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IS 4989:2000 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for multipurpose aqueous film forming foam liquid concentrate for extinguishing hydrocarbon and polar solvent fires. This standard specifies the requirements for multipurpose aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) concentrate, also known as alcohol-resistant AFFF (AR-AFFF). It covers the chemical, physical, and fire performance criteria for foam intended to extinguish fires involving both hydrocarbons (like petrol) and water-miscible polar solvents (like alcohol). The standard details test methods to verify performance, ensuring the foam is effective and stable upon storage.
multipurpose aqueous film forming foam liquid concentrate for extinguishing hydrocarbon and polar solvent fires
! This foam is typically pseudoplastic (viscosity changes with shear), which is critical for proportioning equipment design. Standard venturi-type inductors may not be suitable.
! Gentle application (Type II) is essential for polar solvent fires to allow the protective polymer membrane to form on the fuel surface.
! Always verify compatibility with system components, especially seals and gaskets, as the solvents in the concentrate can be aggressive.
EN 1568-3:2018 & EN 1568-4:2018CEN (European Committee for Standardization), Europe
HighCurrent
Fire extinguishing media - Foam concentrates - Part 3: Specification for low expansion foam concentrates for top application to water-miscible liquids & Part 4: Specification for low expansion foam concentrates for top application to water-immiscible liquids
Collectively, these standards specify requirements for multipurpose (alcohol-resistant) low-expansion foam concentrates.
UL 162, 8th EditionUnderwriters Laboratories (UL), USA
HighCurrent
Standard for Foam Equipment and Liquid Concentrates
Covers various foam concentrates, including alcohol-resistant AFFF for both hydrocarbon and polar solvent fires, with detailed fire test protocols.
ISO 7203-3:2011ISO (International Organization for Standardization), International
MediumCurrent
Fire extinguishing media - Foam concentrates - Part 3: Specification for low-expansion foam concentrates for top application to water-miscible liquids
Specifies requirements for the polar solvent aspect of multipurpose foams, often used in conjunction with ISO 7203-1 for hydrocarbons.
BS 5306-6.1:1988BSI (British Standards Institution), UK
LowWithdrawn
Fire extinguishing installations and equipment on premises. Specification for low expansion foam systems
An older design/system standard that referenced foam concentrate specifications similar to those now in EN 1568.
Key Differences
≠EN 1568 uses a detailed performance-based classification system for fire extinguishment (e.g., IA, IB, IC) and burn-back resistance (A, B, C, D), which is not present in IS 4989's pass/fail criteria.
≠Fire test pan sizes and application rates differ. For example, the IS 4989 hydrocarbon fire test uses a 4.5 m² pan, whereas EN 1568-4 uses a 4.52 m² pan with slightly different fuel depth and pre-burn time requirements.
≠IS 4989 specifies a single maximum pour point of -1.5 °C (or as agreed), while EN 1568 provides multiple temperature performance classes (e.g., Class I ≤ -1.5 °C, Class II ≤ -7.5 °C), allowing manufacturers to certify products for different climates.
≠UL 162 requires testing on a wider range of specific polar solvents for a foam to be listed for them, whereas IS 4989 standardizes testing on Acetone and Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA).
Key Similarities
≈All standards cover multipurpose (alcohol-resistant) foam concentrates designed to form an aqueous film on hydrocarbons and a polymeric membrane on polar solvents.
≈They mandate testing for a core set of physicochemical properties to ensure product quality and consistency, including pH, viscosity, specific gravity, and sediment content.
≈The fundamental performance characteristics evaluated are common across all standards: expansion ratio, drainage time (25% drain time), and fire performance (extinction and burn-back).
≈The standard test fuels for verifying performance are broadly consistent, with Heptane used for hydrocarbons and Acetone/IPA used for polar solvents in both IS 4989 and EN 1568.
It is for Class B fires, effective on both non-polar hydrocarbon fuels (e.g., diesel, petrol) and polar solvents (e.g., ethanol, acetone).
What are the standard concentration percentages?+
The standard covers concentrates designed for use at 3% or 6% concentration with either fresh or sea water (Clause 1.2).
What are the fire performance requirements?+
The foam must extinguish a standard fire in a maximum time and resist burnback for a minimum time, as specified for both hydrocarbon (n-heptane) and polar solvent (acetone) fuels (Table 2).
What is the shelf life requirement?+
The concentrate must meet all performance requirements after an accelerated ageing test (24 hours at 65°C) to simulate long-term storage stability (Clause 4.6).