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IS 13385:1992 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for fire extinguisher 50-litre capacity wheel mounted water type (gas cartridge). This standard specifies the requirements for the materials, construction, performance, and testing of 50-litre capacity, wheel-mounted water type fire extinguishers that use a gas cartridge for expulsion. It covers aspects like body construction, anti-corrosive treatment, nozzle design, and discharge characteristics for Class A fires.
Specification for fire extinguisher 50-litre capacity wheel mounted water type (Gas Cartridge)
! Primarily suitable for Class A fires (combustible solids like wood, paper, textiles). It must not be used on electrical, flammable liquid (Class B), or metal fires.
! Regular maintenance as per IS 2190 is crucial for operational readiness, including checking the gas cartridge weight, inspecting the hose for cracks, and ensuring the wheels are functional.
! The large capacity and wheeled design make it suitable for areas with significant Class A fire risk, such as warehouses, timber yards, and large factory floors.
Consolidated list per BIS. For the text of each amendment, refer to the BIS portal link above.
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International Equivalents
Similar International Standards
EN 1866-1:2007CEN (European Committee for Standardization), Europe
HighCurrent
Mobile fire extinguishers - Part 1: Characteristics, performance and test methods
Specifies requirements for design, construction, and performance of wheeled fire extinguishers, including water-based types.
ISO 11601:2008ISO (International Organization for Standardization), International
HighWithdrawn
Fire fighting — Wheeled fire extinguishers — Performance and construction
Directly specified rules for the design, type testing, fabrication, and inspection of wheeled fire extinguishers.
NFPA 10, 2022 EditionNational Fire Protection Association, USA
MediumCurrent
Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers
Covers selection, installation, and maintenance requirements for all fire extinguishers, including wheeled units.
Key Differences
≠IS 13385 is exclusively for gas cartridge operated extinguishers, whereas modern standards like EN 1866-1 cover both gas cartridge and stored pressure types, with stored pressure now being more common in many regions.
≠The IS code specifies a single pass/fail 6A fire rating, while EN 1866-1 uses a graduated rating system (e.g., 27A, 43A) allowing for demonstration of higher performance.
≠IS 13385 details prescriptive internal anti-corrosion methods like hot-dip tinning. EN standards are performance-based, requiring the extinguisher to pass specific corrosion tests (e.g., salt spray test), allowing for more modern materials like plastic linings.
≠EN 1866-1 (referencing EN 3-7) mandates a white color band on the red cylinder body to identify the agent as water, a requirement not present in IS 13385:1992.
Key Similarities
≈Both the IS standard and its international counterparts specify the use of water as the extinguishing medium for fighting Class A (solid combustible) fires.
≈All standards (IS 13385, EN 1866-1, ISO 11601) require a wheeled carriage for mobility, detailing components like wheels, axle, and a handle for easy transport.
≈The fundamental principle of using a propellant gas (CO2 or N2) to expel water through a hose and nozzle onto a fire is common across all the standards.
≈All standards mandate that the extinguisher body must pass a hydrostatic pressure test to ensure its structural integrity and safety under pressure, although the exact pressure values may differ.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Fire Rating (Class A)
Must pass a single 6A fire test as per IS 15683.
Must achieve a graduated rating (e.g., 27A, 43A) based on the largest standard fire it can extinguish.
EN 1866-1:2007
Hydrostatic Test Pressure
35 kgf/cm² (approx. 3.43 MPa)
Calculated based on max service pressure, typically around 2.5 MPa (25 bar) for water/cartridge units.
EN 1866-1:2007
Minimum Hose Length
Not less than 5 metres.
Not less than 5 metres for wheeled extinguishers with a total mass over 30 kg.
EN 1866-1:2007
Internal Corrosion Protection
Prescriptive: Hot-dip lead-tin alloy coating or rubber/plastic lining.
Performance-based: Must pass neutral salt spray tests (e.g., 240 hours).
EN 1866-1:2007
Propellant Type Specificity
Strictly Gas Cartridge type (CO2).
Covers both Gas Cartridge (CO2 or N2) and Stored Pressure types.
EN 1866-1:2007
Minimum Discharge Duration
Not less than 60 seconds.
60 seconds for charges over 40 kg/L.
EN 1866-1:2007
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use