Link points to Internet Archive / others. Not hosted by InfraLens. Details
IS 12835:2000 (Part 1) is the Indian Standard (BIS) for design and installation of fixed foam fire extinguishing system - code of practice, part 1: low expansion foam. This standard provides the code of practice for the design, installation, testing, and maintenance of fixed low-expansion foam fire extinguishing systems. It specifies requirements for system components, design criteria like application rates for flammable liquid hazards, water supply needs, and acceptance testing to ensure system readiness.
Design and installation of fixed foam fire extinguishing system - Code of Practice, Part 1: Low expansion foam
BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.
Practical Notes
! Ensure foam concentrate is listed for use with the specific proportioning and discharge equipment being installed.
! Water supply is the most critical element; hydraulic calculations must verify adequate pressure and flow at the most remote discharge device.
! During commissioning, the proportioning test is vital to confirm the correct foam-to-water ratio is being achieved, as incorrect concentration makes the system ineffective.
Consolidated list per BIS. For the text of each amendment, refer to the BIS portal link above.
foam concentratewaterpipingpumpstanks
International Equivalents
Similar International Standards
NFPA 11:2022National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), USA
HighCurrent
Standard for Low-, Medium-, and High-Expansion Foam
Covers design, installation, operation, and maintenance of low-, medium-, and high-expansion foam systems.
EN 13565-2:2018European Committee for Standardization (CEN), Europe
HighCurrent
Fixed firefighting systems - Foam systems - Part 2: Design, construction and maintenance
Specifies requirements for the design, construction, and maintenance of fixed foam firefighting systems.
ISO 7076-1:2021International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International
MediumCurrent
Fire protection — Foam fire-extinguishing systems — Part 1: Fixed systems
Provides general principles for the design and installation of fixed foam systems, often referencing other standards for details.
BS 5306-6.1:1988British Standards Institution (BSI), UK
HighWithdrawn
Fire extinguishing installations and equipment on premises. Foam systems. Specification for low expansion foam systems
Provided specifications for low expansion foam systems before being replaced by the harmonized European standard.
Key Differences
≠IS 12835 specifies a minimum discharge duration of 20 minutes for hydrocarbon storage tanks, similar to NFPA 11, whereas EN 13565-2 mandates a longer minimum duration of 30 minutes for the same hazard.
≠IS 12835 mandates a 100% spare charge of foam concentrate be stored on site. NFPA 11 is more flexible, allowing for a connected reserve or the proven ability to replenish the supply within 24 hours.
≠EN 13565-2 provides different minimum application rates depending on the specific type of foam concentrate used (e.g., AFFF, FP, FFFP), while IS 12835's primary design tables specify a single rate for a fuel class, irrespective of the specific foam type.
≠NFPA 11 provides more detailed and explicit requirements for the capacity and duration of supplemental water supplies for cooling (hose streams), which must be available concurrently with the foam system. IS 12835 is less detailed on this concurrent requirement.
Key Similarities
≈All standards are based on the same core principle of extinguishing flammable liquid fires by applying a foam blanket to separate the fuel from oxygen, cool the surface, and suppress vapors.
≈All standards differentiate design requirements based on the fuel type, primarily distinguishing between hydrocarbons and water-miscible polar solvents, which require alcohol-resistant foams and often higher application rates.
≈IS 12835, NFPA 11, and EN 13565-2 all recognize and provide design criteria for the two principal methods of foam delivery to storage tanks: top-side surface application and sub-surface injection.
≈The minimum application rates specified for protecting fixed-roof tanks containing hydrocarbons are very similar across IS 12835 (4.1 L/min/m²) and NFPA 11 (approx. 4.07 L/min/m²).
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Min. Application Rate (Hydrocarbon Fuel, Fixed Roof Tank)
4.1 L/min/m²
0.10 gpm/ft² (≈ 4.07 L/min/m²)
NFPA 11
Min. Discharge Duration (Hydrocarbon Fuel, Fixed Roof Tank)
20 minutes
30 minutes
EN 13565-2
Min. Application Rate (Polar Solvent, Fixed Roof Tank)
6.5 L/min/m²
0.16 gpm/ft² (≈ 6.52 L/min/m²)
NFPA 11
Min. Discharge Duration (Polar Solvent, Fixed Roof Tank)
30 minutes
30 minutes
NFPA 11
Foam Concentrate Reserve
One complete spare charge (100% of required quantity)
Connected reserve or ability to replenish in 24 hours
NFPA 11
Subsurface Injection Rate (Hydrocarbon)
4.1 to 8.2 L/min/m²
0.1 to 0.2 gpm/ft² (≈ 4.07 to 8.14 L/min/m²)
NFPA 11
Maximum Back Pressure (Subsurface Injection)
Should not exceed 40% of the water pressure at the proportioner inlet.
Shall not exceed 40% of the water pressure at the foam maker inlet.
NFPA 11
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Table 1 - Physical Properties of Foam Concentrates
Table 2 - Minimum Application Rates and Discharge Times for Surface Application on Hydrocarbon Fuels in Outdoor Fixed Roof (Cone) and Open Top Floating Roof Tanks
Table 3 - Foam Application Rates for Indoor Hazards