What is IS:15683

• Scope:
– The standard lays down the requirement for Performance, reliability and safety of
portable fire extinguishers of all types specified in this standard.

• Portable Extinguisher:
– Portable - Operable by one or two person. Fully charged weight shall not be more than
17kg
– Types - Powder, CO2, Clean Agent, Water/Foam based.

• Recommended Capacities :
– Water Foam Based (ltr.) 2, 3, 6, 9
– Powder (kg) 1, 2, 4, 6, 9
– CO2 (kg) 2, 3, 4.5, 5
– Clean Agent (kg) 1, 2, 4, 6
 General Operating
Performance Requirement
• Operating Temperature
– Extinguishers shall be capable of operating reliably within one of the following
temperature ranges
+5 °C to +55 °C, 0 °C to +55 °C, -10 °C to +55 °C, -20 °C to +55 °C, -30 °C to +55 °C

• Minimum Effective Discharge Time

1A – More than 8S

2A and Higher - More than 13S

Class B - More than 8S

• Bulk Range /Throw
Class A – More than 2m

Class 8B & 13B -1m

Class 21B - 2m
 Type Tests

• Resistance to Temperature Change

– This is a type test and four Extinguishers will be selected from proto batch. Out
of four extinguishers, two will be subjected to Temperature Cycle 1 and balance
two will be subjected to Temperature Cycle 2 for duration given in below table.

Duration (h) Cycle 1 Cycle 2

24±1 Min Temp 55±5 °C
24±1 27±5 °C 27±5 °C
24±1 55±5 °C Min Temp

• Acceptance Results: 
- Shall operate as intended
- Commence discharge within 5sof the opening of control valve
- Not retain more than 10% of initial charge within the extinguisher following
complete discharge.
 Type Tests

• Mechanical Resistance (Type Test)

– This is type test and intended to prove the resistance of the extinguisher and
particularly that of the head and fittings, to damage from falling objects or
from impact with fixed surface.
• Keep the charged extinguisher equipped with all fittings, inside deep Freezer for 18h at set temperature
equal to the minimum working temperature.
• Hit the extinguisher vertically (positioned upright) by the steel cylindrical hammer of 75 mm diameter and
total mass of 4 kg from a height of minimum 300 mm or h=m/20 whichever is higher. (where m is total
mass of the extinguisher).
• Hit the extinguisher lying on its side so that valve rests on rigidly fixed block by the steel cylindrical
hammer of 75 mm diameter and total mass of 4 kg from a height of minimum 300 mm or h=m/20
whichever is higher. (where m is total mass of the extinguisher).
• In each of the above positions, the valve will be subjected to an impact by steel hammer.
• Acceptance Criteria:
– The extinguisher shall not release pressure in a potentially dangerous manner.
 Type Tests

• Resistance to Vibration
– An extinguisher shall be capable of withstanding exposure to the conditions of
vibration test without development of physical weakness, which would impair
its normal operation.
• In this test, fully charged extinguisher shall be subjected to the vibration test, in each of the three
rectilinear axes in the following order: horizontal, lateral and vertical.

• Acceptance Criteria:
- After the vibration test, extinguisher shall comply with the discharge
requirement.
- There shall not be any physical failure of the component.
 Type Tests

• Resistance to Corrosion
– External Corrosion Test
– In this test, fully charged extinguisher including their mounting bracket and
wall hook shall be subjected to a salt spray test for a period of 240 h. After
completing the test, extinguisher shall be carefully washed to remove any salt
deposits.

• Acceptance Criteria:
– The mechanical operation of all working parts shall be unimpaired.
– Discharge performance shall comply with the requirement specified.
– Pressure Gauge shall be functional and watertight.
– There shall be no corrosion
 Type Tests

• Resistance to Corrosion
– Internal Corrosion Test
– In this test, fully charged extinguisher shall be subjected to eight times to the temperature cycle.
– Temperature Cycle – Min Temperature (27 h±5h ) => 27±5°C (>27) => 60±2°C(27h±5h)=>27±5°C (>27).
– The duration of any one complete cycle shall not exceed 120h.

• Acceptance Criteria:
– There shall be no visible signs of corrosion of the metal nor detachment, cracking or
bubbling of any protective coating. There shall be no visible change in the colour of
the extinguishing media.
 Type Tests

• Tapping Test
– Fully charged extinguisher shall be held in the vertical position and dropped vertical
500 times from a height of 15 mm at a frequency of 1 Hz onto a rigid horizontal steel
plate. 
– Extinguisher shall be removed from the test apparatus with a minimum amount of
agitation, held in its normal working position and operated.

