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IS 3844:1989 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for installation and maintenance of internal hydrants and hose reels on premises. This code covers the requirements for the design, installation, water supply, and periodic maintenance of internal fire hydrants and first-aid hose reels inside buildings to facilitate early-stage fire suppression.
Covers requirements for the design, installation, testing, and maintenance of internal hydrant and hose reel systems in buildings.
BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.
Practical Notes
! Ensure dedicated firewater static tanks are always kept at full capacity and never integrated with domestic water storage.
! Internal hydrants should be prominently located, ideally near staircase landings or exit routes, ensuring they are free from any physical obstruction.
! Fire pumps must undergo regular weekly test runs to ensure they actuate automatically on a pressure drop without failure.
NFPA 14:2019National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), USA
HighCurrent
Standard for the Installation of Standpipe and Hose Systems
Covers the design, installation, and maintenance of standpipe systems (equivalent to risers) and associated hose connections.
BS 9990:2015British Standards Institution (BSI), UK
HighCurrent
Non-automatic fire-fighting systems in buildings. Code of practice
Provides recommendations for the design, installation, and maintenance of wet and dry rising mains (hydrants) and fire service inlets.
EN 671-1:2012European Committee for Standardization (CEN), Europe
MediumCurrent
Fixed firefighting systems - Hose systems - Part 1: Hose reels with semi-rigid hose
Specifically covers the design, manufacture, and performance of hose reels, which is one component of the IS 3844 scope.
AS 2419.1:2021Standards Australia, Australia
HighCurrent
Fire hydrant installations, Part 1: System design, installation and commissioning
Details requirements for the design, installation, and commissioning of fire hydrant systems within properties.
Key Differences
≠IS 3844 primarily uses prescriptive tables for sizing pipes based on building height and number of risers, whereas NFPA 14 mandates performance-based hydraulic calculations to ensure required pressures and flows are met.
≠The minimum residual pressure requirement at the topmost hydrant is significantly lower in IS 3844 (3.5 kgf/cm² or ~3.4 bar) compared to NFPA 14's requirement for firefighter connections (100 psi or ~6.9 bar).
≠NFPA 14 defines distinct system 'Classes' (Class I for firefighter use, Class II for occupant use, Class III for both), which dictates outlet size and pressure. IS 3844 uses terminology like 'Wet Riser' and 'Down-comer' without this explicit user-based classification.
≠International standards like NFPA 14 have much more detailed requirements for pressure management, including the mandatory use of listed pressure-reducing and pressure-regulating valves (PRVs) in high-pressure zones, a topic less detailed in IS 3844.
Key Similarities
≈All standards share the fundamental purpose of providing a reliable fixed piping system to supply water for manual firefighting within a building.
≈All codes mandate the provision of dedicated and reliable water supplies, typically including requirements for storage tanks and automated pumping arrangements with primary (electric) and secondary (diesel) drivers.
≈The requirement for a Fire Service Inlet (or Breeching Inlet) to allow the fire department to pump water into the system is a common feature across all compared standards.
≈All standards emphasize the critical importance of regular inspection, testing, and maintenance procedures to ensure the system remains operational and ready for use in an emergency.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Min. Pressure at Highest Hydrant (Firefighter use)
3.5 kgf/cm² (343 kPa)
6.9 bar (690 kPa / 100 psi)
NFPA 14:2019
Hydrant Outlet Connection (Firefighter use)
63 mm instantaneous coupling (Female)
2.5 inch (65 mm) NPSH thread
NFPA 14:2019
Min. Flow Rate (First Riser/Standpipe)
900 LPM (as per NBC of India which IS 3844 complements)
1893 LPM (500 GPM)
NFPA 14:2019
Pipe Sizing Design Method
Prescriptive tables based on building height
Hydraulic calculations based on performance
NFPA 14:2019
Min. Pressure at Hose Reel Nozzle
Not explicitly defined at nozzle, system pressure of 3.5 kgf/cm² is specified.
2.0 bar (200 kPa)
EN 671-1:2012
Minimum Wet Riser Pipe Diameter
100 mm
100 mm (4 inches)
BS 9990:2015
Maximum Hose Reel Length
30 meters
Typically 30 meters
EN 671-1:2012
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values5
Quick Reference Values
landing valve nominal size63 mm
hose reel internal diameter19 mm or 25 mm
hose reel maximum length36.5 m
standard branch pipe nozzle size15 mm to 20 mm
minimum pressure at highest hydrant3.5 kgf/cm²
Tables & Referenced Sections
Key Tables
Table 1 - Minimum Capacity of Water Supply and Pump Capacity for Different Classes of Buildings