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IS 16734:2018 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for eco-labelling of building materials - general requirements. This standard establishes the fundamental principles and framework for the eco-labelling of building materials in India. It outlines the procedure for awarding a Type I voluntary eco-label, aiming to guide the selection of environmentally preferable products and promote sustainable manufacturing practices.
Lays down general requirements for eco-labelling schemes for building materials, encouraging environmentally friendly product choices.
BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.
Practical Notes
! This code forms the basis for the BIS 'ECOMARK' scheme for building materials.
! Compliance is voluntary but is often a key requirement for achieving credits in green building rating systems like GRIHA and IGBC.
! The standard focuses on a life-cycle approach, considering impacts from raw material extraction to manufacturing, use, and disposal when setting criteria.
ISO 14024:2018International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International
HighCurrent
Environmental labels and declarations — Type I environmental labelling — Principles and procedures
Provides the core principles and procedures for developing a voluntary, multiple-criteria-based, third-party eco-labelling program, which IS 16734 adapts for building materials.
ISO 21930:2017International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International
MediumCurrent
Sustainability in buildings and civil engineering works — Core rules for environmental product declarations of construction products and services
Both focus on the environmental performance of construction products, but this standard is for Type III EPDs (data declarations) while IS 16734 is for Type I eco-labels (seal of approval).
EN 15804:2012+A2:2019European Committee for Standardization (CEN), Europe
MediumCurrent
Sustainability of construction works - Environmental product declarations - Core rules for the product category of construction products
The dominant European standard for assessing environmental performance of construction products; shares the same domain but specifies rules for Type III EPDs, not Type I eco-labels.
ISO 14020:2000International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International
HighCurrent
Environmental labels and declarations — General principles
Provides the foundational principles (e.g., accuracy, non-deception, scientific basis) that govern all environmental labelling standards, including IS 16734 and ISO 14024.
Key Differences
≠IS 16734 is specifically for 'building materials' within the Indian context, whereas ISO 14024 is a general framework applicable to any product or service category globally.
≠IS 16734 establishes a Type I eco-label (a pass/fail 'seal of approval' like the Indian Ecomark), while standards like ISO 21930 and EN 15804 define requirements for Type III Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), which are detailed reports of environmental data, not a seal of approval.
≠The Indian standard is integrated with national priorities and regulations, referencing other Indian Standards for testing and compliance, and operates under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) framework. International standards are designed to be globally applicable and free of national regulatory references.
Key Similarities
≈Both IS 16734 and its international counterparts (ISO 14024, ISO 21930) are fundamentally based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) perspective, considering environmental impacts from raw material acquisition through manufacturing, use, and end-of-life.
≈A core requirement in both the Indian and international standards is the mandatory use of independent, third-party verification to ensure the credibility and impartiality of the label or declaration.
≈All standards are built on the general principles of ISO 14020, emphasizing scientific basis, transparency, stakeholder involvement, and avoiding the creation of unfair trade barriers.
≈The process of developing specific environmental criteria for a given product group is a central element in IS 16734, which is analogous to the development of Product Category Rules (PCR) under ISO 21930 or product criteria under ISO 14024.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Label Type
Type I Eco-label (a selective, pass/fail seal)
Type I Eco-label (ISO 14024) or Type III EPD (ISO 21930)
ISO 14024 / ISO 21930
Basis for Award
Compliance with pre-defined, multi-attribute environmental performance criteria for a specific product category.
Providing verified LCA data according to a Product Category Rule (PCR).
ISO 21930
Label/Declaration Validity
Specified period, typically 1 to 3 years, subject to review (as per BIS practice).
Defined validity period, typically 5 years for EPDs.
EN 15804 / ISO 21930
Stakeholder Consultation
Mandated during criteria development, involving manufacturers, users, government, and academia (Clause 6.6).
Mandated 'open consultation' with interested parties is a required part of the process.
ISO 14024 / ISO 21930
Governing Body
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and its appointed technical committees.
Any qualified 'program operator' (governmental, private, or non-profit) that follows the standard's principles.
ISO 14024
Underlying LCA Methodology
Based on the principles of ISO 14040 series.
Strict adherence to ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 is explicitly required.
ISO 14024 / ISO 21930
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values2
Quick Reference Values
Eco-label validity period3 years
Label TypeType I (Voluntary, third-party certified)
Tables & Referenced Sections
Key Tables
No tables data
Key Clauses
Clause 4 - General Principles
Clause 5 - Framework for Eco-labelling
Clause 6 - Award of Eco-label
Annex A - Illustrative list of product categories
Frequently Asked Questions4
What type of eco-label does IS 16734 define?+
It defines a Type I environmental label, which is a voluntary, multi-criteria-based, third-party certification program based on ISO 14024 principles.
Who awards the eco-label under this standard?+
The eco-label is awarded by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) after a thorough conformity assessment process (Clause 6).
How long is the eco-label valid for?+
The license to use the eco-label is granted for a period of three years and is renewable upon re-evaluation (Clause 6.3).
Is this standard mandatory?+
No, it is a voluntary standard. However, products with this label may be preferred or required for green building projects to earn sustainability credits.