On 28 July 2026, the Chemical Hazards Sectional Committee (CHD 7) of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) issued the first revision draft of IS 15738:2007 Stable Bleaching Powder — Code of Safety, assigned draft number CHD 7 (34506) WC, and opened it for public comment with a feedback deadline of 11 September 2026. The standard addresses the whole-process safety requirements for stable bleaching powder (whose main component is calcium hypochlorite, CAS 7778-54-3), covering production, storage, handling, transport and emergency response, and enterprises engaged in its production, import, storage and transport should follow the consultation and submit their feedback.
Background to the standard and the substance
Stable bleaching powder (SBP) is a white or off-white powder produced by the reaction of slaked lime with chlorine; its main component is calcium hypochlorite (CAS 7778-54-3). It is widely used as a bleaching agent, disinfectant and water purifier, covering applications such as drinking-water treatment and swimming-pool disinfection. As a strong oxidiser, stable bleaching powder can release toxic chlorine gas and intensify combustion when heated, when damp, or on contact with incompatible materials such as acids and combustibles, and therefore presents significant chemical hazards.
The standard under revision, IS 15738:2007 Stable Bleaching Powder — Code of Safety, is being amended for the first time since its issuance and implementation in 2007, with the aim of refining the original safety requirements in light of accumulated industry practice and updated understanding of safety risks.
Main contents of the draft
The draft sets out systematic requirements for the whole-life-cycle safety management of stable bleaching powder, mainly covering the following aspects:
1. Chemical hazard identification: Clarifies the hazardous properties of stable bleaching powder as a strong oxidiser, including the risks of releasing toxic chlorine gas and intensifying fire on exposure to heat, moisture or contact with incompatible materials.
2. Health and safety protection: Addresses health hazards such as burns and injury to the eyes and respiratory tract, and requires the provision and correct use of appropriate personal protective equipment.
3. Storage and transport: Standardises safe storage, handling, labelling and transport operations, covering emergency preparedness and the training of relevant personnel (including drivers).
4. Spill and waste management: Spilled material must be isolated and kept away from water, acids and combustible materials, with clean-up carried out using protective equipment and the waste disposed of safely.
5. Fire safety: Stable bleaching powder is itself non-combustible but, as a strong oxidiser, can support combustion; water is recommended as the fire-extinguishing agent of choice, and an emergency response plan is required.
6. Training and emergency response: Personnel must receive training on safe operation, use of personal protective equipment, emergency procedures, first aid and fire-fighting, with periodic refresher training.
7. Health and first aid: Provides immediate first-aid guidance for exposure scenarios such as inhalation, ingestion, and skin and eye contact, and requires periodic health monitoring.
Scope excluded from the standard
The draft clarifies that the code does not cover engineering design specifications for buildings, plant facilities, storage vessels or waste-disposal systems, and that the relevant design and construction requirements should be addressed by reference to other applicable standards.
Consultation arrangements
This draft is at the Wide Circulation (WC) stage of BIS's standards-development process. In accordance with BIS practice, members of the public and interested parties may consult the full text of the draft and submit their feedback through the Public Review channel for standards on the BIS official website before the comment deadline. Enterprises involved in the production, trade, storage, transport and use of stable bleaching powder are advised to promptly organise their technical and compliance teams to review the draft, assess the impact of the revisions on their own operating procedures, and submit written comments on matters of concern by the deadline.
ChemRadar Insights
Enterprises are advised to compare the current version of IS 15738:2007, item by item, against the specific changes in this revision draft, assess the impact on their existing safe-production operating procedures, storage and transport management, and emergency plans, and formulate and submit their comments before the deadline. As the draft is still at the consultation stage, the final provisions may be subject to change; ChemRadar will continue to track its formal promulgation and implementation, and provide timely updates to the enterprises concerned.
