IS 10322 (Part 5/Sec 1): 2026 — Fixed General Purpose LED Luminaires

IS 10322 (Part 5/Sec 1): 2026 — Fixed General Purpose LED Luminaires

ARTICLE 4: IS 10322 (Part 5/Sec 1): 2026 — Fixed General Purpose LED Luminaires

Standard: IS 10322 (Part 5/Sec 1): 2026 | Fixed General Purpose LED Luminaires (IEC 60598-2-1:2020) Replaces: IS 10322 (Part 5/Sec 1): 2012 Deadline: August 2, 2026 HOT Status: Scope approval in progress ---

The Largest Luminaire Category in India

Fixed general purpose luminaires represent the largest single product category in the Indian LED luminaire market. Ceiling lights, panel lights, batten fixtures, track lights, and wall-mounted fittings installed in homes, offices, factories, hospitals, schools, retail stores — every permanently mounted luminaire that is not classified as recessed, street, flood, emergency, or hand lamp falls here.

The scale of this market — and the number of BIS licences held by manufacturers and importers — makes IS 10322 (Part 5/Sec 1): 2026 one of the most commercially significant standard revisions of 2026. If you hold a BIS CRS licence for fixed luminaires, this update directly affects your ability to legally sell those products in India after August 2, 2026.

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Products Covered

IS 10322 (Part 5/Sec 1): 2026 covers luminaires intended for permanent mounting in a fixed position, supplying general illumination for indoor and outdoor environments. Specific product types include:

  • LED panel lights — flat panel ceiling lights for offices, hospitals, and commercial spaces
  • LED batten lights — linear battens for workshops, warehouses, and utility spaces
  • LED ceiling lights — surface-mounted ceiling fixtures for residential and commercial use
  • LED track lights — when permanently installed in a track system
  • LED wall lights — decorative and functional wall-mounted luminaires
  • LED garden and outdoor fixed luminaires — permanently mounted outdoor fittings
  • LED downlighters in surface-mounted (non-recessed) configuration
  • Fancy lights — decorative LED luminaires for residential and hospitality use (explicitly included in 2026 scope)
  • LED high-bay luminaires — for warehouse and industrial high-ceiling applications
  • LED corn bulbs and replacement luminaires in fixed fittings with integral driver
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    What Changed in IS 10322 (Part 5/Sec 1): 2026

    From the Official BIS Notification (March 20, 2026):

    Change 1: Updated References to IS 10322 (Part 1): 2026

    The most significant impact of the 2026 revision flows from the updated base standard. Part 5/Sec 1: 2026 now references IS 10322 (Part 1): 2026 — which introduces 12 major technical changes (detailed in Article 3). All of these now apply to fixed luminaires:

  • EMF safety requirements
  • Touch voltage and touch current limits
  • IPX9 testing (where claimed)
  • PELV system requirements (where applicable)
  • Fast-rotating parts protection (for fan-cooled luminaires)
  • Extended photobiological safety assessment
  • Battery/EDLC annexure (for luminaires with backup power)
  • Updated marking requirements
  • Change 2: Expanded Scope — All Electric Light Sources

    The 2012 version of this standard was written primarily for LED sources. The 2026 version explicitly expands the scope to include all electric light sources — aligning with the broader scope of IS 10322 (Part 1): 2026. This means luminaires designed to accept any lamp type (not just LED) are now explicitly within scope.

    Change 3: Fancy Lights Explicitly Included

    Decorative LED string-effect luminaires, pendant lamp clusters, and similar fancy light products intended for permanent installation are now explicitly stated within the scope of IS 10322 (Part 5/Sec 1): 2026. This was previously a grey area — some fancy light products were covered under this standard, some under the lighting chains standard. The 2026 revision clarifies that permanently-installed fancy lights fall under Sec 1.

