Air purifiers — HEPA-based, activated carbon, UV-C germicidal, and ionizer models — are growing rapidly in India due to urban air quality concerns. They are covered under QCO 2026 and require mandatory BIS ISI mark certification.
Air purifiers fall under IS 302 Part 2 Section 65 (IEC 60335-2-65) — air-cleaning appliances. Both Part 1 general requirements and Part 2 Sec 65 product-specific requirements apply together.
The fan and motor that draw air through the filter are the primary safety components. Motor thermal protection must activate if the fan becomes blocked (by a foreign object, collapsed filter, or filter installed backwards). The fan speed controller (variable speed models) must operate safely across the speed range.
Air purifiers with UV-C germicidal lamps emit short-wave ultraviolet radiation that kills pathogens. UV-C is extremely harmful to eyes and skin — exposure can cause photokeratitis (arc eye) within seconds and skin burns. IS 302 Part 2 Sec 65 requires:
Some air purifiers use negative ion generators or plasma technology that produce ozone as a by-product. Ozone at high concentrations is harmful to lungs. IS 302 Part 2 Sec 65 specifies a maximum ozone emission rate — air purifiers must not produce ozone concentrations above 50 ppb at 1 meter distance during normal operation.
The HEPA filter must be installed correctly without bypass — unfiltered air must not be able to flow around the filter. The housing design and filter seating are evaluated.
Air purifiers are often used in humid rooms. The PCB and electrical components must maintain safe insulation levels in high-humidity environments — particularly relevant for ionizers which accumulate particulates on internal high-voltage electrodes.
Large enterprise: 1 October 2026. House of Testing handles IS 302 air purifier testing including UV-C and ozone measurement.