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IS 9668 (1990, Reaffirmed 2010): Provision and Maintenance

of Water Supplies for Fire Fighting--Code of Practice
(First Revision). UDC 614.842.62.004.5 : 006.76

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है”
ह
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“Knowledge is such a treasure which cannot be stolen”
 ( Reaffirmed 2002 )

Indian Standard
PROVISION AND MAINTENANCE OF WArTER
SUPPLIES FOR FIRE FIGHTING - CODE OF
PRACTICE
( First Revision)
l{T~Ttt JfTyt~
atTll if~t~ itl f~q \jf~ "t~Tt ~~'~T aqT ar.t~lf{Vf
• •
Cfl) ~)fa ~~(l(T
( q~~l ~i{~T~1lT )

UDC 614'842'62'004'5: 006'76

@ BIS 1990
BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS
MANAK BHAVAN, 9 BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR MARG
NEW DELHI IIOOO?

September 1990 Price Group 3

Fire Fighting Sectional Committee, CED 22

FOREWORD
'Ihis Indian Standard was adopted by th e Bureau of Indian Standards on 24 January 1990, after
the draft finalized by the Fire Fighting Sectional Committee had been approved by the Civil
Engineering Division Council.

Water has been the main fire extinguisher media used to contain and extinguish fires from times
immemorial. Water and foam in which water is used in large quantities also continue to be most
commonly used extinguish media. For adequate fire fighting appliances are normally used with
the water. Water is also used for the internal hydrants system, sprinkler systems and external
hydrants therefore suitable guidelines for the provision of water supply so .as to cover various fire
risk areas are being covered in this standard. The requirements in this code have been kept
minimum possible level in view of the shortage of water ( -as in some areas water for drinking is
also not sufficiently available) however where circumstances need considering the safety aspects
the requirements may be suitably increased.

This standard covering provision and maintenance of water supply and external hydrant systems,
( covering installation inspection and maintenance) issued in year 1980. In this revision the
provision of external hydrant system etc, have been separated and are being covered in detail in a
separate new Indian Standard aligning with the provision of internal type fire hydrant systems
covered in IS 3844 : 1989 'Code of practice for installation and internal hydrants and hose-reel on
premises (first revision )' on the experience gained in the use of this standard, the requirements in
respect of the provision of water supply has been up-dated keeping in line with the T AC require-
ments. The provision in respect of water supply requirements for sprinkler systems are being
covered in a separate Indian Standard.
 IS 9668 : 1990

Indian Standard
PROVISION AND MAINTENANCE OF WATER
SUPPLIES FOR FIRE FIGHTING - CODE OF
PRACTICE
( First Revision)
1 SCOPE 4 WATER SUPPLY REQUIREMENTS

1.1 This standard covers guidelines for the 4.1 For Towni/Cities
provision and maintenance of water supply for
fire fighting. 4.1.1 The fire risk in any town/city is seldom
uniform throughout and it may vary widely in
2 GENERAL different areas. It may be the lowest in well laid
out predominently residential locality, with
2.1 Water supply requirements for fire fighting small shopping centres and go on increasing in
will depend on various factors like type of con- thickly populated congested areas, commercial
struction, nature of occupancy, type and quan- centrcs, warehouses and industrial complexes.
tities of Inaterials handled or stored, process In addition to normal peace time requirements,
risks involved, neighbouring fire risks, fire some vulnerable towns/cities may require very
detection and alarm arrangements, time likely large extra q'Jantities to deal with special situa·
to be taken for the fire brigade(s) to come into tions that may arise in war time or other emer-
operation and so on. All these factors Inay gencies to which the towns/cities may be exposed.
differ very widely and so will be the requirement These are generally termed as 'civil defence'
of water supplies. Requirement for each area towns. With so may variants, it Inay be desir-
may therefore vary and has to be worked out able to work out the water supply requirements
jointly by water supply engineers and fire experts area-on locality-wise after considering various
after considering these factors. factors, but, this may not be possible in each
an d every case.
3 SOURCE OF WATER SUPPLY
The overall requirements may, therefore. be
3.1 The essential requirements for any source worked out on population basis. But, while
of water for fire fighting are as follows: working out the detailed distribution system.
the peculiar requirements for each area shaH
a) Ready availability of the supply at all be examined and extraptovision made where
times, required.
b) Sources easily approachable and workable
by the normal fire appliances, and 4.1.2 It is recommended that generally for
towns/cities, water for fire fighting shall be pro-
c) Sources located within a workable distance vided at the scale of 1800-1/min for every 50000
which should in no case be more than population or part thereof for towns up to
1 km from the risk to be protected. 3 lacs popUlation and an additiDnal 1800-lImin
for every 1 lac popUlation of lnore than 3 lacs.
3:2 NornlaUy such requirements are met with The requirement should be on the basis of
two types of water supply namely piped water 2 hours duration.
supply ( hydrant system) and static water tanks.
However, on some occasions natural and man- In'addition to the population criteria, it should
made sources if available could be utilised for be ensured that sufficient water at the above
fire fighting in emergencies. The commonly scale is made available within every I km~ area
found natural sources are rivers~ canals, streams, of the city/town and it should be ensured that
ponds, lakes, pools, spring wells, etc, and man- it is equitably distributed. In the C:lse of smatler
made sources are reservoirs, pooling water towns with population of 1 lac and bdow the
basins etc. Therefore, while planning any system total requirements should be doubled.
for water supply requirements such sources may
also be considered and suitable arrangements 4.1.3 For high risk areas like bazars, cOlnmerciai
made for their effective and quick use by the centres, high rise buildings warehouses, indus-
fire services like all weather approach routes, trial complexes, etc, extra provision shall be
hard standing platforms, provision of suitable made considering each risk area separately. For
sumps~ portable pumps in deep wells etc. In extra high ho1zard risk like petrochemical chemi-
case of overhead reservoirs suitable number of cal complexes extra provisions, on the external
100 mm round thread or 63 mm instantaneous periphery shg,ll b~ provided on. The provision
outlets may be provided on the main, outlets in r\!sp;ct of highrise building are given in
being controlled by separate control valves. IS 3884: 1989, there should be at least one
1
IS 9668 : 1990

