IS 2553 Part 2: 2019 Safety Glass for Road Transport - Specification

The Bureau of Indian Standards, BIS put into place the IS 2553 Part 2:2019 standard for safety glass used in applications involving road transport. It is important to establish the safety and performance grade of glazing materials involved in the use of vehicles, such as windscreens, side windows, and back lights. Adoption of the standard results in the enhancement of road passenger safety and mitigation of some of the risks associated with the breakage of glass resulting from accidents.

Implementing IS 2553 Part 2:2019 is a giant step toward road safety through safer glazing materials in vehicles. It seeks to minimize accidents resulting from glass failure and raise customers' trust in auto products in this endeavour. Manufacturers need to ensure compliance with these standards, not just to meet regulatory needs but also to ensure the safety and satisfaction of their customers.

IS 2553 Part 2:2019 encompasses different types of safety glass for use in automobiles. It explains the manufacturing processes, chemical and physical properties, testing techniques, and performance requirements. Scope The scope includes,

• Types of Safety Glass: This shall include laminated glass, toughened glass, and any other laminated or toughened composite material designed for automotive use.
• Applications: The standard addresses the safety glass application in windscreens, side windows, backlights, and other critical locations that demand additional protection.

Terminology Used in IS 2553: Part 2: 2019

The following are some of the key terms in IS 2553 Part 2:2019:

• Safety Glass: This is glass that fits in the windows of a road transport vehicle and meets specified safety standards
• Laminated Glass: This is a combination of two or more layers of glass with an interlayer, usually a windscreen material.
• Toughened Glass: This is the one that becomes heavy as it has been thermally or chemically processed to be able to resist some impacts.
• Double Glazed Unit: An installation of two pieces of glass with a spacer between, mostly for use as insulation.
• Glass Plastics: Products made of glass fibers bonded with plastic resins.
• Light Transmittance: Light passing through the glass in percentage.
• Thickness: Measurement of the glass thickness, usually in millimeters.
• Resistance to Temperature Change: The ability of the glass to stand and not break under temperature change.
• Control Unit: A quantity of safety glass of the same nominal thickness and type, made under essentially similar conditions within a day.
• Marking: Indications on the glass indicating that it complies with the standard and information on the type and classification of the glass.

IS 2553 Part 2 classifies safety glazing into the following types, according to its construction and intended use:

Windshields

• Laminated Glass (II, II/P)
• Glass Plastics

Panes

• Uniformly Toughened Glass (with or without marking P)
• Laminated Glass
• Double Glazed Units (both symmetrical and asymmetrical)
• Rigid and Flexible Plastics

Each form has to have test protocols that are different for certification to its performance parameters.

Section 14 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 (63 of 1986), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade after consulting the Bureau of Indian Standards has issued the Quality control order.

As stated in the order regarding Quality control, the Quality control order explicitly mentions that all manufacturers of Safety Glass -Specification Part 2 For Road Transport will be compulsorily provided with the ISI Mark Certification.

The standard addresses some of the critical specifications that need to be by the designated manufacturing:

Material Requirements:

• The safety glass must be made of quality flat transparent sheet glass as specified in IS 2835:1987.
• Float glass can also be used as a substrate material.

Thickness Requirements:

• The safety glass should meet set tolerances. The safety glass should have strength and durability.

Optical Properties:

• The glass should have enough light transmittance but less distortion so that drivers as well as passengers can see from the windshield.

Mechanical Properties:

• This safety glass should be highly resistant to impact and abrasion, hence able to withstand extreme conditions encountered during usage on roads.

Testing Methods of IS 2559: Part 2:2019

To comply with the demands of IS 2553 Part 2: 2019, several tests are needed:

• Light Transmittance Test: It measures the amount of light passing through the glass.
• Resistance to Abrasion: This test measures the capability of the glass surface to resist scratching.
• Temperature Resistance Test: It tests whether the glass would shatter or not in a given temperature fluctuation.
• Chemical Resistance Test: It determines the capability of the glass against chemical degradation presented by the chemicals in a car environment.
• Optical Distortion Test: Tests if the glass does not distort the images seen through it.
• Fragmentation Test: Determines how the glass breaks when subjected to an impact to reduce damage from shatters.

Safety glass manufacturers for road transport should avail of ISI Mark under IS 2553 Part 2:2019. The Marking conforms to the following:

• Assessment of Quality Control: The manufacturer has to demonstrate its capability to produce compliant products through proper quality control.
• In-house Test Facilities: The unit should establish in-house laboratories with facilities to execute mandatory testing by the standard.
• Documentation Requirements: Extensive administrative and technical documentation shall be provided for checking by BIS.

Corpseed can help businesses comply with BIS IS 2553: Part 2: 2019 by providing expert regulatory guidance and documentation support for ISI Mark certification, ensuring that safety glass products meet the required standards. Additionally, they assist in implementing quality control measures and navigating the certification process efficiently.