ISI Mark on Tiles: BIS Marking for Flooring in India Explained (2026)

That small triangular ISI symbol on a tile carton is not decoration, and since the early 2020s it is not optional either. For ceramic and vitrified floor and wall tiles, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) mark is now legally compulsory in India under a Quality Control Order, which means a tile sold without a genuine ISI mark and a valid licence number is, technically, contraband. This guide explains what the mark certifies, which IS numbers it covers, how to tell a real licence from a printed-on fake, why a tile shipped from China or Spain must carry it too, and what BIS pointedly does not cover (your marble and granite).

What the ISI mark actually means

The ISI mark is the certification mark of the Bureau of Indian Standards, India's national standards body. When a product carries it, BIS is certifying that the manufacturer holds a licence to use the mark and that the goods are made to a specific Indian Standard under a tested, audited quality system. It is a third-party promise, not the factory's own claim.

Three things travel together on a genuinely marked tile box. First, the ISI monogram itself (the letters ISI inside a stylised rounded outline). Second, the IS number the tile is certified to, for example "IS 15622". Third, a licence number, written in the form CM/L-XXXXXXXX (CM/L meaning Certification Marks Licence). That licence number is the single most useful thing on the carton, because it is what you verify. A box that shows the ISI symbol but no licence number, or a licence number that does not resolve when you check it, is the classic signature of a counterfeit.

Crucially, the ISI mark does not mean "premium". It means the tile clears the minimum legal floor for water absorption, dimensions, breaking strength, abrasion and surface quality defined in its standard. A perfectly compliant economy tile and a flagship double-charged tile can both carry it. Quality grading (Premium, Standard, Commercial) sits on top of certification, not inside it. For how those grades work, see our guides on tile grades and sorting and how to buy floor tiles in India.

The Quality Control Order that made it mandatory

For decades ISI marking on tiles was voluntary, and plenty of good tiles carried it for credibility. That changed when the government issued a Quality Control Order (QCO) for ceramic and vitrified tiles. A QCO is a notification, issued by the relevant ministry (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, working with BIS), that pulls a product into mandatory certification: from the enforcement date, no one may manufacture, import, store for sale, sell or distribute that product without BIS certification and the ISI mark.

The tile QCO brings the main pressed-tile standards into its net:

The practical effect for you as a buyer is simple. For any ceramic or vitrified tile, the legitimate answer to "is it ISI marked?" is now always yes. If a dealer shrugs and says branded tiles do not bother with it, that dealer is either selling old non-compliant stock or counterfeit goods. Reputable Indian makers (Kajaria, Somany, Nitco, Johnson, Orient Bell, Simpolo, Varmora and the Morbi cluster that produces most of India's tiles) all hold valid licences; you are entitled to insist on seeing one. For the standard itself, read our IS 15622 tile standard explained guide, and for the wider code landscape, flooring standards in India.

How to verify a genuine ISI mark and licence number

A printed triangle proves nothing on its own; the verification step is where fakes fall apart. Use this term-to-meaning-to-check table.

The gold-standard check takes two minutes. Download the free BIS Care app (or use the BIS portal), enter or scan the CM/L licence number, and it returns the licence holder's name, the product, the IS number and the licence status (active, expired or cancelled). If the number does not exist, has lapsed, or names a different product or company than the box claims, treat the tiles as uncertified. Do this on a sample before a large order; on a building project, ask for a copy of the BIS licence certificate and match it to delivered cartons. A genuine licence also means the factory is subject to BIS surveillance audits and market sample testing, so the certification is living, not a one-off sticker.

Reading the mark: an abstract layout

Indian standards forbid us from reproducing the real ISI logo here, so the diagram below is a labelled schematic of where each element sits on a compliant carton. It shows the relationships, not the artwork.

Imports must comply too

A common myth is that imported tiles escape Indian certification. They do not. A QCO applies to the product inside India regardless of where it was made, so a tile imported from China, Spain, Italy or anywhere else must also carry BIS certification to be sold here legally. Foreign factories obtain this through the BIS Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS): the overseas plant is audited and licensed by BIS just like a domestic one, and the imported cartons then carry the ISI mark and a CM/L licence number.

