Link points to Internet Archive / others. Not hosted by InfraLens. Details
IS 782:1978 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for caulking lead. This standard outlines the specifications for caulking lead used for making watertight spigot and socket joints in cast iron pipes and sanitary appliances. It covers the material requirements, purity, and physical forms of lead intended for melting and pouring into plumbing joints.
! Lead caulking has become largely obsolete in modern plumbing due to health concerns regarding lead exposure and toxicity.
! Modern alternatives like elastomeric sealing rings (push-fit joints) and mechanical couplings have replaced lead joints in new construction.
! When repairing older municipal cast iron water mains that still use lead joints, workmen must ensure proper ventilation and wear PPE to avoid inhaling toxic lead fumes during the melting and pouring process.
leadcaulking leadpig lead
International Equivalents
Similar International Standards
ASTM B29-20ASTM International (USA)
HighCurrent
Standard Specification for Refined Lead
Specifies multiple grades of refined lead in pig or ingot form for various industrial uses.
BS EN 12659:1999BSI - British Standards Institution (UK) / CEN - European Committee for Standardization
HighCurrent
Lead and lead alloys. Lead
Defines grades, chemical compositions, and forms of delivery for unalloyed lead in cast form.
JIS H 2105:2007JSA - Japanese Standards Association (Japan)
HighCurrent
Lead ingots
Specifies the quality and chemical composition for several classes of refined lead ingots.
Key Differences
≠IS 782 specifies a single grade of lead with 99.85% min purity, whereas modern standards like ASTM B29 and EN 12659 define multiple grades, some with much higher purity (e.g., >99.99%) for different applications.
≠The maximum allowable Antimony (Sb) content in IS 782 is 0.015%, which is significantly higher than in many comparable international grades (e.g., <0.002% in some ASTM B29 grades) where antimony is more strictly controlled.
≠IS 782 is highly specific to 'Caulking Lead' for pipe joints, an increasingly niche application. International standards have a broader scope, covering refined lead for batteries, chemical processing, and alloying, reflecting modern usage.
≠IS 782 includes a requirement for 'Total impurities (other than Sb and Bi)' not to exceed 0.04%. Most international standards do not specify a grouped total impurity limit, instead relying on individual maximums for each element and the minimum lead percentage.
Key Similarities
≈All standards specify the primary material as refined, unalloyed lead supplied in cast form, typically as pigs or ingots.
≈The fundamental method of defining the material quality across all standards is by specifying the chemical composition, with maximum limits set for key impurities.
≈The maximum limit for Bismuth (Bi) impurity is 0.05% in IS 782, which is identical to the limit for specific common grades in both ASTM B29 (Grade L50021) and JIS H 2105 (Class 3), indicating a shared understanding of this element's acceptable level.
≈All standards mandate marking the cast products (pigs/ingots) with manufacturer identification and a lot/cast number for traceability.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Lead (Pb) Content (min)
99.85%
99.90% (Class 3)
JIS H 2105:2007
Bismuth (Bi) (max)
0.05%
0.05% (Grade L50021)
ASTM B29-20
Antimony (Sb) (max)
0.015%
0.002% (as part of As+Sb+Sn total)
ASTM B29-20
Copper (Cu) (max)
0.03%
0.04% (for grade PB970R)
BS EN 12659:1999
Tin (Sn) (max)
0.005%
0.001%
JIS H 2105:2007
Zinc (Zn) (max)
0.002%
0.001%
ASTM B29-20
Iron (Fe) (max)
0.003%
0.002%
JIS H 2105:2007
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values1
Quick Reference Values
reference raw materialMust conform to IS 27 (Pig Lead)