IS 774 (2004) specifies the requirements for manually operated flushing cisterns (excluding plastic types) used with water closets, squatting pans, and urinals. It covers high-level and low-level cisterns with capacities of 5, 6/3, and 10 litres, including both single-flush and dual-flush designs. The standard addresses materials, construction, operational performance, discharge capacities, and installation details to ensure reliable, efficient, and hygienic flushing systems for sanitary applications in residential, commercial, and institutional buildings.
Overview
IS 774 (2004) specifies the requirements for manually operated flushing cisterns (excluding plastic types) used with water closets, squatting pans, and urinals. It covers high-level and low-level cisterns with capacities of 5, 6/3, and 10 litres, including both single-flush and dual-flush designs. The standard addresses materials, construction, operational performance, discharge capacities, and installation details to ensure reliable, efficient, and hygienic flushing systems for sanitary applications in residential, commercial, and institutional buildings.
Audience
Contents
Structure
Scope (Clause 1.2):
Referenced Standards:
| IS No | Title |
|---|---|
| IS 210:1993 | Grey iron casting - Specification |
| IS 404 (Part 1):1993 | Lead pipes - Specification (non-chemical) |
| IS 407:1981 | Brass tubes - Specification |
| IS 513:1994 | Cold-rolled low carbon steel sheets and strips |
| IS 1239 (Part 1):1990 | Mild steel tubes and fittings |
| IS 1477 (Part 1 & 2):1971 | Code of practice for painting ferrous metals |
| IS 1703:2000 | Copper alloy float valves |
| IS 2501:1995 | Solid drawn copper tubes |
Sampling & Conformity Criteria (Clause 2.3):
| Lot Size | Sample Size (Material, Construction, Finish) | Acceptance No. | Sub-sample Size (Operational) | Acceptance No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 50 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 51-100 | 13 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 101-150 | 20 | 1 | 13 | 0 |
| 151-300 | 32 | 1 | 20 | 1 |
| 301-500 | 50 | 2 | 32 | 1 |
| 501+ | 80 | 3 | 50 | 2 |
Rounding Off (IS 2:1960):
This scope ensures quality and conformity of flushing cisterns (excluding plastic types) through material standards, testing, and sampling procedures.
IS 774 References Summary
IS 774 references several related Indian Standards essential for materials and components used in flushing cisterns:
| IS No | Title & Key Info |
|---|---|
| IS 210 (1993) | Grey iron casting specification |
| IS 404 (Pt 1) (1993) | Lead pipes for non-chemical uses |
| IS 407 (1981) | Brass tubes for general purposes |
| IS 513 (1994) | Cold-rolled low carbon steel sheets/strips |
| IS 1239 (Pt 1) (1990) | Mild steel tubes and fittings |
| IS 1477 (Parts 1 & 2) (1971) | Painting of ferrous metals in buildings |
| IS 1703 (2000) | Copper alloy float valves |
| IS 2501 (1995) | Solid drawn copper tubes |
| Others | Vitreous sanitary appliances, pipe threads, polyethylene materials, float valves |
Additional Notes:
This ensures materials and components meet quality and performance standards referenced by IS 774.
flowchart LR
A[IS 774 Standard] --> B[Material Specs]
B --> IS210[Grey Iron Casting IS 210]
B --> IS404[Lead Pipes IS 404]
B --> IS407[Brass Tubes IS 407]
B --> IS513[Steel Sheets IS 513]
B --> IS1239[Mild Steel Tubes IS 1239]
A --> C[Painting Code IS 1477]
A --> D[Float Valves IS 1703]
A --> E[Sampling & Testing per IS 2, Table 2]
For detailed design or testing, refer to the specific IS codes listed.
Clause 3.0 - Definitions:
This clause sets the basis for terms used in the standard for flushing cisterns (excluding plastic flushing cisterns per Clause 1.2). Definitions ensure uniform understanding of components, materials, and testing methods.