This matters because the import channel is where a lot of grey-market and counterfeit tiles enter. Customs and BIS market surveillance have tightened, but uncertified imports still surface in some dealer godowns, often sold as cheap "premium import" lots. If a tile is pitched as imported but cannot show a BIS FMCS licence, walk away. Genuine imported vitrified and porcelain is fully certifiable; the absence of certification is the red flag, not the foreign origin. For weighing imports against domestic stock on price, durability and certification, see imported vs Indian flooring in India.

What BIS marking does NOT cover

This is the section most buyers miss. The tile QCO covers pressed ceramic and vitrified tiles. It does not cover natural stone. There is no Quality Control Order making certification mandatory for marble, granite, Kota stone, sandstone, limestone or any quarried stone.

Indian Standards for stone do exist and are useful reference points, but they are voluntary: IS 1130 for marble blocks, slabs and tiles; IS 14223 for polished building and granite stone; IS 3622 for sandstone; and IS 1124 for water absorption and specific gravity of natural building stones. You will almost never see an ISI mark on a marble or granite slab, and that is normal and legal, not a defect. So with stone, you cannot lean on a certification mark. Quality assurance moves entirely onto inspection: viewing full slabs in daylight, checking for cracks, resin fills and patches, confirming thickness, and verifying the origin claim (relabelled "Italian marble" is a known trick). Our guides on how to buy marble and how to buy granite cover that slab-by-slab discipline, and natural stone standards in India details the voluntary IS codes. Likewise, engineered or imported wood, vinyl, SPC, laminate and epoxy have their own quality story and are outside this particular tile QCO.

Beyond stone, remember the ISI mark also does not certify slip resistance, PEI wear class or fitness for a specific room. A BIa tile is certified, but you still have to choose the right PEI rating and anti-slip rating for a bathroom or balcony. Certification is the entry ticket; specification is the seat you actually want. Run the tile past tile testing and quality in India for the performance side.

Consumer protection if a tile fails

The certification system has teeth on the back end, which is what makes the front-end mark worth insisting on.

Two practical habits protect you. First, always take a GST invoice that names the brand, model and quantity; without paperwork, a warranty or consumer claim is far harder to pursue, and the invoice also confirms input credit and genuineness. Second, photograph the carton labels (ISI mark, IS number, CM/L licence) on delivery and verify the licence then, not after laying. If a marked tile later fails to meet its IS limits, you have a concrete basis to go back to the manufacturer, because the mark is a representation of conformity; and if the mark turns out to be counterfeit, you can report the misuse to BIS, which can act against the seller. For warranty specifics, see the flooring warranty guide, and for invoicing and tax, flooring GST and billing in India.

A useful tool while shopping is our tile water absorption classifier, which helps you sanity-check the group claimed on a certified box against the room you are tiling.

Frequently asked questions

Is the ISI mark mandatory on all tiles in India now?

For pressed ceramic and vitrified floor and wall tiles, yes. A Quality Control Order makes BIS certification and ISI marking compulsory to manufacture, import, store, sell or distribute these tiles, under IS 15622, IS 13753, IS 13755 and IS 13756. Natural stone is not covered, so marble and granite slabs legitimately carry no ISI mark.

How do I check if an ISI mark is genuine?

Find the CM/L licence number printed near the ISI symbol, then verify it in the free BIS Care app or on the BIS website. A real licence returns the manufacturer's name, the product, the IS number and an active status. An ISI logo with no licence number, or a number that does not resolve, points to a counterfeit.

Do imported tiles need BIS certification?

Yes. The Quality Control Order applies to the product sold in India regardless of origin, so imported ceramic and vitrified tiles must carry BIS certification too. Overseas factories get this through the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme. An import with no BIS FMCS licence should be avoided no matter how premium it is pitched.

Does the ISI mark mean the tile is high quality?

No. It certifies that the tile meets the minimum legal limits of its standard for absorption, dimensions, strength and surface quality. It does not grade it as premium, nor does it certify slip resistance or PEI wear class. Choose the water-absorption group, PEI rating and anti-slip rating separately for your specific room.

What can I do if an ISI-marked tile fails?

Raise it first with the seller and manufacturer, since the mark represents conformity to the IS limits. Keep your GST invoice, the brand, model and licence number as evidence. You can escalate under the Consumer Protection Act 2019 to a Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, and report any suspected misuse of the ISI mark to BIS.