static -tank of 220 000 litres capacity for every valent to 3 hours pumping capacity mini~
1 km2 area. mum, when using 6 strong jets Bimultane..
ously - each jet consuming -600 Ipm.
4.1.4 For civil defence towns/cities, tb~ scale Where the area exceeds 1 000 m 2 , additio-
as prescribed under 4.1.2 may be doubled, both nal quantity at the rate of 50 percent of
in respect of per minute and total requirements. above shall be provided subject to a mini-
The extra provision on this account shall be mum of 4 hours pumping capacity.
made in the form of static sources as far as
p<'ssible. 4.2.3 However, on single-unobstructed floor area
not exceeding ] 000 m2, it shall have water
4.2 Fer Industries storage for fire fighting equivalent to 4 hours
pumping capacity minimum, when using 8 strong
4.2.1 Jr.dustries vary very widely in size and water jets simultaneously - each jet consuming
fire fisk. There are sman scale industries 6001pm. Where the area exceeds 1 000 m~.
located in ~rnal1 shed(s) (mploying only a few additional quantity at the rate of 50 percent of
persons. On the other extrEme, there may be above shall be provided subject to a minimum
big industries which arc spread over hundreds of 4 hours pumping capacity.
of acres and employ thou~ands of persons. Risk
wise also, theJ e are low to medium risk indus~ 4.2.4 The quantity of water requirement as
tries haJIdling and storing mostly non·combus~ mentioned above, shaH be stored in the form of
tjble or ordinary combustible materials against one or more static tanks.
the very high fire risk industries handling and
storing sizeable quantities of highly combustible NOTE -- In case of one tank it should be in two
equal interconnected compartments.
and flammable substances. Therefore, the
guiding factor shall be to determine the num~er In case of an efficient municipal ~re hydrant
of fire fighting jets which are likely to be em~ system, the quantity of wa ter required to be
played in case of a major Jire outbreak in the stored in statj.c tanks could be halved, however
industry. For this purpose, the risk category the capacity in any static tanks shall not be
of the industry should be first determined, which changed.
win q_uantify the number of fire fighting jets
vis-a-vis the quantity of water required to be In case of any industrial unit which has its own
provided. fire hydrant system installed, the entire quantity
of water could be stored in a single large tank/
4.2.2 The industries wav be divided into three compartmental tank/reservoir with a well design-
main risk that j s Ught hazard ( covering group A ed ring main of adequate size on which hydrants
to F ), moderate haza.rd ( covering group G and can be installed.
G-l ) and high hazard (covering group Hand
J ) as follows: 4.2.5 For flammable liquid tank farms, the
minimum water requirement for fire fighting
a) For all risks coming under light hazard shall be calculated separately for use of foam,
category and with single unobstructed and for cooling of the affected tanks and also
floor area not exceeding 1 000 rn 2 , it shall the surrounding tanks, added together.
have water storage for fire fighting equi- 4.2.6 For tank farms with fixed foam installa-
valent to 1 hour pumping capacity mini~ tion system, the capacity of water tank shall be
mum, when using two strong water jets as follows:
simultaneously - each jet consuming
600 Iprn. Where the area exceeds 1 000 m~, a) At the minimum rate -of water solution
additional quantity at the rate of 50 per.. calculated at 4'5 1m 2 of liquid surface area
cent of above shall be provided subject to ( tank surface), for a minimum time of
a minimum of 2 hours pumping capacity. 30 minutes. If fixed foam monitors
are installed, an additional quantity of
b) For all risks coming under moderate 900 litres per minute for at least another
hazard category and with single un~ 30 minutes duration shall be provided, if
obstructed tloor area not exceeding
number of monitors are many, provision
1 000 m2 , it shall have water storage for
for at least two monitors at the rate of
fire fighting equivalent to 2 hours pumping
900 Ipm each to be calculated.
capacity minimum, when using 4 strong
water jds simultaneously - each jet con~ b) For cooling purpose of adjoining tanks,
suming 600 Ipm Where the area ex- additional quantity of water shall be pro-
ceeds 1 000 m2, additional quantity at the vided at the rate of 10 Ipm/ m 2 of
rate of 50 percent of above ~hall be pro .. exposed surface of the next tank, for a
vided, subject to a minimum of 2 hours period of at least 1 bour.
pumping capacity.
4.2.7 Process Units
-c) For _all risks corning under high hazard
category and \\'ith single unobstructed Water requirement for process units shall be
floor arcanot exceeding I 000 m2, it shaH depending upon the risk, but in no case less
have water storage for fire fighting equi .. than as laid down in 4.2.3 above.

