ACE Test Labs Sets Out Testing Readiness for Refrigerators, Air Conditioners and Household Appliances as 2026 Standards Take Effect

Date: November 6, 2026

Location: Sonipat, Haryana, India

Haryana, India - ACE Test Labs & Metrology Pvt. Ltd., an independent testing laboratory in India based in Sonipat. The company has published guidance for appliance manufacturers on three important standards updates. These include the order dates for IS 302 Part 1:2024, the revised refrigerator standard IS 17550:2024, and A2L refrigerant safety requirements under IS 302 Part 2 Section 40:2025.

Every modification alters the things that producers must include in their technical records and test reports. An old test report may lack compliance with the newest standard. It is necessary for manufacturers and importers to determine what is needed for every product before planning additional tests.

IS 302 Part 1:2024: Order Dates and What to Check

Four terms are easy to blur. The standard is IS 302 Part 1:2024, based on IEC 60335-1:2020. The Quality Control Order is the government instrument that makes use of the standard mandatory. The effective date is when that order starts to bind. A concurrent period is the window in which an earlier edition may still be used. Safety of Household and Similar Electrical Appliances (Quality Control) Order, 2026, notified on 6th April 2026 supersedes the 2025 order. The compliance date for other than micro enterprises is reported to be 1st October 2026. For small enterprises, it is 1st January and for micro enterprises it is 1st April 2027.

A testing laboratory in India cannot decide scope on a manufacturer's behalf, but it can help frame the questions. Is the model on the order's product list? Does another order already cover it? Do existing reports cite IS 302 Part 1:2008 or the 2024 edition? Published notices also show BIS extending the concurrent period for the IS 302 series to 23 February 2027, so a licence position and a report's edition should be read together. The order carries its own exclusions and exemptions. Each manufacturer should read them against its own circumstances.

IS 17550:2024 and What It Means for Refrigerator Reports

IS 17550 (Part 1):2024 Update to IS 17550 (Part 1):2021 Household refrigerating appliances The BIS issued implementation instructions on 10 February 2025. Later, it extended the period of use for both editions until 12 May 2026.

The first step for fridge and deep freezer manufacturers is to compare the current test report with the 2024 requirements. Not always do we need a new test. Check cabinet and compressor installation, control and defrost systems and any changes from the last test. Then decide if the current report is sufficient, requires more testing or must be retested. This decision is subject to BIS licence status, product changes and applicable BIS instructions. Deep freezers also merit a check on what standard the order names for them. This gap review can be carried out by a refrigerator testing laboratory before any chamber time is booked.

A2L Refrigerants and IS 302 Part 2 Section 40:2025

IS 302 (Part 2/Sec 40):2025 covers heat pumps, air conditioners and dehumidifiers. It is based on IEC 60335-2-40:2022, with modifications and replaces IS/IEC 60335-2-40:2018. The same concurrent period to 23 February 2027 has been reported.

R32 is a common refrigerant in A2L. A2L refrigerants are less flammable than those in the higher flammability classes, but they are still flammable. Safety checks check the amount of refrigerant in the unit and where a leak might go. They also look for nearby ignition sources and how the product is designed to minimise risks. Air conditioners of the R32 type can be very different in design and safety requirements. So that same design change might not work for every model. If you are a manufacturer who wants to offer ac testing services. Check the standard that has been published for the exact requirements.

Key Highlights

• NABL accredited and BIS recognized: NABL accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025:2017. It covers only the activities listed in the approved scope. BIS recognition is a separate approval.

• Testing support for household appliances, refrigerators, deep freezers, air conditioners. Furthermore, electronics, IT products, luminaires, batteries and environmental testing.

• Environmental chambers support temperatures from -70°C to 180°C and humidity levels from 10% to 98% RH. It is subject to equipment availability and approved scope.

• Support for manufacturers, importers and exporters across India.

• Listed on the NEA Singapore website for energy-efficiency testing, within the listed scope.

"Three changes are landing close together, and they are easy to treat as one. Start by sorting each model by the standard edition and order that apply to it. Then read what the existing reports actually demonstrate. Where existing reports adequately address the applicable requirements, additional testing may not be necessary. Where gaps remain, manufacturers can plan the specific assessments needed."
- Mr. Japneet Singh Juneja, CTO, ACE Test Labs.

Manufacturers, importers and exporters can share product lists, current test reports and target markets with ACE Test Labs to discuss which requirements apply and what testing, if any, follows.

About ACE Test Labs & Metrology Pvt. Ltd.

ACE Test Labs & Metrology Pvt. Ltd. is an independent third-party NABL accreditation test lab located in Sonipat, Haryana, Delhi NCR. It is NABL accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and BIS-recognised within its respective approved scope. The laboratory provides testing services for household appliances, refrigerators, air conditioners, electronics, luminaires, batteries and environmental testing.

Media Contact

ACE Test Labs & Metrology Pvt. Ltd.

Address: Plot No. 68, HSIIDC Industrial Estate, Rai, Sonipat, Haryana – 131029, India

Call Us: +91-8816921177, +91-9896277816

Email: info@acetestgroup.com