InfraLensInfraLens
IS CodesIRCToolsSORHandbookQA/QCPMCFormatsCPHEEOMapsProjectsDCRRulesAbout Join Channel
Join
IS CodesIRCToolsSORHandbookQA/QCPMCFormatsCPHEEOMapsProjectsDCRDesign RulesBIMAbout Join WhatsApp Channel
InfraLensInfraLens
IS CodesIRCToolsSORHandbookQA/QCPMCFormatsCPHEEOMapsProjectsDCRRulesAbout Join Channel
Join
IS CodesIRCToolsSORHandbookQA/QCPMCFormatsCPHEEOMapsProjectsDCRDesign RulesBIMAbout Join WhatsApp Channel

IS 9973 : 1981Specification for visors for scooter helmets

PDFGoogleCompareBIS Portal
Link points to Internet Archive / others. Not hosted by InfraLens. Details
ECE 22.06 · JIS T 8133 · ANSI/SAE Z26.1
CurrentSpecializedSpecificationTransportation · Fire Fighting
PDFGoogleCompareBIS Portal
Link points to Internet Archive / others. Not hosted by InfraLens. Details
OverviewValues3InternationalTablesFAQ3Related

IS 9973:1981 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for visors for scooter helmets. This standard specifies the material, optical, mechanical, and constructional requirements for visors intended for use with scooter helmets. It aims to ensure rider safety by providing adequate visibility and protection against impact and weather.

Specification for visors for scooter helmets

Overview

Status
Current
Usage level
Specialized
Domain
Transportation — Fire Fighting
Type
Specification
International equivalents
ECE 22.06 · United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), EuropeJIS T 8133:2015 · Japanese Industrial Standards Committee (JISC), JapanANSI/SAE Z26.1-1996 · American National Standards Institute / SAE International, USA
Typically used with
IS 4151
Also on InfraLens for IS 9973
3Key values3FAQs
Practical Notes
! This standard is obsolete. Its requirements have been amalgamated into IS 4151 'Protective Helmets for Two Wheeler Riders - Specification'.
! Always refer to the latest version of IS 4151 for current legal and safety requirements for both helmets and visors in India.
! Key performance criteria for visors remain impact strength, scratch resistance, and optical clarity (high light transmittance and no distortion).
Frequently referenced clauses
Cl. 3MaterialCl. 4Optical PropertiesCl. 5Mechanical StrengthCl. 6Marking and Labelling
Pulled from IS 9973:1981. Browse the full clause & table index below in Tables & Referenced Sections.
polycarbonateplastictransparent polymers

International Equivalents

Similar International Standards
ECE 22.06United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), Europe
HighCurrent
Uniform provisions concerning the approval of protective helmets and their visors for drivers and passengers of motorcycles and mopeds
Directly addresses visors for motorcycle helmets with modern, comprehensive safety requirements.
BS 4110:1979British Standards Institution (BSI), UK
HighWithdrawn
Specification for visors for vehicle users
A contemporary standard to IS 9973, covering similar performance parameters for vehicle visors.
JIS T 8133:2015Japanese Industrial Standards Committee (JISC), Japan
MediumCurrent
Protective helmets for motor vehicle users
A comprehensive helmet standard that includes a dedicated section on visor requirements.
ANSI/SAE Z26.1-1996American National Standards Institute / SAE International, USA
LowCurrent
American National Standard for Safety Glazing Materials for Glazing Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Equipment Operating on Land Highways - Safety Standard
Covers safety glazing materials; its tests for optical quality and abrasion are often referenced for visors.
Key Differences
≠IS 9973:1981 uses a low-energy impact test (100g ball from 1m), whereas ECE 22.06 mandates a high-velocity particle impact test (6mm steel ball at 60 m/s), reflecting a significant difference in protective capability.
≠Modern standards like ECE 22.06 have stringent, quantitative limits for optical distortion (refractive, astigmatic, and prismatic power), while IS 9973 relies on a qualitative visual inspection for 'no appreciable distortion'.
≠Abrasion resistance testing is fundamentally different. IS 9973 uses a falling sand method, which is less reproducible than the standardized Taber abraser test required by ECE 22.06 and other modern standards.
≠ECE 22.06 includes requirements for anti-fog performance, often met with secondary lenses (e.g., Pinlock), a feature not considered in the 1981 Indian standard.
≠IS 9973 does not specify requirements for UV filtration, whereas ECE 22.06 requires visors to block UV radiation below 380 nm.
Key Similarities
≈All standards specify minimum light transmittance values for clear visors to ensure adequate visibility, typically in the range of 80-85%.
≈Both IS 9973 and its international counterparts require visors to be made from shatter-resistant transparent plastic materials, such as polycarbonate.
≈The fundamental scope of the standards is the same: to ensure the optical quality and impact resistance of visors intended for use by riders of two-wheeled motor vehicles.
≈All standards mandate that the visor must not dangerously impede the rider's peripheral field of vision when correctly fitted to a helmet.
Parameter Comparison
ParameterIS ValueInternationalSource
Luminous Transmittance (Clear Visor)≥ 85%≥ 80% (Class A)ECE 22.06
Impact Resistance Test Method100 g steel ball dropped from 1 m. No cracking or shattering.6 mm steel ball at 60 m/s at a specific point. No penetration or shattering.ECE 22.06
Abrasion Resistance Test MethodFalling sand (1 kg from 1.5 m). Resulting haze shall not exceed 10%.Taber abraser with 100 cycles. Resulting scattered light is measured.ECE 22.06
Optical Quality (Refractive Power)Qualitative: 'No appreciable distortion when viewed through'.Quantitative: Spherical power ≤ ±0.06 dioptres.ECE 22.06
Minimum Visor ThicknessNot specified; must pass performance tests.2.0 mm (nominal)BS 4110:1979
Tinted Visor IdentificationMarked with 'TINTED - Not for night use'.Marked with a symbol (e.g., sun) and 'DAYTIME USE ONLY'.ECE 22.06
Anti-fog CapabilityNot specified.Specific test procedure to measure fogging time/area; must meet minimum requirement.ECE 22.06
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use

Key Values3

Quick Reference Values
Minimum Luminous Transmittance85%
Impact Resistance TestShall not fracture when struck by a 500g steel ball dropped from a height of 2 metres.
Material RequirementShall be made of material which does not splinter on fracture.

Tables & Referenced Sections

Key Tables
No tables data
Key Clauses
Clause 3 - Material
Clause 4 - Optical Properties
Clause 5 - Mechanical Strength
Clause 6 - Marking and Labelling

Related Resources on InfraLens

Cross-Referenced Codes
IS 4151:1993Specification for protective helmets for scoo...
→

Frequently Asked Questions3

Is IS 9973:1981 still an active standard?+
No, it has been superseded and its provisions are now included in IS 4151.
What is the primary safety test for a visor under this specification?+
An impact resistance test to ensure the visor does not shatter or fracture upon impact from a standardized object.
What are the main optical requirements for a visor?+
The visor must have high luminous transmittance (e.g., >85%) and be free from optical distortion, haze, or other defects that could impair the rider's vision.

QA/QC Inspection Templates

📋
QA/QC templates coming soon for this code.
Browse all 300 templates →