BIS Notifies New Standard for Bomb Disposal Systems

New Delhi: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has notified a dedicated standard, IS 19445:2025, for bomb disposal systems to address a critical gap in the country’s security preparedness framework and to provide manufacturers with clear performance benchmarks.

The new standard was developed at the request of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Terminal Ballistic Research Laboratory. It lays down comprehensive guidelines for evaluating bomb disposal systems against blast loads and splinter effects.

Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare said the standard is intended for voluntary adoption by procurement agencies, manufacturers and testing bodies.

“Its implementation is expected to bring uniformity in evaluation practices, promote quality-driven manufacturing, and enhance confidence in bomb disposal systems deployed in critical security operations,” she said in a statement.

According to the Consumer Affairs Ministry, the standard specifies requirements for test equipment, test range conditions and evaluation procedures to objectively assess the effectiveness of bomb disposal systems.

The ministry said the need for an Indian standard arose as existing international standards are either restricted in access or not fully aligned with the threat profiles and operational conditions faced by Indian security forces.

Indian armed forces, central armed police forces, State police and civilian agencies increasingly face threats from unexploded bombs, improvised explosive devices and hand grenades in conflict zones, cantonment areas and public spaces.

Bomb disposal systems such as bomb blankets, bomb baskets and bomb inhibitors are commonly deployed to mitigate these risks. While several public and private agencies manufacture such systems in India, their safe deployment requires rigorous and standardised performance evaluation.

The standard will serve as a reference for test sponsors, manufacturers and accredited testing agencies by defining test methodologies, apparatus, test specimens and acceptance criteria to verify compliance with performance benchmarks.

BIS said that while developing IS 19445:2025, due consideration was given to international best practices and globally accepted performance concepts, suitably adapted to Indian threat scenarios and operating environments. This approach, the ministry said, promotes global alignment while maintaining national relevance and supports Indian manufacturers in achieving international competitiveness.