IS 2553:1990 Part 1 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for safety glass - part 1: general. This standard specifies the requirements and testing methods for general purpose safety glass (toughened and laminated) used in architectural, building, and structural applications. It sets benchmarks for dimensional tolerances, impact resistance, fragmentation safety, and optical clarity.
Lays down general requirements for safety glass used in buildings.
Key reference values — verify against the current code edition / project specification.
| Reference | Value | Clause |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | Safety glass — general requirements | Scope |
| Types | Toughened (tempered) & laminated safety glass | Types |
| Toughened | Breaks into small blunt fragments (≈4–5× strength) | Property |
| Laminated | Interlayer retains fragments on breakage | Property |
| Use | Doors, facades, overhead, balustrades (per NBC) | Application |
| Read with | NBC Part 6 / IS 2553 other parts | Cross-ref |
BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.
IS 2553 (Part 1):1990 is the Indian Standard for Safety Glass — Specification for Architectural, Building and General Uses. It covers toughened and laminated safety glass used in:
IS 2553 Part 1 is the building / architectural glass spec. Separate parts (IS 2553 Part 2, Part 3) cover safety glass for road vehicles and other applications.
Two main safety glass types covered:
1. Toughened (Tempered) Glass: - Heat-treated to develop compressive stresses on outer surfaces - 4-5× stronger than ordinary glass against impact + thermal shock - When broken: shatters into small, relatively harmless cubic fragments (not sharp shards) - Cannot be cut / drilled / edge-worked after toughening
2. Laminated Glass: - Two or more glass panes bonded with PVB (polyvinyl butyral) or EVA interlayer - When broken: cracks stay attached to interlayer; pane retains structural integrity (no falling shards) - Excellent for security applications + overhead glazing - Can be cut + edge-worked
Companion codes: - IS 2553 Part 2:1992 — Safety glass for road vehicles - IS 2553 Part 3:2002 — Safety glass for railway vehicles - IS 2835:1986 — Flat transparent sheet glass — Specification - IS 14900:2000 — Toughened glass — Test methods - IS 14982:2001 — Laminated glass — Test methods - NBC 2016 Part 6 Section 5 — Glass and Glazing chapter
Glass type designations (Clause 4): - G — toughened glass - L — laminated glass - G/L — combined (toughened + laminated, e.g., for higher security)
Thickness designations: - 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 19, 25 mm (most common architectural sizes 6, 8, 10, 12 mm)
Toughened glass (Clause 5):
Surface compression stress: must be ≥ 69 MPa (test per IS 14900) — verified by polariscope / Strain Pattern Analysis. The characteristic compressive stress pattern from heat-treatment.
Fragmentation test (Clause 5.4): when impact-broken at center, must produce ≥ 40 fragments in a 50 × 50 mm² square (proves proper tempering).
Bending strength: 120-200 MPa (typical), depending on thickness + edge condition.
Visual quality: free from major bubbles, inclusions, scratches per agreed quality grade.
Edge finish: arrissed (light grinding), flat polished, or bevelled per specification. Critical for handling safety (sharp edges of cut glass are dangerous).
Laminated glass (Clause 6):
Interlayer: PVB (most common, 0.38-0.76 mm thick) or EVA; transparent / nearly transparent.
Pummel test: hammer impact test verifies interlayer-glass adhesion; cracks should remain bonded to interlayer.
High temperature resistance: 100°C for 2 hours; no delamination or bubbling.
Humidity resistance: 50°C, 95% RH for 14 days; minimal change in optical properties.
Solar radiation resistance: outdoor exposure 24 months OR accelerated UV; pass criteria.
Combined dimensional + visual requirements: warpage, bow, edge straightness, surface defects (scratches, dirty edges) per Clause 7.
Regulatory drivers (where safety glass is mandatory):
1. Areas susceptible to human impact (per NBC 2016 Part 6 Section 5): - Glazed doors - Side panels of doors - Bathroom shower / bathtub enclosures - Glazed assemblies adjacent to stairs / landings (within 900 mm of floor) - Low-level windows (sill < 600 mm above floor)
2. Glass area > 0.5 m² in high-traffic areas
3. Overhead glazing (skylights, glass canopies) — must be laminated (or toughened with secondary safety provisions)
4. Sports facilities (sports halls, gyms) — risk of ball / equipment impact
5. Children's facilities (schools, daycare) — extra precaution
Selection guidance:
- Toughened glass — for impact resistance: - Doors, side panels - Bath / shower enclosures - Balustrades < 1.5 m height - Internal partitions - Tabletops Cost premium ~2-3× ordinary glass
- Laminated glass — for security + overhead applications: - Skylights, glass roofs, atria - Security windows (banks, jewellery stores) - Cars (windscreen mandatory) - Outdoor glass railings - Bullet-resistant applications (multiple layers + thick PVB) Cost premium ~3-5× ordinary glass
- Toughened + laminated (premium): - High-security applications - Tall building facades (curtain wall) - Critical overhead glazing Cost premium ~5-10× ordinary glass
Sizing for impact resistance: - 6 mm toughened: typical residential doors, light-duty applications - 8 mm toughened: medium-duty doors, internal partitions - 10-12 mm toughened: heavy doors, balustrades, outdoor pergolas - 15-19 mm laminated: balustrades > 1.5 m, structural glass walls - 25+ mm laminated multi-ply: bullet-resistant
1. Specifying ordinary float glass in high-risk locations — large bathroom mirrors, sliding doors, glass-shower partitions in ordinary glass = serious injury risk on impact. Always use toughened or laminated per NBC 2016 + IS 2553.