| Lot Size (No. of Cisterns) | Sample Size (Material, Construction & Finish) | Acceptance No. | Sub-sample Size (Operational & Performance) | Acceptance No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 50 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 51 to 100 | 13 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 101 to 150 | 20 | 1 | 13 | 0 |
| 151 to 300 | 32 | 1 | 20 | 1 |
| 301 to 500 | 50 | 2 | 32 | 1 |
| 501 and above | 80 | 3 | 50 | 2 |
| IS No. | Title |
|---|---|
| IS 210:1993 | Grey iron casting - Specification |
| IS 404 (Pt 1) | Lead pipes - Specification (non-chemical use) |
| IS 407:1981 | Brass tubes for general purposes |
| IS 513:1994 | Cold-rolled low carbon steel sheets and strips |
| IS 1239 (Pt 1) | Mild steel tubes and fittings |
| IS 1477 | Code of practice for painting ferrous metals |
| IS 1703:2000 | Copper alloy float valves (horizontal plunger type) |
| IS 2501:199 |
IS 774 - Materials for Flushing Cisterns: Key Specifications
| Component | Material(s) | Relevant IS Code(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cistern | Cast iron (Grade FG 150), Vitreous china, Enamelled pressed steel | IS 210 (Cast iron), IS 2556 (Vitreous china), IS 513 & IS 1239 (Pressed steel & enamelling) | Cast iron min. Grade FG 150 |
| Flush pipe | Steel tube (seamless/welded, galvanized/enamelled), Lead pipe, Copper alloy tube, HDPE, Unplasticized PVC | IS 1239 (steel), IS 404 (lead), IS 407/2501 (copper alloy) | Complete internal/external protection |
| Cover | Same as cistern body | - | Removable, fits closely, secured |
| Chain | Hot-dip galvanized steel wire, non-ferrous metal | - | Corrosion resistant |
| Overflow pipe | Non-ferrous metal, HDPE, unplasticized PVC | - | Corrosion resistant |
| Siphon | Cast iron/Vitreous china, HDPE, PP, GRP, ABS | IS 210, IS 2556, IS 7328 | Grade FG 150 or higher for cast iron |
| Lever | Cast iron or corrosion-resistant non-ferrous metal | IS 210 | Grade FG 150 minimum |
| Float valve | As per IS 1703, IS 12234, IS 13049 | IS 1703, IS 12234, IS 13049 | |
| Polyethylene float | Polyethylene | IS 9762 | |
| Bolts & nuts | Non-ferrous metal or hot-dip galvanized steel | - | |
| Coupling nut & lock-nut | Non-ferrous metal, hot-dip galvanized steel, malleable iron, or injection moulded HDPE/PVC | - |
IS 774: Construction - Key Specifications and Sampling Criteria
| Lot Size (No. of Cisterns) | Sample Size (Material, Construction, Finish) | Acceptance No. (Material, Construction, Finish) | Sub-sample Size (Operational, Performance) | Acceptance No. (Operational, Performance) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 50 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 51 to 100 | 13 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 101 to 150 | 20 | 1 | 13 | 0 |
| 151 to 300 | 32 | 1 | 20 | 1 |
| 301 to 500 | 50 | 2 | 32 | 1 |
| 501 and above | 80 | 3 | 50 | 2 |
flowchart TD
A[Start: Lot of Cisterns] --> B[Select Samples as per Table 2]
B --> C{Material, Construction, Finish Tests}
C -->|Pass| D[Select Sub-samples for Operational Tests]
C -->|Fail > Acceptance No| E
IS 774 - Finish: Key Specifications & Tables
| Component | Material | Finish/Standard Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Cistern | Cast iron | Grade FG 150 of IS 210 |
| Vitreous china | IS 2556 (Part 1) | |
| Enamelled pressed steel | IS 513 (steel), IS 1239 (enamelling) | |
| Flush pipe | Steel tube (galvanized) | IS 1239 (Part 1) |
| Lead pipe | IS 404 (Part 1) | |
| Copper alloy tube | IS 407 or IS 2501 | |
| Cover | Same as body material | - |
| Chain | Hot-dip galvanized steel | Corrosion-resistant |
| Overflow pipe | Non-ferrous/HDPE/PVC | Corrosion-resistant |
| Siphon | Cast iron/Vitreous china | Grade FG 150 or higher of IS 210 |
| Lever | Cast iron/non-ferrous metal | Grade FG 150 of IS 210 |
| Float valve | - | IS 1703/IS 12234/IS 13049 |
| Bolts & nuts | Non-ferrous or galvanized | - |
flowchart TD
A[Select Sample Cisterns] --> B{Check Material, Construction, Finish}
B -->|Meets Requirements| C[Accept Lot]
B -->|Fails ≤ Allowed No.| C
B -->|Fails > Allowed No.| D[Reject Lot
IS 774: Operational and Performance Requirements — Key Points
| Sample Size (Col 4) | Max Failures Allowed (Col 5) |
|---|---|
| n (e.g., 5, 10, 15) | r (e.g., 0, 1, 2) |
flowchart TD
A[Start: Lot Production] --> B[Random Sample Selection]
B --> C[Check Material & Construction]
C -->|Pass| D[Operational & Performance Tests]
D --> E[Endurance Test (3000 cycles)]
E --> F{Any Failures?}
F -->|No| G[Lot Accepted]
F -->|Yes| H[Check Failures ≤ Max Allowed?]
H -->|Yes| G
H -->|No| I[Lot Rejected]
For exact sample sizes and acceptance numbers, refer to Table 2 and Annex A of IS 774.
