The standard delineates the technical criteria for 50-litre capacity wheeled mechanical foam fire extinguishers, primarily intended for extinguishing Class A (solid) and Class B (flammable liquid) fires. It encompasses aspects such as materials, design, operational performance, testing protocols, labeling, and environmental considerations to guarantee dependable fire protection in industrial and commercial settings.
Overview
The standard delineates the technical criteria for 50-litre capacity wheeled mechanical foam fire extinguishers, primarily intended for extinguishing Class A (solid) and Class B (flammable liquid) fires. It encompasses aspects such as materials, design, operational performance, testing protocols, labeling, and environmental considerations to guarantee dependable fire protection in industrial and commercial settings.
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Frequently Asked
The extinguisher body is constructed from weldable mild steel sheet with a minimum thickness of 3.15 mm. Carrying handles or support fittings are made from either mild steel or stainless steel rods of at least 6 mm diameter or fabricated from sheets matching the body thickness. The foam nozzle clamp is fabricated from mild steel sheet or plastic with thickness not less than the body. The bottom dish is reinforced with a welded cylindrical ring to ensure durability. These material requirements ensure structural integrity and proper weldability as specified in Clause 7 and Table 1 of the standard.
The foam discharge test requires that at least 90% by weight of the rated capacity is expelled from the extinguisher. Testing is conducted at ambient temperatures of 27 ± 5°C. The foam jet must achieve a minimum throw distance of 10 meters, sustained for no less than 60 seconds. Additionally, the discharge of 90% foam mass should be completed within 180 seconds. Foam quality parameters include an expansion ratio between 6 and 25, drainage times ranging from 70 to 120 seconds, and adherence to film formation standards specified in IS 4989 (Part 2):1984. These criteria are outlined in Clauses 11.1 and 11.2.
IS 13386 addresses environmental concerns by prohibiting the use of mercury, its compounds, and pigments containing lead, cadmium, chromium VI, or their oxides in coatings of metallic parts, except for natural impurities up to 0.1%. Temporary use of CO2 extinguishers is permitted until suitable alternatives are available. The standard also provides data on atmospheric lifetimes and global warming potential (GWP) of various gaseous agents, favoring environmentally safer agents like Inergen, Argonite, and Argon with negligible GWP over high-impact chemicals such as Halon-1301. These provisions promote ecological safety in extinguisher design.
The extinguisher body must be fabricated from weldable steel with compatible filler materials to ensure strong joints. For carbon steel bodies, wall thickness is calculated using the formula t = (P × D) / (2 × σ) + 0.7 mm, where P is design pressure, D is body diameter, and σ is allowable stress. Welding types include spot welding for fittings in accordance with IS 819:1957 and metal arc welding per IS 9595:1980. The bottom dish is reinforced by welding a cylindrical ring. Hydraulic testing at 3.0 MN/m² pressure for two minutes without leaks is mandatory to verify structural integrity as detailed in Clauses 7.2, 7.2.1, and 11.3.
The extinguisher must be marked with letters 'A' and/or 'B' to denote suitability for Class A and Class B fires as per IS 2190. Each letter should be black, sized 2.5 ± 0.5 cm in height, and centrally positioned within a cream-colored (lemon yellow, shade No. 355 per IS 5:1978) square measuring 4 ± 0.5 cm on each side. This distinct marking ensures clear identification of the extinguisher’s application during emergencies, as specified in Clause 10.3.
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