IS 694:2010 — PVC-insulated cables and flexible cords (FR / FR-LSH house wire)
What is IS 694:2010?
IS 694:2010 is the second revision of Indian Standard 694, published by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). It specifies the construction, dimensional, electrical, and mechanical requirements for PVC (polyvinyl chloride) insulated cables and flexible cords intended for use at voltages up to and including 1100 V AC.
The standard replaced IS 694:1990 and introduced enhanced flame-retardant (FR) requirements, a new FR-LSH (low smoke halogen-limited) category, and tightened conductor resistance limits aligned with IEC 60227. It is the foundational standard for all house-wiring cable sold in India.
Scope: what products does IS 694:2010 cover?
- Single-core and multi-core PVC-insulated cables, 0.5 mm² to 16 mm² cross-section
- Conductor classes: Class 1 (solid), Class 2 (stranded), Class 5 (fine-stranded flexible)
- Voltage rating: 300/500 V and 450/750 V (sub-categories) up to 1100 V
- FR (flame-retardant) — mandatory base requirement
- FR-LSH (flame-retardant, low-smoke, halogen-limited) — higher-performance variant; HCl ≤ 15% on acid-gas test
Not covered: IS 694:2010 does not apply to halogen-free (zero-halogen) cables (see IS 17048:2018), armoured power cables (see IS 1554), or XLPE cables (see IS 7098).
NBC 2016 applicability
The National Building Code of India 2016 (NBC 2016) Part 8 — Building Services — Section 2 (Electrical Installations) mandates IS 694:2010-compliant cables for all internal wiring in residential and commercial occupancies. Specific provisions:
- G+3 and below (residential, commercial): IS 694:2010 FR cable is the minimum requirement.
- G+4 and above (multi-storey, high-rise): NBC 2016 requires FR-LSH cable to IS 694:2010 (FR-LSH variant) or HFFR cable to IS 17048:2018 — consult the project MEP consultant for the applicable tier.
- Hospitals and public assembly buildings: IS 17048:2018 (HFFR/ZHFR) is typically specified; IS 694:2010 FR-LSH may be acceptable in lower-risk circuits — verify with the project fire-safety consultant.
Key test methods under IS 694:2010
| Test | Method / limit |
|---|---|
| Conductor resistance | Per IS 8130:2013 Table 2 — Class 2 max resistance at 20 °C (e.g. 1.5 mm² = 12.1 Ω/km) |
| Insulation resistance | ≥ 0.011 × log(D₂/D₁) MΩ·km at 70 °C (hot test per IS 10810 Part 32) |
| Voltage test | 3.5 kV AC for 5 minutes (1100 V rated cores) |
| Flame propagation (FR) | Single-wire test per IS 10810 Part 61 (IEC 60332-1) — cable self-extinguishes |
| Smoke density (FR-LSH) | Minimum light transmittance ≥ 60% per IS 10810 Part 63 |
| Acid-gas (FR-LSH) | HCl release ≤ 15% by mass per IS 10810 Part 63 |
BIS licence (CM/L) requirement
Every IS 694:2010 cable sold in India must be ISI-marked. The manufacturer must hold a valid BIS Conformity Marking Licence (CM/L number, format: 7-digit starting with 7, 8, or BIS-R_). The CM/L number is printed on the cable outer sheath at 1-metre intervals alongside the ISI mark, voltage rating, and year of manufacture.
Verify any CM/L number before purchase at:
- manakonline.in — BIS Manak Online ↗ (search by CM/L number or company name)
- bis.gov.in ↗ (BIS official portal)
Conductors per IS 8130:2013
IS 694:2010 cables must use copper conductors conforming to IS 8130:2013 — Conductors for Insulated Electric Cables and Flexible Cords. The three relevant classes:
- Class 2 (stranded): Standard house wire — multiple strands, reduced flexibility. The most common specification for conduit wiring.
- Class 5 (fine-stranded flexible): Higher strand count for flexible applications — panel wiring, connections to mobile equipment.
- Class 1 (solid): Rarely specified for new work; single-strand conductor, typically seen in older building wiring.
Conductor purity must be ≥ 99.97% IACS electrolytic-tough-pitch (ETP) copper per IS 8130:2013.
How to read the cable marking
A typical IS 694:2010 cable legend printed every 1 metre:
POLYCAB 1.5 SQ.MM FR IS 694:2010 ISI [CM/L 7340134] 650/1100V YR:2025
Fields: brand name · conductor cross-section · flame grade · standard code · ISI mark · CM/L licence number · voltage rating · year of manufacture.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between IS 694:2010 FR and FR-LSH cable?
Is IS 694:2010 the same as IS 694:1990?
What sizes does IS 694:2010 cover?
How do I verify a manufacturer's BIS licence for IS 694:2010?
Which brands hold BIS CM/L licences for IS 694:2010?
Updated weekly by the cablepriceindia.com price-research desk. Last verified: 1 July 2026. Sources cited inline. We are an independent price-discovery service. Verify any BIS Conformity Marking Licence (CM/L) at bis.gov.in.