Use of Sun Control Film is now Legally Permitted

KOCHI:
With the Central Motor Vehicle (Seventh Amendment) Rule, 2020 coming into force from April 1, 2021, the use of plastic layer/safety glazing material commonly known as Sun Control Film is now legally permitted provided it has been tested and certified as prescribed by IS 2553 (P2) Revision 1:2019.

Car Accessories Dealers and Distribution Federation along with George & Sons submitted a representation to the State Transport Minister and Transport Commissionerate to circulate the said amendment to concerned enforcement authorities to avoid any confusion or inconveniences to the vehicle owners and public at large. Now, the Police authorities or RTO personnel are not authorized to penalize or fine the vehicle owners who uses the aforesaid films which are tested and within the permissible limit.

In compliance with the mandate of the resolution adopted by the United Nation’s (UN) Global Technical Regulation No.6 (GTR-6) established in the Global Registry on 12th March, 2008, to which India is also a participant, IS 2553 has been amended by which plastic layer is also included as glazing material on window glasses of Motor Vehicle. Subsequently, Rule 100 of CMVR 1989 is also amended by notification GSR No.457(E) dated 20.7.2020, with effect from 1st April, 2021 referred as “Central Motor Vehicle (Seventh Amendment) Rule, 2020.

Following the amendment by notification, use of plastic materials, commonly known as Sun Control Film which are tested as per IS 2553 (P2) Revision 1:2019 and are within the permissible limit (70% visibility on front and backside and 50% visibility on other sides of the glasses) are now permissible in
India as well. The amended Rule 100 says that the safety glass or safety glazing of the windscreen and rear window of every motor vehicle shall be so manufactured to provide not less than seventy percent visual transmission and side windows with fifty percent of light and it shall conform to Indian Standards IS 2553 (P2) Revision 1: 2019.

The amended IS 2553 of 2919 permits a glass pane either toughened glass or laminated glass with a layer of plastic on the inner side. By virtue of the amendment brought into Rule100 of the CMV Rules, the prohibition imposed through the decision of the Honorable Supreme Court in Avishek Goenka vs. Union of India and others no more exists with respect to usage of safety glazing. Needless to say, at the time when the prohibition was imposed by Hon’ble Supreme Court, neither the Rule 100 nor the IS 2553 permitted use of plastic or any other material over the Safety Glasses of Motor Vehicle.

Now since the application of sun film is permissible, saving of fuel while switching the A/C is considered to be much beneficial to the car owners, especially while the fuel prices are going higher and higher every day. This will also add a feather in preventing the CO2 emission as less fuel will be burnt.

In India, Garware Hi-Tech Films Limited is the sole manufacturer of safety glazing /sun control film conforming to the standards 2553 Revision 1 :2019 and has conducted the prescribed tests of the glazing material from the Govt. Agencies namely International Center for Automotive Technology,
Gurugram, Hariyana. The QR Code printed on this material / film pasted on the Car Windows can be scanned through any smart phone to identify that it conforms with IS 2553 and visibility prescribed under Rule 100 of CMVR. The visibility prescribed by Rule 100 or IS 2553 can also be identified by testing through a small device called “VLT” meter available in market.