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    Key Tests Under IS 10322 (Part 5/Sec 1): 2026

    A fixed general purpose luminaire must pass tests in the following areas. Both Part 1 general tests and Part 5/Sec 1 specific tests apply:

    Electrical Safety:
  • Creepage distances and clearances (between live parts, and between live parts and earthed metal)
  • Insulation resistance measurement
  • Dielectric strength (electric strength test with high voltage)
  • Earth continuity (for Class I luminaires with protective earth)
  • Touch voltage and touch current (new numerical limits per Part 1: 2026)
  • Leakage current measurement
  • Thermal Testing:
  • Temperature rise on windings, capacitors, terminals, and external surfaces under rated conditions
  • Maximum surface temperatures on lamp holders and accessible surfaces
  • Temperature during operation at maximum permissible ambient temperature
  • Mechanical Testing:
  • Resistance to mechanical impact (IK rating where specified)
  • Pull-out force on strain relief and cord anchorage
  • Resistance to damage from mechanical stress during installation
  • Ingress Protection (where rated):
  • Dust ingress testing per IP first digit requirements
  • Water ingress testing per IP second digit requirements (including IPX9 if claimed)
  • Photobiological Safety:
  • Spectral power distribution measurement
  • Blue light hazard weighted radiance calculation
  • Risk group classification per IEC 62471
  • EMF Assessment:
  • Electromagnetic field measurement at specified distances
  • Comparison against specified limits
  • Marking Verification:
  • Complete verification of all mandatory markings
  • Durability of markings under cleaning test
  • Legibility check
  • Fire Hazard:
  • Glow wire test on materials used for parts supporting current-carrying connections
  • Needle flame test where applicable
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    Understanding the "Lead Model" Approach for Fixed Luminaires

    Fixed luminaires often come in series — the same housing design with different wattages, different CCTs, or different beam angles. BIS allows a lead model approach: the most demanding model in a series (typically highest wattage) is tested, and other models in the series are covered by an undertaking.

    However, "series" has a specific meaning. Luminaires qualify as a series only when:

  • Same housing construction and materials
  • Same driver design (same circuit topology, same driver IC family)
  • Same or similar lamp holder and optical system
  • Primary variation is output level (wattage) within a defined range
  • Different housing designs, different driver designs, or different protection classes (Class I vs Class II) constitute separate products requiring separate lead model testing.

    For a manufacturer with 50 luminaire SKUs, proper series grouping before testing can reduce the number of samples needed to test from 50 to perhaps 8–12 lead models. Our engineers at House of Testing will help you establish the correct grouping before you submit samples — this exercise typically saves significant testing time and cost.

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    10 Frequently Asked Questions

    FAQ 1: I manufacture LED panel lights. My 600x600mm and 600x1200mm panels use the same driver design but different LED configurations and frames. Are these the same series?

    Same driver design is an important commonality, but different LED configurations (different number of LED arrays, different total power) create different thermal conditions that affect the driver operating point and temperature rise. Different frame/housing sizes also affect thermal dissipation.

    For BIS certification purposes, these would typically be treated as different models requiring individual lead model determination, even if the driver circuit is identical. However, the driver safety test data (dielectric strength, insulation resistance, earth continuity) can potentially be shared between models with the same driver.

    The most important differentiating factor: if the 600x1200 panel dissipates significantly more heat than the 600x600 (which it typically does for the same driver power), the temperature rise tests must be conducted on both sizes — the thermal performance is housing-size-dependent.

    Discuss your specific panel range with our engineers before submitting.

    FAQ 2: My LED track lights are sold both as fixed (mounted to ceiling) and on a track rail that allows repositioning. Which standard applies?

    If the luminaire is designed for and sold as a track luminaire (specifically intended for installation on a track system where it can be repositioned without tools), it falls under IS 10322 (Part 5/Sec 1) as the most applicable standard — with specific requirements for track luminaires included in the Part 5/Sec 1 scope.

    If it is a fixed ceiling-mount luminaire that can optionally be used on a track, the primary classification is still fixed luminaire.

    The key distinction is whether the luminaire is specifically designed for and marketed for track mounting (repositionable) or fixed mounting (permanently installed). In practice, most Indian track luminaires that are sold for commercial use fall under IS 10322 Part 5/Sec 1.

