How to Check a CPVC Pipe Is Genuine: The Print Line, the ISI Number and the Bill
Pipe Buying
How to Check a CPVC Pipe Is Genuine: The Print Line, the ISI Number and the Bill
3 min read
Quick answer: A logo on a pipe proves nothing. Check five things: the factory print line runs the full length and names the standard (IS 15778) and the class (SDR 11 or SDR 13.5); the ISI mark carries a CM/L licence number that the BIS Care app confirms; the pipe, fittings and cement are one brand; the seller gives a GST invoice; and the price is not far below what an authorised dealer charges.
In May 2025 the Delhi Police Crime Branch raided a unit in Kanjhawala and seized 1,438 pipes and 6,520 elbows stamped with the names of Supreme, Astral, Prince and Ashirvad, with the printing machines and dies used to mark them. Copies exist, and they are made to look right at a glance.
1. Read the print line
Genuine CPVC pipe has a continuous factory print along its length. On Ashirvad FlowGuard Plus it shows the brand, the size, IS 15778 and the class. The Ashirvad manual gives the colours as well: tan pipe with a red stripe for SDR 11 (Class 1) and tan with a brown stripe for SDR 13.5 (Class 2). A pipe with a patchy print, a print that rubs off with a thumb, or no class marked, should be refused.
2. Check the ISI licence number
An ISI mark comes with a licence number in the form CM/L followed by digits. The Bureau of Indian Standards' BIS Care app has a "Verify Licence Details" option that shows who holds that number and for which product. If it does not come back as that brand's licence for CPVC pipe, do not accept the pipe.
3. One brand in the whole line
Ashirvad's CPVC warranty applies only when its pipe, fittings and solvent cement are used together. A site that has one brand's pipe and another's elbows has no warranty from either, whether or not the parts are genuine.
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Live dealer prices. Add to cart, or ask for a GST quote on the whole list.
4. A GST invoice
The invoice records what was bought, from whom and when, and a warranty claim starts with it. Loose lengths sold without a bill because "the rate is lower" are how copied pipe reaches a site.
5. A price that makes sense
Dealer prices for genuine pipe sit in a narrow band. These are ours on 15 November 2026, before GST, with the brand's list price. A quote far below this for "the same pipe" deserves the other four checks before anything else.
| Ashirvad CPVC, 5 m length | Our price | List price |
|---|---|---|
| SDR 11, 1/2 inch | ₹325 | ₹650 |
| SDR 11, 3/4 inch | ₹435 | ₹870 |
| SDR 11, 1 inch | ₹673 | ₹1,346 |
| SDR 13.5, 1/2 inch | ₹285 | ₹569 |
| SDR 13.5, 3/4 inch | ₹409 | ₹818 |
What about uPVC and SWR?
The same checks apply, with different standards on the print line: ASTM D 1785 and the schedule on uPVC plumbing pipe, IS 13592 and Type A or Type B on SWR pipe. The details for Ashirvad's ranges are in our Ashirvad guide.
Questions we get asked
Does a cheaper pipe always mean a fake?
No. Prices differ between dealers and brands. It means look harder at the print, the licence number and the bill.
Who do I complain to about a fake ISI mark?
The BIS Care app takes complaints about misuse of the mark.
Are you an authorised dealer?
We stock Ashirvad, Astral and Supreme pipe and Parryware sanitaryware, and every sale is on a GST invoice.
Sources
- FICCI CASCADE report on the May 2025 seizure of counterfeit CPVC pipe in Delhi.
- Ashirvad FlowGuard Plus CPVC technical manual: markings, colours, warranty conditions.
- BIS apps page: BIS Care.