BIS IS 17373:2020 provides technical requirements and testing procedures for geogrids for reinforced soil retention structures, including reinforced walls and embankments. The standard gives some requisite essential material properties, such as tensile strength, and environmental resistance, to guide the manufacturer for compliance with quality assurance. This standard is not intended for design or construction work.

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Understanding BIS IS 17373:2020 Geosynthetics

BIS IS 17373: 2020-Geosynthetics - Geogrids Used in Reinforced Soil Retaining Structures provides a standard outlining the material properties and specifications required of geogrids used as reinforcement in the design of reinforced soil walls (RSW) and reinforced soil slopes (RSS). Specifications in terms of material properties, such as tensile strength junction efficiency, and resistance to environmental degradation are essential to ensure fulfillment of the requirement for quality and performance to ensure effective soil reinforcement.

However, IS 17373:2020 may be used by a manufacturer for fulfilling the specifications regarding these standards; it is not an outline for designing and constructing purposes but rather a detailed and separate design review of the system of reinforced soils and geogrids shall have to ensure both safety and efficient application in practices.

Importance of BIS IS 17373:2020

IS 17373:2020 is important for the civil engineering discipline as it formulates standards that are critical to geogrids used in reinforced soil retaining structures. The significance of this standard can be presented as follows:

• Quality Assurance: IS 17373:2020 sets material properties and performance requirements for geogrids to be very strict, thereby making the quality of the reinforced soil structure very high and reliable.
• Standardization: A standard offers a common basis for manufacturers, thus ensuring that geogrids produced by them for civil engineering applications possess uniformity in their production.
• Safety: Through this standard, engineers and contractors may ensure that the geogrids designed will meet safety requirements.
• Performance Evaluation: It identifies exact testing methods through which essential properties such as tensile strength and junction efficiency of the material may be critically appraised and qualified.
• Procurement Guidance: The standard acts as a specification guide for material procurement, assisting buyers in the selection of appropriate geogrids products that meet established benchmarks

Types of Geogrids

Geogrids are classified into three types based on tensile strength and aperture size:

• Type 1: Polyester knitted or woven geogrids having tensile strength in the machine direction from 60 kN/m to 400 kN/m. Aperture size across the machine direction from 10 mm to 50 mm.
• Type 2: Polyester-bonded geogrids having tensile strength in the machine direction from 30 kN/m to 300 kN/m. Aperture size: in the machine direction, from 50 mm to 1,000 mm, and in the cross-machine direction from 10 mm to 300 mm.
• Type 3: Polyester-bonded geogrids with a tensile strength in the machine direction from 300 kN/m to 1,600 kN/m. The aperture size in the machine direction is from 50 mm to 1,000 mm and in the cross-machine direction, it is from 50 mm to 500 mm.

Key Specifications of IS 17373:2020

IS 17373:2020 specifies many key details that define geogrids for application in reinforced soil retaining structures.

• Properties of Materials: The standard stipulates the following types of polymers for use in geogrids manufacturing: tensile strength, elongation at break, and resistance to weathering by solar radiation and chemicals.
• Testing Methods: It gives detailed methodologies for testing to evaluate the performance characteristics of the geogrids. There are tests on tensile strength, puncture resistance, and creep behavior under sustained load.
• Quality Control Measures: The standard emphasizes quality control in the manufacturing process so that the product will perform uniformly.
• Installation Practice: IS 17373:2020, apart from detailing specifications for materials, provides information related to the proper installation of geogrids in reinforced soil structures.

Recent Amendment Established on January 10, 2025

On 10 January 2025, IS 17373:2020 was amended to incorporate rising industry requirements and introduce advances in technology and materials science. This amendment follows the objectives to modify existing standards with new provisions that improve the performance and possibilities for geogrids applications in civil engineering.

Key Changes Introduced by the Amendment

The following are some significant changes introduced by the amendment: 

• Updated Material Standards: In case new polymer materials or composite materials have emerged since the standard was first published, an amendment may update specifications. This would ensure that engineers are well-informed of the most recent developments in geosynthetic technology.
• Improved Testing Procedure: The geogrids should be tested based on their long-term performance under several environmental conditions that may be harsh. This would include durability to extreme weather phenomena or chemical reactions
• Broader Scope of Applications: Because of further advancement in the practices of engineering, the new amendment might have broader scopes for applying geogrids appropriately and possibly new forms of retaining structures or construction technologies.
• Guidelines for Implementation: The amendment can give more guidelines on best practices in implementing geogrids technology within reinforced soil structures to maximize performance and minimize the risks that may result from installation errors.
• Sustainability: Increasingly, construction practices are taken seriously in terms of sustainability. As a result, the amendment may touch upon environmental considerations including material sourcing and manufacturing processes that are sustainable while also ensuring at the end-of-life that appropriate disposal options for geogrids are available.

Transition Period Before Implementation

The standard with or without the amendment shall be applicable until July 9, 2025. This transition period will give stakeholders engineers, contractors, and manufacturers a period to adjust to any changes that the amendment may cause them while working and operating on previous standards during the time scale of this transition.

Implications for Stakeholders

The amendment to IS 17373:2020 has several implications for different stakeholders involved in civil engineering projects:

• Engineers and Designers: They need to understand the new specifications and ensure that the design of the reinforced soil structure using geogrids will be in compliance.
• Manufacturers: The manufacturers will have to change their production processes according to any new material standards or testing protocols implemented by the amendment.
• Regulatory Authorities: These authorities will have to adjust their guidelines and approval process as per the new standard, so the same can be consistently followed in all projects.
• Project Managers: They must inform all the stakeholders of a project working on the planning, design, tendering, and construction stage regarding changes made following this amendment.

Also Read: BIS Rolls Out Updated Specifications: Key Reforms in IS 537:2025 and IS 1460:2025

Conclusion

In conclusion, IS 17373:2020 is an essential standard that increases the quality and reliability of geogrids for reinforced soil retaining structures. Clear material properties, testing methods, and performance criteria ensure geogrids fulfill the required safety and durability conditions for diverse applications in civil engineering. Apart from helping manufacturers obtain consistent and high-quality products, this standard also guides the engineers and contracting parties in ensuring that the standards are met correctly during procurement. In addition, compliance with IS 17373:2020 ensures adherence to regulations and thus instills confidence in the infrastructure projects undertaken. Ultimately, this standard significantly contributes to enhancing infrastructure development through best practices in soil reinforcement techniques, leading to safer and more resilient engineering solutions.