Solar water heaters

Solar water heaters and flat-plate collectors

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 12933 · BEE OVERLAY

HSN 8419 12 00 (solar water heaters) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to IS 12933 (Parts 1 and 2):2003, IS 16544:2016, and IS 16542:2016 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 14 April 2025, by virtue of S.O. 4485(E). Bureau of Energy Efficiency labelling under the BEE (Appliance Labelling and Compliance) Regulations, 2026 applies as a separate customs-clearance overlay.

What this is

HSN code

8419 12 00

Chapter

84 · Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 12933 (Parts 1 and 2):2003 · effective 14-04-2025

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

BEEBEE·Bureau of Energy Efficiency

BISBIS·Bureau of Indian Standards

Compliance steps

1
Verify the foreign manufacturer's BIS CM/L licence number against the applicable IS standard on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order. Solar flat-plate collectors require a licence against IS 12933 (Parts 1 and 2):2003; all-glass evacuated tube systems against IS 16544:2016; storage water tanks for evacuated tube systems against IS 16542:2016.
S.O. 4485(E) dated 08-10-2024 · IS 12933 (Parts 1 and 2):2003 · IS 16544:2016 · IS 16542:2016
2
Ensure every article bears the ISI standard mark and the supplier's CM/L number in accordance with Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. Marking must appear on the product itself and not only on the packaging.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · S.O. 4485(E) dated 08-10-2024
3
Match the CM/L licence scope precisely to the product variant being imported — flat-plate collector, all-glass evacuated tube system, or storage water tank. A licence against one IS standard does not cover the other product categories; customs detains consignments where the licensed IS and the declared product type are mismatched.
IS 12933 (Parts 1 and 2):2003 · IS 16544:2016 · IS 16542:2016 · BIS Act, 2016
4
Ensure compliance with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (Appliance Labelling and Compliance) Regulations, 2026 for equipment within the BEE labelling scope. The BEE labelling reference must accompany the consignment-level documentation at the time of customs filing.
BEE Notification No. 5506/BEE/S&L/AL/2025-26 dated 26-12-2025
5
Quote the supplier's BIS CM/L number and the applicable IS standard on the bill of entry. Customs verifies the CM/L in real time against the BIS register; an absent, expired, or scope-mismatched licence triggers consignment detention, demurrage, and potential re-export or confiscation.
S.O. 4485(E) dated 08-10-2024 · BIS Act, 2016 · Customs Act, 1962

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is sourcing from a manufacturer with a CM/L licence that covers only one of the three applicable standards and presenting it for all product variants in a mixed consignment. IS 12933 governs flat-plate collectors, IS 16544:2016 governs all-glass evacuated tube systems, and IS 16542:2016 governs the associated storage water tanks — each requires a separate, scope-specific CM/L. A customs officer who identifies a storage tank invoiced against a flat-plate collector licence will detain the entire consignment, not merely the non-conforming line items.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8419 12 00 require BIS certification?

Yes. Solar water heaters under this tariff line must conform to IS 12933 (Parts 1 and 2):2003, IS 16544:2016, or IS 16542:2016 as applicable, under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 14 April 2025, per S.O. 4485(E).

Is Bureau of Energy Efficiency labelling required separately from BIS QCO compliance?

Yes. BEE labelling under the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (Appliance Labelling and Compliance) Regulations, 2026 is administered by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency and is independent of the BIS ISI Mark Scheme obligation.

Which IS standard applies — IS 12933, IS 16544, or IS 16542?

All three may apply within a single consignment: IS 12933 (Parts 1 and 2):2003 covers solar flat-plate collectors; IS 16544:2016 covers all-glass evacuated tube solar water heating systems; IS 16542:2016 covers storage water tanks for those evacuated tube systems. The CM/L must match each product type.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all solar water heater variants from the same manufacturer?

No. Each CM/L is standard-specific and scope-specific by product type and manufacturing facility; variants outside the licensed IS and facility are not covered, and a mismatch at customs triggers detention.

Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-18. Source: BIS / BEE / Indian Customs CUSDATA.