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IS 15397:2003 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for portable fire extinguisher mechanical foam type (stored pressure) -specification. This standard specifies the requirements for portable, stored pressure, mechanical foam type fire extinguishers, primarily of 9-litre capacity. It covers materials, construction details, anti-corrosive treatments, performance requirements, and testing methods for extinguishers intended for Class A and Class B fires.
Portable Fire Extinguisher Mechanical Foam Type (Stored Pressure) -Specification
BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.
Practical Notes
! These extinguishers are highly effective on flammable liquid (Class B) fires and are also suitable for solid combustible (Class A) fires, but should NOT be used on electrical fires.
! Ensure the pressure gauge needle is within the green 'operable' zone during routine inspections as per IS 2190.
! The foam concentrate used must be compliant with IS 4989 and compatible with the extinguisher's construction materials.
EN 3-7:2004+A1:2007CEN (European Committee for Standardization), Europe
HighCurrent
Portable fire extinguishers — Part 7: Characteristics, performance requirements and test methods
Specifies rules of design, construction, and performance requirements for portable fire extinguishers, including foam types.
ISO 7165:2017ISO (International Organization for Standardization), International
HighCurrent
Fire fighting — Portable fire extinguishers — Performance and construction
Provides a global framework for the construction and performance of portable extinguishers, including foam types.
AS/NZS 1841.4:2007Standards Australia / Standards New Zealand, Australia/New Zealand
HighCurrent
Portable fire extinguishers - Part 4: Specific requirements for foam type extinguishers
Details the specific requirements for portable foam fire extinguishers, mirroring the focused scope of IS 15397.
NFPA 10, 2022 EditionNFPA (National Fire Protection Association), USA
MediumCurrent
Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers
Covers selection, installation, and maintenance, but references UL 8 for the specific construction and performance of foam extinguishers.
Key Differences
≠IS 15397 uses a fire rating system like '2A, 21B'. EN 3-7 uses a different scale for test fires, resulting in ratings like '8A, 113B'. The test methodologies and sizes are not directly comparable.
≠IS 15397 specifies a cream color band (RAL 1015) on a red cylinder body. EN 3-7 requires the entire cylinder body to be red (RAL 3000), with agent identification via text and pictograms, not a color band.
≠The standard operating temperature range in IS 15397 is +5°C to +55°C. EN 3-7 specifies a standard range up to +60°C and explicitly provides for special low-temperature foam extinguishers tested for use down to -30°C.
≠IS 15397 requires a 240-hour external salt spray corrosion test, whereas EN 3-7 mandates a more stringent 480-hour test.
Key Similarities
≈Both IS 15397 and its international counterparts are based on the stored-pressure principle, where the foam solution and expellant gas (typically nitrogen) are stored together in the main cylinder.
≈All standards specify the use of synthetic foam concentrates like AFFF (Aqueous Film-Forming Foam) designed for extinguishing both Class A (solid combustibles) and Class B (flammable liquids) fires.
≈Performance testing for Class B fires is conceptually identical, involving extinguishing a standardized circular tray fire containing a flammable liquid like n-heptane to assign a fire rating.
≈General construction requirements are similar, mandating the use of corrosion-resistant materials for the cylinder (e.g., steel), valve assembly (e.g., brass), and other components to ensure safety and longevity.
≈All standards mandate a minimum effective discharge time to ensure the extinguisher provides a sufficient duration of agent application to effectively control a fire.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Cylinder Color Code
Fire Red body with a 100 mm Cream (RAL 1015) band
Entire body is Fire Red (RAL 3000); no color band specified
EN 3-7:2004+A1:2007
Operating Temperature Range (Standard)
+5 °C to +55 °C
Typically +5 °C to +60 °C (or as marked on the extinguisher)
EN 3-7:2004+A1:2007
Minimum Discharge Time (9 L Extinguisher)
Not less than 25 seconds
Depends on rating; ≥15 seconds for a 113B rating
EN 3-7:2004+A1:2007
Hydrostatic Pressure Test
3.5 MPa or 2.5 x Working Pressure (whichever is higher)
Test Pressure (PT) ≥ 1.43 x Max Allowable Pressure (PS)
EN 3-8:2006
Burst Pressure Test
≥ 5.5 MPa or 4.5 x Working Pressure (whichever is higher)
≥ 2.7 x Max Allowable Pressure (PS), with an absolute minimum of 5.5 MPa
EN 3-8:2006
External Corrosion Test (Salt Spray)
240 hours
480 hours
EN 3-7:2004+A1:2007
Range of Throw (Jet)
Not less than 4 metres
Not specified as a fixed value; determined by performance on test fires
EN 3-7:2004+A1:2007
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values6
Quick Reference Values
Standard Capacity9 litres
Minimum Fire Rating (9L)2A and 21B
Hydrostatic Test Pressure3.5 MPa
Minimum Effective Discharge Time (9L)25 seconds
Minimum Percentage of Discharge95 percent
Service Pressure1.5 MPa
Tables & Referenced Sections
Key Tables
Table 1: Performance Requirements
Table 2: Periodicity of Hydrostatic Pressure Testing of Welded Mild Steel Bodies