Bureau of Indian Standards, the National Standards Body of India is a statutory body functioning under the aegis of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India. It operates various schemes like Product Certification (ISI mark), Management Systems Certification, Hall Marking of Gold and Silver Jewellery/Artefacts and Laboratory Services for the benefit of the industry and in turn aiming at consumer protection.
Bureau of Indian Standards, Chennai Branch Office organized the BIS - Manak Manthan on “PACKAGED DRY MIXED CONCRETE – IS 18685” at Hotel Raj Park, 180, TT Krishnamachari Rd, Alwarpet, Chennai- 600018 on 18 November 2024, Today at 10:00 Hrs
Smt.G.Bhavani, Scientist-F/Sr.Director & Head(Chennai Branch Office) welcomed the Chief Guest , Dignitaries and participants. While explaining the Programme Objectives Smt.G.Bhavani mentioned BIS is organizing series of discussion-programmes titled “Manak Manthan” for the benefit of industry which is scheduled on every month, and is envisaged to launch new standards and share important revisions / amendments and wide circulation drafts to local manufacturers, Industrial and Trade Bodies, Chambers of Commerce, Industry Associations, PSU’s or organizations who use such products, Government departments, Regulatory bodies, Laboratories, Civil society groups and Academia.
Smt. G.Bhavani also informed that The Indian Standard IS 18685:2024, titled "Packaged Dry Mix Concrete — Specification," provides detailed guidelines for producing, packaging, and delivering dry mix concrete. It specifies that the dry mix, which includes cement, aggregates, and chemical admixtures, is produced in a controlled environment, packed in moisture-proof bags or containers (typically between 25 kg and 1 ton), and supplied in dry form for ease of transport and use at construction sites.
Shri C Balamurugan, Executive Engineer, Quality Control Division, Public Works Department, Government of Tamilnadu is the Chief Guest and during his inaugural speech , explained that Certified compliance with this standard enhances reliability for consumers, with the Bureau of Indian Standards offering certification under the conformity assessment scheme, ensuring the product's adherence to safety, environmental, and quality benchmarks. He also mentioned that in this context the Manak Manthan programme is being organized by BIS to raise awareness on the requirements of the standard.
Shri. Dhinesh Rajagopalan, Scientist-D During his Presentation, informed the technical details on IS 18685 : 2024. He also added the materials used, including cement and aggregates, must comply with Indian Standards (IS 456 for cement and IS 383 for aggregates), ensuring durability and performance. The standard highlights a three-tier quality control system comprising forward control (raw material checks and batch formulation), immediate control (monitoring production and packaging quality), and retrospective control (post-production testing, including the 28-day compressive strength test). Quality assurance requires that the production plant follows strict guidelines for moisture control, precise batching, and storage to avoid contamination and maintain consistency in each batch.
He also explained that the bags of dry mix concrete are marked with essential information, such as mixing instructions, net weight, grade, shelf life, and yield. Environmental sustainability is emphasized, with requirements for minimizing pollution and managing water and fuel usage to support the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 9, which promotes sustainable industrial practices.
Earlier, Smt. G.Bhavani, Scientist-F/Sr.Director & Head(Chennai Branch Office) explained the participants about activities of BIS and the latest initiatives of BIS including e-BIS & BIS Care App
Around 100 Stakeholders on the subject matter attended the Programme.