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IS 2581:1972 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for vitreous china urinals. This standard specifies the material, dimensional, glazing, and performance requirements for vitreous china urinals used in sanitary installations. It covers manufacturing tolerances and flushing efficiency testing methodologies to ensure hygiene and durability.
Specifies requirements for vitreous china urinals, covering dimensions, quality, and performance.
ASME A112.19.2-2018/CSA B45.1-18American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), USA / Canadian Standards Association (CSA), Canada
HighCurrent
Plumbing Fixtures
Covers material, dimensional, and performance requirements for all vitreous china plumbing fixtures, including urinals.
EN 13407:2018European Committee for Standardization (CEN), Europe
MediumCurrent
Wall-hung urinals - Functional requirements and test methods
Focuses specifically on wall-hung urinals, with detailed performance tests for flushing, splashing, and drainability not in IS 2581.
AS/NZS 3982:2005Standards Australia / Standards New Zealand
HighCurrent
Urinals
Specifies requirements for urinals, including materials, construction, and water-saving performance criteria.
Key Differences
≠IS 2581 specifies flushing cisterns of 5 or 10 litres, whereas modern international standards mandate high-efficiency flushing (e.g., <= 1.9 Lpf / 0.5 gpf) or waterless operation to conserve water.
≠International standards like EN 13407 and ASME A112.19.2 include sophisticated performance tests such as wash area coverage, splashing, drainability, and structural load tests, which are absent in IS 2581.
≠IS 2581 is more prescriptive, specifying minimum thickness (6 mm). Modern standards are often performance-based, relying on load and impact tests to ensure durability rather than specifying a fixed thickness.
≠Modern standards provide specific classifications and requirements for a wider variety of urinal types, including trough, stall, and waterless urinals, whereas IS 2581 primarily covers traditional bowl and slab types.
Key Similarities
≈All standards mandate the use of vitreous china, a dense, non-porous ceramic material, as the primary body for the urinal.
≈The maximum allowable water absorption for the vitreous china body is specified as 0.5% of the dry mass in both IS 2581 and its international counterparts like ASME A112.19.2.
≈There is a common requirement for all visible surfaces to be covered with a smooth, impervious, and easily cleanable glaze. Most also require the trapway to be glazed.
≈For urinals with integral traps, both IS 2581 and international standards like EN 13407 require a minimum water seal depth of approximately 50 mm to prevent sewer gas from entering the room.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Water Absorption (Max %)
0.5% of dry weight
0.5% of specimen weight
ASME A112.19.2-2018
Flushing Volume
Specifies 5 or 10 litre cisterns
Max 1.9 Lpf (0.5 gpf) for High-Efficiency Urinals (HEU); 0.0 Lpf for waterless
ASME A112.19.2-2018
Minimum Water Seal Depth (Integral Trap)
50 mm
50 mm
EN 13407:2018
Crazing Test
One cycle, heating to 130°C and quenching in water
One cycle in autoclave at 827 ± 34 kPa for 1 hour
ASME A112.19.2-2018
Minimum Body Thickness
6 mm at any point
Not specified; durability is determined by performance tests (e.g., structural integrity load test)
ASME A112.19.2-2018
Chemical Resistance
Must not be stained by ink or dye solution
Must not be stained after 24 hr exposure to a strong methylene blue solution
ASME A112.19.2-2018
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values3
Quick Reference Values
Maximum water absorption0.5% by weight
Dimensional tolerance for dimensions > 75 mm± 5%
Dimensional tolerance for dimensions <= 75 mm± 2 mm