Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has issued All India First license to two companies at a recent event. The All India First license was felicitated to Palwal-based SMPP Pvt Ltd for bullet resistant jackets as per IS 17051:2018 and to Faridabad-based Star Safety Hub for protective clothing for industrial workers exposed to heat as per IS 15748:2022.

IS 17051:2018 prescribes the minimum performance requirements of bullet resistant jackets for protection against small arms and ammunition. This standard specifies the performance requirements for 6 threat levels and can sustain the threat from 7.62 X 39 mm AK 47 with hard steel core bullet and 7.62 X 54 R armour piercer incendiary rounds. IS 15748 specifies performance requirements for protective clothing, which are designed to protect the wearer’s body from heat and/or flame and includes the performance requirements of heat resistance, limited flame spread, dimensional change of textile materials, tensile strength, tear strength, etc.

Director general of BIS, Pramod Kumar Tiwari, emphasised that these standards are expected to ensure availability of quality product and will also assist stakeholders in streamlining their procurement procedure. Deputy director general of BIS, H J S Pashricha, congratulated licensees for successfully implementing these standards, which is important from the perspective of national security and safety of industrial workers, according to a press release.

Ashish Kansal, director of SMPP Pvt Ltd, during his address emphasised that this Indian standard on bullet resistant jacket is far more stringent than the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) standard which is being used by our armed forces till now and has been published after due consultation with all stake holders.

Navin Gupta, director of Star Safety Hub, while appreciating the efforts of BIS, highlighted that with the availability of BIS certified product, the user can be assured of maximum protection with best comfort and designs.