EN 1568-4:2018

• Abstract:

  This European Standard specifies requirements for chemical and physical properties, and minimum performance requirements of low expansion foams suitable for surface application to water-miscible liquids. Requirements are also specified for marking.; IMPORTANT - The fire performance is tested using acetone and isopropanol as the fuel, which also forms the basis for the performance classification. However, there are a large number of water-miscible liquids which have more or less different properties to acetone and isopropanol. It has been shown by tests using other fuels that the performance of various foams can differ considerably. Examples of such fuel is Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK). It is therefore essential that the user checks for any unfavourable or unacceptable loss of efficiency when the foam is used against fires in any other water-miscible fuels than acetone and isopropanol respectively. The fire test conditions and procedure given in H.2 can be used in order to achieve results comparative with acetone and isopropanol respectively and related requirements.; It is also essential for the user to note that other fuel depths and methods of application than those specified in H.2 can cause considerable loss of efficiency and these matters should be carefully considered by the user when assessing the suitability for particular applications.; WARNING - Any type approval according to this standard is invalidated by any change in composition of the approved product.; NOTE Some concentrates conforming to this part of the EN 1568 series can also conform to other parts and therefore can also be suitable for application as medium and/or high expansion foams.

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 27-Feb-2018
• Withdrawal Date: 29-Nov-2019
• ICS: 13.220.10 - Fire-fighting
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 191 - Fixed firefighting systems
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 191/WG 3 - Fire extinguishing media - Foam
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 28-Feb-2018
• Due Date: 01-Dec-2017
• Completion Date: 28-Feb-2018
• Directive: Harmonized Standard305/2011 - Regulation (eu) No 305/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 march 2011 laying down harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products and repealing council directive 89/106/eec
• Ref Project: SIST EN 1568-4:2018 - Fire extinguishing media - Foam concentrates - Part 4: Specification for low expansion foam concentrates for surface application to water-miscible liquids

• Replaces: EN 1568-4:2008/AC:2010 - Fire extinguishing media - Foam concentrates - Part 4: Specification for low expansion foam concentrates for surface application to water-miscible liquids
• Effective Date: 07-Mar-2018
• Replaces: EN 1568-4:2008 - Fire extinguishing media - Foam concentrates - Part 4: Specification for low expansion foam concentrates for surface application to water-miscible liquids
• Effective Date: 07-Mar-2018
• Refers: ISO 304:1985 - Surface active agents — Determination of surface tension by drawing up liquid films
• Effective Date: 25-Aug-2026
• Refers: ISO 3310-1:2016 - Test sieves — Technical requirements and testing — Part 1: Test sieves of metal wire cloth
• Effective Date: 09-Feb-2026
• Refers: EN ISO 3219:1994 - Plastics - Polymers/resins in the liquid state or as emulsions or dispersions - Determination of viscosity using a rotational viscometer with defined shear rate (ISO 3219:1993)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Refers: EN ISO 3104:2023 - Petroleum products - Transparent and opaque liquids - Determination of kinematic viscosity and calculation of dynamic viscosity (ISO 3104:2023)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Refers: EN ISO 23753-1:2019 - Soil quality - Determination of dehydrogenases activity in soils - Part 1: Method using triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) (ISO 23753-1:2019)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Refers: EN ISO 11348-2:2008 - Water quality - Determination of the inhibitory effect of water samples on the light emission of Vibrio fischeri (Luminescent bacteria test) - Part 2: Method using liquid-dried bacteria (ISO 11348-2:2007)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Refers: EN ISO 3696:1995 - Water for analytical laboratory use - Specification and test methods (ISO 3696:1987)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Refers: EN 1715-4:1997 - Aluminium and aluminium alloys - Drawing stock - Part 4: Specific requirements for welding applications
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: EN 13565-1:2019 - Fixed firefighting systems - Foam systems - Part 1: Requirements and test methods for components
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: EN 1568-1:2018 - Fire extinguishing media - Foam concentrates - Part 1: Specification for medium expansion foam concentrates for surface application to water-immiscible liquids
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: EN 13565-2:2009 - Fixed firefighting systems - Foam systems - Part 2: Design, construction and maintenance
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: EN 1568-2:2018 - Fire extinguishing media - Foam concentrates - Part 2: Specification for high expansion foam concentrates for surface application to water-immiscible liquids
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: EN 13565-1:2019+A1:2025 - Fixed firefighting systems - Foam systems - Part 1: Requirements and test methods for components
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026