    FAQ 3: My LED high-bay luminaires have cooling fans. What specific tests are triggered by the fan?

    The presence of a cooling fan triggers the new Clause in IS 10322 (Part 1): 2026 on protection against fast-rotating parts. Specifically:

  • Guard test: The standard test finger (a specified probe representing a human finger) must not be able to contact moving fan blades through any opening in the luminaire housing, including ventilation slots
  • Guard strength test: Fan guards must withstand specified mechanical forces without failure
  • Additionally, the fan creates a consideration for temperature rise testing — the test must be conducted with the fan operating normally, and the temperature rise limits must be met under these conditions. Testing with the fan disabled is not representative.

    For luminaires where the fan is inside a sealed or tool-accessed enclosure with no finger-accessible openings — the guard test may not require modification, but this must be confirmed by assessment during testing.

    FAQ 4: My luminaires are Class II (double-insulated, no earth required). Do the earth continuity and touch voltage tests still apply?

    Earth continuity test: Not applicable for Class II luminaires — there is no protective earth to measure continuity on.

    Touch voltage and touch current: Yes, these tests apply to Class II luminaires as well. For Class II, the concern is not voltage on an earthed part, but voltage on accessible conductive parts that are not earthed. The test measures whether any accessible metal part is at a voltage that could cause shock — even without an earth fault, capacitive coupling can cause accessible parts to be at measurable voltage.

    For well-designed Class II luminaires with proper insulation, touch voltage and current should be negligible. For luminaires with exposed metal parts (decorative metal housings, metal trim rings) that are separated from live parts only by basic insulation within the driver, the test may reveal compliance issues.

    FAQ 5: I sell LED panel lights under my own brand, but the panels are manufactured for me by a factory in China. The factory provides the BIS test reports. How do I handle the transition?

    The BIS CRS registration is in your name as the brand owner and importer — the obligations are yours. However, you can coordinate the transition with your manufacturer:

  • Request that your manufacturer provides fresh samples under the 2026 standard
  • The samples can be shipped to House of Testing in India for BIS-recognized testing
  • The test reports will be in the format required by BIS for your Manakonline submission
  • The shipping of LED luminaire samples from China requires proper commercial invoice documentation and standard import procedures. House of Testing can guide you on sample import requirements.

    The critical point: the Chinese factory's own compliance testing (CE, CB, etc.) does not substitute for BIS-recognized laboratory testing. Even if the factory has comprehensive international certifications, you must test at a BIS-recognized lab.

    FAQ 6: Our LED batten lights are rated IP20 (no special ingress protection). We have never done any IP testing. Does IS 10322 (Part 5/Sec 1): 2026 require IP testing for IP20 products?

    IP20 means the luminaire is protected against solid objects greater than 12mm (e.g., fingers) but has no protection against water. At IP20, no ingress protection testing is formally conducted — the rating is established by construction assessment (ensuring openings in the housing are less than 12mm wide, preventing finger contact with live parts).

    If your luminaire is rated and marketed as IP20, and your packaging/datasheet states IP20, the standard requires that this IP20 claim be established — but for IP20, this is done through construction review rather than a water spray test.

    You do not need water ingress testing for IP20 products. You do need to ensure your luminaire's openings are within the dimensional limits for IP20 protection.

    If, however, your luminaire has no IP rating claim at all (not even IP20), then no IP rating testing or assessment is required — but the luminaire must then be clearly appropriate only for dry indoor use.

    FAQ 7: What is the photobiological safety test for a luminaire and how does it differ from the LED lamp test?

    For LED lamps (IS 16102), photobiological safety is tested on the lamp itself — the source of light is the lamp, and the measurement is of the lamp's output.

    For luminaires (IS 10322), photobiological safety considers the luminaire as a complete product including its optical system. The same measurement methodology (IEC 62471) applies, but the measurement includes the effect of the luminaire's optical components — diffusers, lenses, reflectors, and housings — on the emitted light.

    A diffused panel light, for example, spreads light over a large surface area, resulting in low luminance and typically a low risk group (RG0 or RG1). A narrow-beam spotlight with a focusing lens concentrates the same amount of light into a small beam, resulting in high luminance and a potentially higher risk group.