1. Rounding Off (IS 2:1960)
2. Endurance Test (Clause 8.3)
3. Sampling & Conformity (Clause 9 & Annex A)
| Test Type | Requirement | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Endurance | 3,000 flush operations | No damage, no leakage |
| Sampling | Random sample from lot | Per Annex A, Table 2 |
| Rounding Off | As per IS 2:1960 | Same significant digits |
flowchart TD
A[Start: Sample Selection] --> B[Check Material & Construction]
B -->|Complies| C[Perform 3,000 Flush Cycles]
C --> D{Any Damage or Leakage?}
D -->|No| E[Pass Endurance Test]
D -->|Yes| F[Fail - Reject Sample]
For detailed sampling sizes and acceptance criteria, refer to Annex A of IS 774.
IS 774: Sampling and Criteria for Conformity
Sampling for Material, Construction, and Finish (A-2.1):
Select sample cisterns randomly from the lot as per Column 2 of Table 2.
Sampling for Operational and Performance Tests (A-2.2):
From the satisfactory samples in A-2.1, take a sub-sample randomly as per Column 4 of Table 2.
Endurance Test (Clause 8.3):
| Lot Size (units) | Sample Size for Material/Construction/Finish (Col 2) | Sub-sample Size for Performance (Col 4) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 50 | 5 | 2 |
| 51 to 150 | 8 | 3 |
| 151 to 500 | 13 | 5 |
| Above 500 | 20 | 8 |
(Note: Exact values to be confirmed from IS 774 Table 2)
flowchart TD
A[Lot of Cisterns] --> B[Random Sampling (Table 2 Col 2)]
B --> C{Pass Material, Construction, Finish?}
C -- Yes --> D[Sub-sample for Performance (Table 2 Col 4)]
D --> E{Pass Performance?}
E -- Yes --> F[Endurance Test: 3000 flushes]
F --> G{No Damage/Leakage?}
G -- Yes --> H[Lot Conforms]
C -- No -->
IS 774 — Supply Conditions Summary
| Sample Size (n) | Acceptance Number (c) |
|---|---|
| 5 | 0 |
| 8 | 1 |
| 13 | 2 |
| 20 | 3 |
(Exact values depend on lot size and are detailed in Annex A)
flowchart LR
A[Lot of Cisterns] --> B[Sampling per Annex A]
B --> C{Number of Defective Samples ≤ Acceptance Number?}
C -- Yes --> D[Lot Accepted]
C -- No --> E[Lot Rejected]
Summary: Supply conditions rely on sampling inspection (Annex A), endurance testing (3,000 cycles), and compliance with discharge rates to ensure performance and durability.
IS 774: Operating Instructions & Specifications for Dual-Flush Cisterns
Definition (3.4): Dual-flush cistern allows user to select:
Operating Instructions (11.1):
Discharge Capacities (11.1.3.1):
| Flush Type | Discharge Volume (Litres) |
|---|---|
| Full Flush | 10 ± 0.5 or 6 ± 0.5 |
| Half Flush | 5 ± 0.5 or 3 ± 0.5 |
| Flush Type | Volume (L) | Tolerance (±) |
|---|---|---|
| Full Flush | 10 or 6 | 0.5 |
| Partial Flush | 5 or 3 | 0.5 |
flowchart LR
A[User] -->|Press Full Flush| B[Full Flush Valve]
A -->|Press Partial Flush| C[Partial Flush Valve]
B --> D[Discharge 6 or 10 L]
C --> E[Discharge 3 or 5 L]
D --> F[To Toilet Bowl]
E --> F
Note: Ensure flush pipes comply with IS 774 Clause 5.3 and Table 1 for dimensions and materials.
IS 774: Marking and Certification Key Points
| Lot Size (No. of Cisterns) | Sample Size (Material, Construction, Finish) | Acceptance No. | Sub-sample Size (Operational & Performance) | Acceptance No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 50 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 51 to 100 | 13 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 101 to 150 | 20 | 1 | 13 | 0 |
| 151 to 300 | 32 | 1 | 20 | 1 |
| 301 to 500 | 50 | 2 | 32 | 1 |
| 501 and above | 80 | 3 | 50 | 2 |
For detailed licensing and marking rules, contact BIS offices listed in the standard.
flowchart TD
A[Manufacture Cisterns] --> B{Design/Material Change?}
B -- No --> C[Sample from Lot per Table A-2.3]
B -- Yes --> D[Endurance Test on 1 Sample]
D --> E{Pass?}
E --
| Lot Size (units) | Sample Size (Material/Construction) | Sub-Sample Size (Performance) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 50 | 5 | 2 |
| 51 to 150 | 8 | 3 |
| 151 to 500 | 13 | 5 |
| Above 500 | 20 | 8 |
(Exact numbers to be confirmed from IS 774 Table 2)
flowchart TD
A[Select Sample Cisterns] --> B{Material, Construction, Finish?}
B -- Pass --> C[Select Sub-Sample]
C --> D{Performance Test}
D -- Pass --> E[Endurance Test: 3000 Cycles]
E -- Pass --> F[Lot Accepted]
B -- Fail --> G[Lot Rejected]
D -- Fail --> G
E -- Fail --> G
For exact sample sizes and acceptance criteria, refer directly to Table 2 of IS 774 Annex A.
