the necessary resources to conduct a virtual pre-audit to confirm whether your manufacturing unit and production process are complying with provided specifications or not. 
  • JR Compliance will schedule a meeting with the BIS officer for a factory audit.
  • If you lack an in-house testing facility, we will help you in setting up one.
  • We will coordinate with a BIS-accredited laboratory for product testing.
  • You can expect reliable and punctual service delivery as we will also visit the BIS office on your behalf if required.
  • We invest our sustained efforts to meet the startled queries or demands of BIS.
  • In case of any concern, we assure to provide the finest solution.

Conclusion

IS 302, an Indian Standard applicable to electrical cables, which are usually used in the Mining industry and metro industries, is one of the major contributors to our economic development. Considering that, it is not only mandatory but necessary to ensure conformance with specifications mentioned in IS 302 with the purpose to introduce your product in the Indian market.

Keeping the importance of conformance with compliance in mind, we - JR Compliance, a leading compliance service provider are equipped with experts and resources to provide you with above and beyond support to obtain a BIS certificate.

Till now, we have experience in providing compliance assistance to over 10,000+ global leaders such as Toray, Bombay Dyeing, Softbank, and others.

For details, get in touch with our experts.