• Acceptance Criteria:
– Shall operate satisfactorily.
– Comply with the discharge performance.
 Type Tests

• Intermittent Discharge Test

– In this test, extinguisher shall be kept at minimum temperature and 55±5°C for 18 h
each and operate the extinguisher intermittently by opening and closing the valve in
cycles of 2s open and 2s closed until the end of discharge is reached.

• Acceptance Criteria:
– At the end of the discharge, the extinguisher shall not retain more than the following
percentage of its original charge:
– Powder – 15%
– All others – 10%
 Type Tests

• Burst Test
– Fill the extinguisher with a suitable liquid and increase the pressure at rate not
exceeding 20±2 bar until the minimum burst pressure (55 bar) is achieved. Maintain
this pressure for 1 min without the cylinder rupturing.
– Increase the pressure until rupture occurs.

• Acceptance Criteria:
– Cylinder shall not show any sign of fragmentation and brittleness.
 Type Tests

• Crushing Test
– Crush the extinguisher over a period between 30s and 60 s, between two mandrel of
25 mm thick and 12.5 mm apex radius.
– After the crushing test, fill the extinguishers with water and increase the pressure to
test pressure (Pt).

• Acceptable Criteria:
– The Extinguishes shall not exhibit any cracks or leaks.
 Type Tests

• Pressure Cycling Test

– Extinguisher cylinder is subjected pressure cycling of 0 and test pressure at the rate
of 6cycles/min.

• Acceptance Criteria:
– Extinguisher cylinder shall sustain, without rupture, 5000 cycles.
– After test, Cylinder shall comply with the burst test.
 Performance Requirements
for Test Fires
• Class A rating specified in the standard is 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A and 6A and
Class B is 8B, 13B and 21B. Minimum rating of the extinguisher is
depending on amount of extinguishing medium.

Amount of extinguishing medium used to obtain a minimum Class A rating

Powder (Kg) Water/Foam + Additives Ltr) Clean Agent (Kg) Minimum Class A rating

l<2 l<6 l<6 1A

2<l<4 6 < l < 10 6<l<8 2A

4<l<6 l > 10 l>8 3A

6<l<9     4A

l>9     6A
 Performance Requirements
for Test Fires
• Class A rating specified in the standard is 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A and 6A and
Class B is 8B, 13B and 21B. Minimum rating of the extinguisher is
depending on amount of extinguishing medium.

Amount of extinguishing medium used to obtain a minimum Class B rating

Powder (Kg) Carbon di-oxide (Kg) Clean Agent (Kg) Water/Foam + Minimum Class B Rating
Additives (Ltr)

l<2 l<2 l<2 5 8B

2<l<3 2<l<5 2<l<4 9 13B

3<l<4 l>5 4<l<6 9 21B

 Class A Test Fire

Class A Rating Number of pieces of wood Length of Piece Arrangement of Pieces of wood
of Wood

1A 72 500 12 layers of 6 pieces of wood

2A 112 635 16 layers of 7 pieces of wood
3A 144 735 18 layers of 8 pieces of wood
4A 180 800 20 layers of 9 pieces of wood
6A 230 925 23 layers of 10 pieces of wood
 Class A Test Fire
Class A Rating Ignition Pan Size (mm) Heptane Charge (L)

1A 400 x 400 x 100 1.1

2A 535 x 535 x 100 2.0

3A 635 x 635 x 100 2.8

4A 700 x 700 x 100 3.4

6A 825 x 825 x 100 4.8

• Procedure: 
• Place the ignition pan of appropriate size on the floor under the crib.
• Pour the appropriate volume of fuel into the pan and add sufficient water to cover the base.
• Ignite the fuel
• Remove pan once fuel has been consumed.
• Allow the crib to burn until its mass is reduced to 55±2% of its original mass.
• Apply the discharge of the extinguisher to the test fire.
• Acceptable Criteria:
– All flames are extinguished.
– There are no flames visible 10 min after complete discharge of the extinguisher.
 Class B Test Fire

Class of Fire Min Discharge of Volume of liquid Dia (mm)±10 Depth±5

Extinguisher (S) (L)

8B - 8 570 150

13B - 13 720 150

21B 8 21 920 150

 COMPARISION
Sl.No. Description IS 15683 Existing std (IS 940, IS 10204,
IS 2171 and IS 13849)

1 Percentage of Discharge 85% for powder based extr. 85% for powder based extr
95% for water / gas based extr. 90% for foam based extr.
95% for water / gas based extr.

