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IS 5942:1989 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for wooden handles for powrahs. This standard lays down the requirements for materials, dimensions, workmanship, finish, and testing for wooden handles used for powrahs (a type of heavy-duty hoe). It aims to ensure the handles are strong, durable, and fit for their intended use in agriculture and construction.
Consolidated list per BIS. For the text of each amendment, refer to the BIS portal link above.
woodtimberhardwood
International Equivalents
Similar International Standards
BS 6400:1983BSI - British Standards Institution, UK
HighWithdrawn
Specification for handles for picks, mattocks, adzes and slashers
Specifies materials, dimensions, and quality for handles of similar heavy-duty digging/striking tools.
DIN 6475:2012-12DIN - Deutsches Institut für Normung, Germany
MediumCurrent
Adzes; steel adzes with eye and handle
Covers the entire adze tool, but includes specific requirements for the wooden handle's material and quality.
USFS 5100-302cU.S. Forest Service, USA
MediumCurrent
Hand Tools
A detailed specification covering quality, material, and grain for handles on various forestry tools like Pulaskis and mattocks.
Key Differences
≠Timber Species: IS 5942 specifies indigenous Indian hardwoods like Sal (Shorea robusta) and Babul (Acacia nilotica), whereas international standards like DIN 6475 and BS 6400 specify temperate hardwoods like Ash, Hickory, or Robinia.
≠Grain Specification Detail: The USFS specification provides highly detailed requirements for grain orientation (e.g., vertical alignment in the eye for striking tools) and density (minimum growth rings per inch), which are more prescriptive than the general 'straight-grained' requirement in IS 5942.
≠Reference to General Standards: DIN 6475 references a separate, general standard for wooden handle quality (DIN 68360), indicating a modular standards system. IS 5942 is a self-contained document with all requirements included within it.
≠Tool Specificity: IS 5942 is exclusively for 'Powrahs', a tool common in South Asia. The international equivalents cover more globally recognized tools like mattocks, picks, and adzes, which have similar functions but different designs.
Key Similarities
≈Material Type: All standards mandate the use of strong, resilient, defect-free hardwood capable of withstanding high shock and bending loads.
≈Emphasis on Straight Grain: A critical safety and durability feature in all standards is the requirement for the wood grain to run straight and parallel to the main axis of the handle, minimizing the risk of breakage.
≈Prohibition of Critical Defects: All standards prohibit or severely restrict the presence of defects that compromise strength, such as large knots, splits, cracks, decay, and insect damage.
≈Control of Moisture Content: All standards require the wood to be properly seasoned to a specified moisture content range to ensure dimensional stability and prevent warping or cracking after manufacture.
≈Surface Finish: A requirement for a smooth, splinter-free surface is common across all standards to ensure user safety and comfortable handling.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Permissible Timber Species
Sal (Shorea robusta), Babul (Acacia nilotica), Anjan (Hardwickia binata) and other suitable Indian hardwoods.
Ash (Fraxinus), Hickory (Carya), or Robinia (Robinia pseudoacacia).
DIN 6475:2012-12
Moisture Content
Shall not exceed 15 percent.
Between 12% and 18%.
BS 6400:1983
Handle Length
750 mm or 900 mm.
900 mm (for Type A - Pick and Mattock handles).
BS 6400:1983
Grain Alignment
Shall be straight-grained and the grain shall be reasonably parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle.
The slope of the grain shall not be steeper than 1 in 10 from the axis of the handle.
BS 6400:1983
Finish
Sanded smooth... may be wax polished, varnished or oiled as agreed.
Finished with at least one coat of clear lacquer or wax polish.
BS 6400:1983
Prohibited Defects
Free from centre-heart, knots, cracks, splits, sapwood, decay and insect attack.
Free from decay, insect attack and surface checks deeper than 1.5 mm. Knots are restricted by size and location.
BS 6400:1983
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use