    The same LED module used in these two luminaires would have different photobiological risk groups at the luminaire level — demonstrating why luminaire-level testing is essential even when the LED components are already characterised.

    FAQ 8: My fancy lights (decorative LED pendant clusters) are already BIS certified under some standard. Which standard was used and does IS 10322 (Part 5/Sec 1): 2026 now apply to them?

    Decorative LED fancy lights and pendant clusters have historically been certified under a mix of standards — some under IS 10322 (Part 5/Sec 1), some under IS 10322 (Part 5/Sec 7) (lighting chains), and some under IS 16102 (if they used self-ballasted LED lamps).

    IS 10322 (Part 5/Sec 1): 2026 now explicitly includes fancy lights within its scope. If your existing certification is under the 2012 version of Sec 1 — it must be updated to the 2026 version before August 2. If it was certified under Sec 7 (lighting chains) — you need to determine whether the 2026 version of Sec 7 now also explicitly covers your product or whether Sec 1 is more appropriate.

    The classification depends on construction and installation method:

  • Permanently installed fancy lights (hardwired, cord-and-plug fixed): IS 10322 (Part 5/Sec 1): 2026
  • Temporarily installed fancy lights (intended for seasonal or event use): IS 10322 (Part 5/Sec 7): 2026
  • Contact our team for a classification assessment if you are unsure which standard applies.

    FAQ 9: We manufacture LED corn bulbs — E27 or E40 base LED replacements for high-pressure sodium or metal halide fittings. Are these covered under IS 16102 (as self-ballasted LED lamps) or IS 10322 (as luminaires)?

    LED corn bulbs with integrated drivers (complete with E27 or E40 screw cap) are classified as self-ballasted LED lamps when they are:

  • Designed to be installed into an existing luminaire housing
  • Include an integrated driver
  • Operate from mains supply through the lamp cap
  • This means IS 16102 (Part 1): 2026 and IS 16102 (Part 2): 2026 apply — not IS 10322.

    However, if the LED corn "bulb" also includes its own integral housing, reflector, and optical system such that it constitutes a complete luminaire in itself (not just a lamp replacement), it may be classified as a luminaire under IS 10322.

    The classification test: if you can remove the LED component from the housing and the remaining housing is a separate luminaire — it's a lamp. If the LED component and housing are inseparable as a product unit — it may be a luminaire.

    For most E27/E40 corn bulbs intended as direct replacements for existing bulbs in existing fixtures — IS 16102 applies.

    FAQ 10: My luminaires are sold both in India and in Europe. I already have CE marking (which requires IEC 60598 compliance). Since IS 10322 is based on IEC 60598, is there anything specific to IS 10322 (Part 5/Sec 1): 2026 that goes beyond CE requirements?

    IS 10322 (Part 5/Sec 1): 2026 is specifically aligned with IEC 60598-2-1:2020 — the same international standard underlying the CE marking luminaire safety requirements. Technical requirements are substantially harmonised.

    However, several IS 10322 specific points differ from or go beyond CE requirements:

  • Marking language and format: CE marking uses English/EU languages. IS 10322 requires marks meeting India-specific format requirements
  • BIS CRS marking: The BIS registration mark must appear on the luminaire — CE mark alone is not accepted by BIS
  • Registration certificate number: Must appear on product/packaging per BIS CRS requirements
  • Country of origin: Required marking per Indian regulations
  • BIS-recognized laboratory: CE testing done by a European notified body or CBTL does not satisfy BIS requirements unless that laboratory also holds BIS recognition
  • In terms of technical tests, if your CE test was done to IEC 60598-2-1:2020 (the same version referenced by IS 10322 Part 5/Sec 1: 2026), the test data is substantially equivalent. However, the test must be signed off by a BIS-recognized laboratory — which may choose to reference your CE test data but must issue its own BIS-format report.

    Contact House of Testing to discuss how your existing CE test evidence can best be leveraged to minimise additional testing costs for BIS certification.