2 Capacity of fire Extinguisher. Water/foam based-2, 3,6and 9lit Water/foam based - 9lit.

Powder – 1,2,3,4,6 and 9kg Powder – 5kg & 10kg

CO2 – 2,3,4.5 and 5kg CO2 – 2,3 and 4.5kg
Clean agent – 1,2,4 and 6kg -
3 Fill density of CO2 extr. 0.75 kg/l max. 0.64 / 0.67
4 Working Pressure 14 bar / 19 bar max. 15 bar max.
5 Test Pressure 20bar min. (1.43 X Pms) 30 bar
30bar min. for gaseous extr.
6 Burst Pressure 55bar min. ( 2.7 X Pms) 45 bar
Break at welded section not to happen
less than 80 bar.
7 Min. Effective Discharge Time & 1kg & 2kg capacity – 8sec Min. & 1m Nil
Range(powder type)

3, 4, 6 and 9 kg capacity – 8sec Min. 5kg- 4m & 15 to 20sec

& 2m 10kg – 6m & 23 to 30sec
Min. Effective Discharge Time & 2,3 and 6litres – 8sec Min. Nil
Range(water/foam type)

9litres – 13sec Min. 9 litres (water) – 6m & 60 to120 sec.

9litres(foam) – 6m & 25 to60 sec.

Min. Effective discharge time & 1 and 2kg – 8sec Min.&1m -

Range(clean agent type)

4kg and 6kg – 8sec Min. & 2m -

8 Fire Rating (powder type) 1kg capacity – 1A, 8B Nil
2kg capacity – 1A, 13B Nil
3kg capacity -2A, 21B Nil
4kg capacity – 3A, 34B Nil
6kg capacity – 4A, 34B Nil
9kg capacity – 6A, 34B Nil
Fire Rating (water / foam type) 2 and 3 litres – 1A, 13B Nil

6 and 9 litres – 2A, 34B MF-9litres(25lit diesel, 2.32msq. tray)

Fire Rating (CO2- type) 2kg – 13B 2kg-13B

3kg, 4.5kg and 5kg – 21B 3kg-21B, 4.5and 5kg-34B
Fire Rating (clean agent- type) 1kg –1A and 8B -

2kg – 1A and 13B -

4kg – 1A and 21B -
6kg – 1A and 34B -
 Features Advantages Benefits
The Options for the Customer would increase as the The Customer can now select based on their specific
Capacity
New Standards propose various capacities. requirements.
Comparison Maximum Discharge would ascertain that the Fire is
Effective Discharge Maximum Discharge of Extinguishing Medium completely extinguished in as less time as possible.
The wastage is less and there is optimum utilization.

The Objective of New Standards is to have High Performance

Minimum Effective The Discharge time is drastically reduced as
based Extinguishers. The Emphasis is on Quick & Effective Fire
Discharge Time compared to the Current Standards.
Extinguishing

Since the Extinguishers are performance based the reduction

The Range has been reduced to attack the Fire very
Bulk Range of Discharge in range enables the Extinguishing Agent to directly attack the
closely
Fire at its source & thus lead to Quick Extinguishing.

All the Fire Extinguishers in the New Standards would A common operating mechanism means ease of operation for
Operating System
have the same operating system - Squeeze Grip Valve the user, irrespective of the type of Extinguisher.

The reduction in the maximum weight would make the

The Maximum permissible Charged weight would be
Charged Weight Extinguisher easily usable for everyone and not be a hindrance
17kg
as in the case of current standards.

The Fire Rating would ensure that the Extinguishers are

Based on the nature & intensity of Fire, the New
Fire Rating designed so as to function perfectly in all conditions.
Standards would classify Fire into 3 Classes.
The Customer can now select based on the perceived fire risk.

The Burst Pressure limits would be increased

The increase in Pressure Limits ensures the Safety of the User
Burst Pressure considerably. The welded sections would be
& the premises that the Extinguisher has been kept in
subjected to higher strength.
THANK YOU