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IS 4038:1986 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for foot valves for water works purposes. This standard specifies the requirements for materials, dimensions, construction, and testing of flanged and screwed foot valves used in water works. These valves are essential for maintaining pump prime and preventing backflow in suction lines.
foot valves for water works purposes
Overview
Status
Current
Usage level
Specialized
Domain
Water Resources — Sanitary Appliances and Water Fittings
BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.
Practical Notes
! Foot valves should ideally be installed vertically to ensure the flap or disc seats properly under its own weight and water pressure.
! Always verify the total open area of the strainer before installation; an inadequate open area will cause severe head loss and potential pump cavitation.
! Periodic cleaning of the strainer is required, especially in raw water or muddy water applications, to prevent clogging.
Consolidated list per BIS. For the text of each amendment, refer to the BIS portal link above.
cast ironleaded tin bronzebrassrubbergalvanized steel
International Equivalents
Similar International Standards
BS EN 16767:2016BSI (British Standards Institution), United Kingdom / CEN (European Committee for Standardization)
MediumCurrent
Industrial valves - Steel and cast iron check valves
Covers the check valve component, but does not specifically address the integrated strainer.
JIS B 2062:1994JSA (Japanese Standards Association), Japan
HighWithdrawn
Foot valves
Direct equivalent standard for foot valves, covering similar scope and application.
BS 4173:1967BSI (British Standards Institution), United Kingdom
HighWithdrawn
Foot-valves and strainers for water suction pipelines
Historically a direct equivalent covering foot valves with strainers for water suction.
AWWA C510-17AWWA (American Water Works Association), USA
LowCurrent
Swing-Check Valves for Waterworks Service, 2-in. through 48-in. (50-mm through 1,200-mm) NPS
Covers the check valve mechanism used in some foot valves, but not the strainer or vertical application specifics.
Key Differences
≠IS 4038 is a specific, combined standard for a foot valve with an integrated strainer. Most modern international standards, like BS EN 16767, cover check valves generally, leaving accessories like strainers to be specified and sourced separately.
≠The Indian standard specifies a prescriptive minimum strainer open area (1.5x to 2x the nominal bore area). International standards are often performance-based, specifying maximum allowable head loss rather than dictating strainer geometry.
≠IS 4038 mandates flange drilling according to Indian standard IS 1538, whereas international standards reference their regional flange standards, such as EN 1092-2 for Europe or ASME B16.1 for the USA.
≠The specified hydrostatic seat test pressure in IS 4038 (0.5 MPa) is significantly lower than that required by modern European standards (e.g., 1.1 x PN, often 1.1 MPa for PN10) under BS EN 12266-1.
Key Similarities
≈Both IS 4038 and international check valve standards share the fundamental purpose of allowing fluid flow in one direction only and preventing backflow in pump suction lines.
≈The use of common materials like Grey Cast Iron for the body and bronze/gunmetal or stainless steel for the valve trim (disc and seat) is a standard practice across both IS 4038 and its international counterparts.
≈The requirement for hydrostatic pressure testing of the valve body (shell test) to ensure structural integrity is a universal quality assurance step in both Indian and international valve manufacturing standards.
≈Both standards cover a similar range of nominal sizes suitable for water works applications, typically from small distribution lines (approx. 40-50mm) to larger transmission mains (up to 600mm or more).
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Body Hydrostatic Test Pressure (Shell Test)
1.5 MPa (for ≤350mm); 1.0 MPa (for >350mm)
1.5 x PN rating (e.g., 1.5 MPa for a PN10 valve)
BS EN 12266-1 (Test standard for EN 16767)
Seat Hydrostatic Test Pressure
0.5 MPa
1.1 x PN rating (e.g., 1.1 MPa for a PN10 valve)
BS EN 12266-1 (Test standard for EN 16767)
Strainer Open Area Ratio
≥1.5 times bore area (≤150mm), ≥2.0 times bore area (>150mm)
Not explicitly specified in general check valve standards; defined by manufacturer or project specs.
BS EN 16767:2016
Standard Body Material
Grey Cast Iron, Grade FG 200 (IS 210)
Cast Iron, Grade EN-GJL-250
BS EN 16767:2016
Standard Seat/Trim Material
Leaded Tin Bronze, Grade LTB2 (IS 318)
Bronze CC491K or Stainless Steel 1.4301 (304)
BS EN 16767:2016
Flange Drilling Standard
IS 1538
EN 1092-2 (for Cast Iron)
BS EN 16767:2016
Valve Face Material
Rubber (Type 3 of IS 638)
Elastomers like NBR, EPDM (conforming to EN 681-1)
BS EN 16767:2016
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values5
Quick Reference Values
size range flanged50 mm to 450 mm
size range screwed25 mm to 150 mm
hydrostatic test pressure body1.5 MPa
hydrostatic test pressure seat1.0 MPa (or maximum working pressure)
minimum strainer open area1.5 times the nominal bore area
It is installed at the bottom of a pump suction line to act as a check valve, preventing water from draining back into the sump and thereby maintaining pump prime.
What is the minimum required open area for the foot valve strainer?+
The strainer's total open area must be at least 1.5 times the cross-sectional area of the valve's nominal bore to minimize head loss.
What are the hydrostatic testing requirements for these valves?+
The valve body must withstand a hydrostatic pressure of 1.5 MPa, while the seat is tested for leak-tightness at the maximum working pressure (typically 1.0 MPa).