2
 IS 9668 : 1990

4.2.8 Administrative buildings in factories etc. fighting in towns, cities and industries, suitable
shall be considered as light hazard, and the provision of static water tanks shall always be
water quantity and number of hydrants catered kept in view. For civil defence towns/cities and
accordingly. all type of industrial establishment, at least
50 percent of the total water supply requirements
4.2.9 Storage Risks for fire fighting shall always be in the form of
static water tanks.
For storage risks engineering stores shall be
classified as light hazard category. General S.2 Static water tanks for fire fighting should be
stores as ordinary hazard and combustible or underground with water at ground level. They
flammable stores as high or extra high hazard can be of any shape and dimensions, but the
category. In case of such combined risk, -the depth shall normally not exceed 2'S m. For
risk category will be decided by its predominent multi·storey buildings terrace tank may be
risk. provided.
NOTE - In case of deeper tanks, submersible
5 STATIC WATER TANKS pumps be provided.
5.1 Static water tanks are very useful sources of 5.3 For towns/cities and other locations where
water supplies for major fire :fJghting. They can they are accessible to public, the static tank
be provided to supplement the first hydrant should be completely covered and provided with
system or independently where provision of fire suitable manholes for lowering of the suction
hydrants is not feasible economically or due to hoses.
various other reasons. Static water system has
many advantages over the hydrant system. This 5.4 Inside industrial establishments the static
system is much more economkal, more reliable, water tanks can be of open type having small
less prone to damage or defects and helps to parapet walls of height not exceeding 50 cm
build huge reserve to meet any eventualities. above ground level. Such tanks may, as far
While planning any water supply system for fire as possible, conform to Fig. 1. Where extra

/PCC POST
-r r:~~
;:
YAlVl .CHAMBER
'WITH GATE VALVe
-'-~2S

\
:noo I'L ____ . ~~----
-----.u-
,---- ---- ...... r
25 ------
...--- ------
b
- STEPS

1I:}~.:-I L~L;~~~
II r.- --

tt'
_=~::-::::- 0/
rJfi.,-

~Sl~I'UMP
I I

fi-oo~ 825
7~
"T
500
-.t.-
,,-
'.
,
00_ - - - ---b.!FII-

100 7S ~~t
900

SEerI'DN AA
AlI dimensions in miJlimetres unless otherwise speCified.
FIG. 1 A TYPICAL STATIC WATER TANK
3
IS 9668 : 1990