2. Cutting toughened glass after toughening — impossible without breaking. Toughened glass must be cut + drilled + edge-worked BEFORE toughening. Field modification is impossible; replacement is needed if size / shape changes.
3. Insufficient interlayer thickness for laminated — thin PVB (0.38 mm) is OK for impact resistance but inadequate for structural balustrades / overhead. Use 0.76 mm (typical) or 1.52 mm (heavy duty) interlayer.
4. Storing toughened glass face-up — surface scratches on toughened glass are stress concentrations; cause unexpected breakage during handling. Store on edge (vertical) on dedicated racks with rubber separators.
5. Drill / edge work on installed glass — toughened: not possible. Laminated: requires special tooling + cooling; field work risky. Pre-fabricate all openings + finished sizes.
6. Mixed glass thickness in same pane — for laminated glass (e.g., 6+6 laminated = two 6 mm panes), substituting 4+6 (one thinner pane) changes mechanical properties significantly. Specify exact pane thicknesses.
7. Wrong edge polishing for visible edges — visible glass edges (frameless installations) need polished finish (smooth, glossy); rough cut edges look unfinished + collect dirt. Specify finish in BOQ.
8. Inadequate framing detail — glass needs to be structurally supported by framing (silicone sealant alone insufficient). Use proper aluminium / steel framing + structural sealant for facade glazing.
9. Bird strike hazard not considered — large glass walls in urban / industrial areas cause bird kills. Use frit patterns, fritted glass, or low-density ceramic dots to break the reflection pattern for bird visibility (mandatory in some green-building standards).
10. Thermal stress fracture not considered — partial shading (curtains, awnings) creates temperature differential within a glass pane → thermal stress → fracture (especially in toughened glass). Use full-height vertical shade or specify glass with controlled stress patterns.
IS 2553 Part 1:1990 is 35 years old but adequately specifies the basic safety-glass types. The 2009 amendment + alignment with international standards have kept it functional. A more comprehensive revision is under BIS sectional committee CHD 24 consideration since 2018 but no public draft.
Indian safety glass market: - Premium manufacturers (Saint-Gobain India, AIS Glass, Gold Plus Glass, HNG Float Glass, Modi Float): full IS 2553 conformance + international certifications. Used by major commercial / institutional projects. Pricing premium. - Mid-tier manufacturers: variable quality. Pre-qualify with sample testing. - Toughening + lamination job-works: many regional facilities; quality varies enormously. For premium projects, source toughened + laminated direct from glass manufacturer.
Cost reality (2026 Indian market, ex-factory): - 6 mm ordinary float glass: ₹150-250/sq ft - 6 mm toughened glass: ₹350-600/sq ft (2-3× premium for the toughening process) - 6+6 mm laminated (with 0.38 mm PVB): ₹600-1,000/sq ft - 8+8 mm laminated (with 1.52 mm PVB, for balustrades): ₹1,200-2,000/sq ft - Premium imported toughened (Saint-Gobain Securit): ₹500-900/sq ft - Installation + framing labour: additional ₹150-400/sq ft depending on complexity
For specifying engineers: - Specify glass type (toughened / laminated / both) AND thickness clearly - Note interlayer thickness for laminated (0.38 / 0.76 / 1.52 mm) - Specify edge finish (arrissed / polished / bevelled) - For premium / safety-critical applications: mandate manufacturer certification + sample fragmentation testing on delivered batch - For external facades: include wind-load calculation; verify glass can handle imposed wind pressure
Quality assurance: - Toughened: fragmentation test (impact a sample; verify > 40 fragments in 50×50 mm²) + surface stress measurement - Laminated: pummel test (hammer impact; verify interlayer adhesion) - Edge inspection: visual + dimensional check - Visual inspection: no major bubbles, inclusions, scratches - Document trail: manufacturer's Material Test Certificate (MTC) + batch reference
For high-risk applications (overhead glazing, structural glass walls): commission third-party laboratory testing on sample batch before bulk procurement.
Future direction: - Heat-strengthened glass (intermediate strength between annealed + toughened): emerging niche application; not currently in IS 2553 but accepted in some specifications - Chemically toughened glass: thinner profiles with high strength; expensive; specialty use - Anti-glare coated safety glass: low-iron + AR-coated + toughened for premium architectural applications - Self-cleaning glass (with TiO₂ photocatalytic coating): emerging facade application
IS 2553 remains a stable, mature specification. The Indian glass industry has matured significantly; quality is reliable from premium suppliers; installation practices have improved with high-rise construction experience.
| Parameter | IS Value | International | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Impactor (Human Impact Test) | 45 kg leather bag filled with lead shot | 50 kg twin-tyre impactor | EN 12600:2002 |
| Highest Impact Drop Height (Highest Safety Class) | 1200 mm (Category III) | 1219 mm / 48 inches (Class A) | ANSI Z97.1-2015 |
| Toughened Glass Fragmentation Count (50x50mm area) | Minimum 40 particles for all thicknesses | Minimum 60 particles for 4-6 mm thick glass | EN 12150-1:2015 |
| Max Fragment Length (Toughened Glass) | Shall not be longer than 75 mm | Shall not exceed 100 mm | EN 12150-1:2015 |
| Laminated Glass Boil Test Duration | 2 hours | 2 hours | ISO 12543-4:2021 |
| Small Ball Drop Test Mass (Penetration Resistance) | 227 g steel ball | 227 g steel ball | ISO 12543-3:2021 |
| Lowest Impact Drop Height (Lowest Safety Class) | 300 mm (Category I) | 305 mm / 12 inches (Class C - withdrawn BS 6206) | BS 6206:1981 |