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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.
BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.
Practical Notes
! Toughened glass cannot be cut, drilled, or edge-worked after the toughening process; all fabrication must be completed prior to heat treatment.
! Laminated safety glass is highly recommended for overhead glazing (like skylights) because the interlayer retains shattered glass pieces, preventing them from falling.
! For visual distortion checks, glass should be viewed in transmission at the intended installation angle rather than purely horizontally or vertically.
American National Standard for Safety Glazing Materials Used in Buildings - Safety Performance Specifications and Methods of Test
Specifies safety performance requirements and test methods for glazing used in buildings, focusing on human impact.
EN 12600:2002CEN (European Union)
HighCurrent
Glass in building - Pendulum test - Impact test method and classification for flat glass
Provides the primary human impact test method (pendulum) used to classify safety glass throughout Europe.
AS/NZS 2208:1996SA/SNZ (Australia/New Zealand)
HighCurrent
Safety glazing materials in buildings
Covers safety requirements for glazing materials for use in buildings, including impact performance.
BS 6206:1981BSI (UK)
MediumWithdrawn
Specification for impact performance requirements for flat safety glass and safety plastics for use in buildings
A foundational impact performance standard whose classification system likely influenced IS 2553.
Key Differences
≠IS 2553 uses a 45 kg leather shot-bag for its primary impact test, whereas the prevalent European standard (EN 12600) uses a 50 kg twin-tyre impactor, resulting in different impact dynamics and surface interaction.
≠The safety classification in IS 2553 (Categories I, II, III) is based solely on impact drop height. Modern standards like EN 12600 provide a more detailed classification that also includes the mode of breakage (e.g., numerous cracks with particles held, or dicing into small pieces).
≠IS 2553:1990 is a single document for general requirements, while modern international standards are often multi-part series, such as EN 12150 for toughened glass and EN 14449 for laminated glass, allowing for more specific and detailed requirements for each product type.
≠The fragmentation test for toughened glass in IS 2553 specifies a single minimum particle count (40 particles in 50x50mm), while standards like EN 12150-1 specify varying particle counts based on the nominal thickness of the glass.
Key Similarities
≈All standards have the fundamental objective of minimizing cutting and piercing injuries to persons by specifying performance criteria for glass under human impact.
≈Both IS 2553 and its international counterparts use a simulated human impact test involving a weighted bag/impactor swung from specified drop heights to classify safety performance.
≈The 'Boil Test' (immersing laminated glass in boiling water for 2 hours) is a common method specified in both IS 2553 and international standards (like ISO 12543-4) to assess the durability and adhesion of the interlayer.
≈All standards recognize the safe-breakage characteristic of thermally toughened glass, defining it by its fragmentation into numerous small, relatively blunt particles and setting limits on particle size and count.
What is the primary safety difference between toughened and laminated glass?+
Toughened glass shatters into small, blunt, relatively harmless cubes, whereas laminated glass holds the broken shards together via a polymer (PVB) interlayer.
Can toughened safety glass be resized at the site?+
No, any cutting or drilling must be done before the toughening process, otherwise the glass will shatter immediately.
What is the fracture test?+
A test for toughened glass to ensure it breaks safely into a minimum number of small particles (typically at least 40 in a 50x50 mm square) rather than large, dangerous shards.
How is laminated glass tested for delamination resistance?+
It is subjected to a Boil Test (immersed in boiling water for 2 hours) to check for bubbles, delamination, or cloudiness.