IS 774 - Endurance Test Guidelines (Clause 8.3)
| Lot Size (No. of Cisterns) | Sample Size (Material, Construction, Finish) | Acceptance No. | Sub-sample Size (Operational & Performance) | Acceptance No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 50 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 51 to 100 | 13 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 101 to 150 | 20 | 1 | 13 | 0 |
| 151 to 300 | 32 | 1 | 20 | 1 |
| 301 to 500 | 50 | 2 | 32 | 1 |
| 501 and above | 80 | 3 | 50 | 2 |
flowchart TD
A[Select Random Sample] --> B{Check Material & Construction}
B -- Pass --> C{Check Operational & Performance}
C -- Pass --> D[Operate 3000 times Endurance Test]
D --> E{Check for Damage or Leakage}
E -- No Defect --> F[Lot Approved for Endurance]
E -- Defect Found --> G[Lot Rejected]
B -- Fail --> G
C -- Fail --> G
Note: Rounding of test results must follow IS 2:1960 rules.
This ensures flushing cisterns meet durability and leakage standards before mass production approval
Frequently Asked
Under IS 774, the materials specified for manufacturing flushing cistern components are:
| Component | Material(s) & Standard(s) |
|---|---|
| Cistern body | Cast iron (Grade FG 150, IS 210), Vitreous china (IS 2556 Pt 1), Enamelled pressed steel (IS 513 & IS 1239 Pt 1) |
| Flush pipe | Steel tube (hot-dip galvanized, IS 1239 Pt 1), Lead pipe (IS 404 Pt 1), Copper alloy tube (IS 407 or IS 2501), HDPE, Unplasticized PVC |
| Cover | Same material as cistern body |
| Chain | Hot-dip galvanized steel wire, non-ferrous metal, or corrosion-resistant materials |
| Overflow pipe | Non-ferrous metal, HDPE, unplasticized PVC, or other corrosion-resistant materials |
| Siphon | Cast iron/Vitreous china (Grade FG 150 or higher, IS 210, IS 2556 Pt 1), or HDPE (IS 7328), GRP, ABS |
| Lever | Cast iron or non-ferrous metal (Grade FG 150, IS 210) |
| Float valve | As per IS 1703 / IS 12234 / IS 13049 |
| Polyethylene float | IS 9762 |
| Bolts and nuts | Non-ferrous metal or hot-dip galvanized steel |
| Coupling nut & lock-nut | Non-ferrous metal, hot-dip galvanized steel/malleable iron, or injection moulded HDPE/PVC |
Note: Material selections not specified should be mutually agreed between manufacturer and purchaser.
This ensures durability, corrosion resistance, and compliance with Indian standards for sanitary fixtures.
IS 774 defines high-level and low-level cisterns based on the vertical distance between the top of the pan and the underside of the cistern:
High-Level Cistern (Clause 3.1):
Low-Level Cistern (Clause 3.2):
| Cistern Type | Height Above Pan (mm) |
|---|---|
| High-Level | ≥ 1250 |
| Low-Level | ≤ 300 (≥ 700 for Orissa pan) |
This height difference impacts flushing efficiency and installation style. High-level cisterns use gravity for effective siphonic action, while low-level cisterns rely on direct water flow.
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According to IS 774, the discharge capacity requirements for flushing cisterns are:
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This ensures efficient water use while maintaining proper flushing performance.
Flush Pipe Connection & Dimensions as per IS 774
Internal Diameter:
Material Thickness:
Connection to Cistern (Clause 5.3.1):
Additional:
Note: No flush pipe is required for coupled cisterns.
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This ensures a durable, leak-proof, and corrosion-resistant flush pipe installation.
IS 774 Testing Procedures for Flushing Cisterns
To ensure operational reliability and durability, IS 774 mandates the following key tests:
| Test Type | Criteria | Quantity / Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Endurance | 3,000 flush cycles | No damage, no leakage |
| Discharge Capacity | Flush volume | As per rated capacity |
| Discharge Rate | Volume discharged in time frame | 10L: 6s, 5L: 3s, 6/3L: 6s |
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