protection is required, barbed wire fencing. when all parts of systems are constantly checked
etc, may be provided with suitable openings, for and maintained in perfect working order all
lowering of the suction hose. the time.
5.5 All static water tanks for fire fighting shall
norma1ly be located within 100 m of the risk to 6.2 Reservoirs
be protected.
6.2.1 Required level of water shall always be
5.6 The static water tanks shall be easily appro· maintained and this shall be checked daily by
achabJe by all types of til e appliances hdd at the the pump operators and incharge water works
fire statio n(s) providing fire cover in the area. in each shift before assuming charge.
All weather approach road of adequate size shall
be provided. Provision of suitable number of 6.2.2 A monthly inspection of the reservoirs
lnanholes shi.tll be made available for inspection, shall be carried out by a responsible officer of
repairs and inspection of static tanks, etc. the water works to ensure that the reservoirs
are constructionally sound and there is no see-
5.7 Cement concrete platforms (hard standings) page or leakage from any portion. At this tilue,
shaH be provided at suitable locations around - note may be taken of any accumulation of mud,
the static water tanks for prolonged operations sand, weeds and other undergrowth which can
by the fire pumps. reduce the capacity of the reservoir and obstruct
free flow of water. The required remedial action
5.8 Each static water tank should be provided may be taken.
with sump(s) to allow the use of the total quan-
tity of water for fire fighting and also to facilitate 6.2.3 All reservoirs shall be periodically cleaned,
maintenance and repair of tanks. The sump(s) periodicity for such cleaning to be determined
may be of the size 1 m X 1 m x 45 em ( depth ). and laid considering the local conditions. Before
The sumps should be located on the side(s} emptying any reservoir for cleaning and/or
from where the nre pumps are to come into repairs, the other compartment/reservoirs shall
operation. be kept full and duly connected to the SystClll.
5.9 U-shaped steel bar steps or any other suit-
able arrangement shall be provided for men 6.3 Static Water Tanks and Natural Sources
to enter the static water tanks as and when 6.3.1 Static water tanks and other natural sources
required. for fire fighting shall be inspected as often as
5.10 An static water tanks shaH be provided possible. The periodicity for such inspections
with suitable filling arrangements to make up shall be determin~d and laid down depending
the evaporation losses, refilling after cleaning! on the local conditions. However, for cities
repairs and for replenishing water supplies du- and towns, each static or natural source shall be
ring.fire fighting operations. The fining arrange- inspected at intervals not exceeding one month
ments shall be of the maximum capacity possible and for industrial establi shments once every
and the tanks shaH be connected by the biggest week. The record of all such inspections shall
size of mains available in their vicinity at the be main tained and remedial action for any
rate of not less than I 000 1 (minute. defects observed taken immediately or priority
basis.
5.1t Suitable indicating plates shall be fixed to
the nearest wall or a suitable posts erected for 6.3.2 The following action shall be taken during
the purpose ncar each static water tank. The the monthly/weekly inspection:
indicating plates can be made of vitreous ena- a) Level of the water supply shall be checked
melled mild steel, cast iron, alulninium n.lloy
and noted.
or pbstic. The plates shall be yellow in colour
with letter 'S'¥T' and the c2.pacity in Iitres b) Causes for any unusual drop in the level
marked in black. may be investigated and reported to higher
authorities for further investigations and
6 INSPECTIONS, CHECKS AND MAIN- remedial a\.:tion.
TENANCE
c) In the case of static water tanks drop of
6.1 Periodical checking and proper maintenance level due to evaporation and other J1c}rmal
of water supplies is liS important as their pro- causes, it shall be made good by openIng
vision. Since special waler ~,upply systems for the liEing valvc~,. ,I n the;; ca~:c of Gpen
fire fighting ;:tre not in daily usc, many times, static water tan ks. some \vatcr shall he
dcfcds developing over a cc;-tain period may allowed to overi1uw ta avoid breeding cf
not be observed unless oeriodiclll checks are mosquitos, etc.
exercised. The system t;;~iling to come into
operaticn at the time of any firc can defeat the d) St2.tic tanks, sum ps ~1 nd jack weBs ~hall
very purpose for which the system has been pro- be cXQmined for any signs of cracks or
vided and also result in very embarrassing situa- other constructional ll:t mages. Ace 1111l1J b-
tions to the fire and other administrative autho- tion or mud, slnu, WCCLb ~Uid. other L1!ldcr-
rities of the area. Such situations are to be arowth ~hall be noted and action taken
avoided at all cost and this can be ensured only tor their removal.
4
 IS 9668 : 1990

e) Condition of approach roads, hard stand- local conditions, but they shall be thoroughly
ing platform, parapet walls, fencing, cleaned at least once every 2 years.
manhole covers, indicating plates, etc,
shall be examined and recorded. 6.3.4 While emptying any static water tank for
cleaning or repairs, it shall be ensured that the
f) Any obstruction in the approach of the other neighbouring tanks are full and in service-
fire appliance to the sources of supply able condition. As far as possible, only one
shaH be removed. tank shall be taken for repairs and maintenance
at a time.
6.3.3 All static water tanks, sumps and jack
well shall be emptied, cleaned, repaired 6.3.5 The use of static water tanks and other
and whitewashed at perjodic~l intervals. Open natural sources shaH be made in drills and
static water tanks shall be so cleaned once every practices as often as possible. Any difficulties
6 months For the covered static water tanks, observed in approach and working of the fire
periodicity may be determined according to 'he appliances recorded and remedial action taken.

5
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Revision of Indian Standards

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are issued from time lo time. Users of Indian Standards should ascertain that they are in possession
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giving the following reference

Doc: No. CED 22 ( 4793 )

Amendments Issued Since Publication

Amend No. Date of Issue Text Affected

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