Overview

EN 1568-4:2018 (CEN) specifies requirements for low expansion foam concentrates intended for surface application to water‑miscible liquids. The standard defines required chemical and physical properties, minimum performance criteria and marking/technical data sheet content. It replaces EN 1568‑4:2008 and adds tests such as freezing point, stability/separation and occupational health/ecotoxicology assessments.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope: Low expansion foam concentrates for surface application to water‑miscible fuels (e.g., alcohols, ketones).
• Performance testing: Fire performance is assessed using acetone and isopropanol as reference fuels; classifications are based on those tests (see Annex H for test fire procedure and H.2 for general conditions).
• Critical caution: Performance can differ significantly on other water‑miscible liquids (e.g., MEK). Users must verify foam efficiency on the specific fuel and can use the H.2 test procedure to obtain comparative results.
• Physical / chemical tests: sediment (before/after ageing), freezing point, viscosity (Newtonian and pseudo‑plastic), pH, surface tension and stability/separation.
• Foam attributes: determination of expansion and drainage time (before and after temperature conditioning).
• Safety and environmental: occupational health and ecotoxicological testing requirements are included (Annex M).
• Documentation & marking: required technical data sheet and container marking; any change in concentrate composition invalidates type approval.
• Test methods & annexes: normative annexes detail sampling, test apparatus and procedures (e.g., Annexes C–L, H for fire tests, K for freezing point).

Applications and users

EN 1568‑4:2018 is used by:

• Foam concentrate manufacturers for product development, type approval and labeling.
• Fire protection engineers and specifiers selecting foams for industrial sites handling water‑miscible liquids (chemical plants, refineries, terminals).
• Facility safety managers, airports, marine and transport sectors where alcohol/ketone fires are a risk.
• Certification bodies and testing laboratories conducting fire performance and environmental/health testing.

Practical considerations:

• Always confirm foam performance on the actual fuel and fuel depth/dispensing method expected in service - deviations from EN test conditions can cause significant loss of efficiency.
• Some concentrates conforming to this part may also meet other EN 1568 parts and be suitable as medium or high expansion foams.

Related standards

• EN 1568 series - Parts 1–3 (medium/high expansion, low expansion for water‑immiscible liquids)
• EN ISO 5923 (CO2)
• EN 615 (powders)
• EN 27201 series (halogenated hydrocarbons)

Keywords: EN 1568-4:2018, low expansion foam, foam concentrates, water-miscible liquids, acetone isopropanol fire test, foam performance, freezing point, viscosity, expansion and drainage, foam certification.

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Feuerlöschmittel - Schaummittel - Teil 4: Anforderungen an Schaummittel zur Erzeugung von Schwerschaum zum Aufgeben auf mit Wasser mischbare FlüssigkeitenAgents extincteurs - Émulseurs - Partie 4 : Spécifications pour les émulseurs bas foisonnement destinés à une application à la surface de liquides ayant une affinité pour l’eauFire extinguishing media - Foam concentrates - Part 4: Specification for low expansion foam concentrates for surface application to water-miscible liquids13.220.10Gašenje požaraFire-fightingICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 1568-4:2018SIST EN 1568-4:2018en,fr,de01-maj-2018SIST EN 1568-4:2018SLOVENSKI
STANDARDSIST EN 1568-4:2008/AC:2010SIST EN 1568-4:20081DGRPHãþD

EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN 1568-4
February
t r s z ICS
s uä t t rä s r Supersedes EN
s w x zæ vã t r r zEnglish Version
Fire extinguishing media æ Foam concentrates æ Part
vã Specification for low expansion foam concentrates for surface application to wateræmiscible liquids Agents extincteurs æ Émulseurs æ Partie
v ã Spécifications pour les émulseurs bas foisonnement destinés à une application à la surface de liquides ayant une affinité pour l 5eau
Feuerlöschmittel æ Schaummittel æ Teil
vã Anforderungen an Schaummittel zur Erzeugung von Schwerschaum zum Aufgeben auf mit Wasser mischbare Flüssigkeiten This European Standard was approved by CEN on
s z September
t r s yä
egulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alterationä Upætoædate lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CENæCENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN memberä
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CENæCENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versionsä
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austriaá Belgiumá Bulgariaá Croatiaá Cyprusá Czech Republicá Denmarká Estoniaá Finlandá Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedoniaá Franceá Germanyá Greeceá Hungaryá Icelandá Irelandá Italyá Latviaá Lithuaniaá Luxembourgá Maltaá Netherlandsá Norwayá Polandá Portugalá Romaniaá Serbiaá Slovakiaá Sloveniaá Spainá Swedená Switzerlandá Turkey and United Kingdomä
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre:
Rue de la Science 23,
B-1040 Brussels
t r s z CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Membersä Refä Noä EN
s w x zæ vã t r s z ESIST EN 1568-4:2018

Grades of foam concentrate . 14 Annex B (normative)
Sampling of foam concentrates . 15 Annex C (normative)
Determination of percentage sediment . 16 C.1 Sampling . 16 C.2 Apparatus . 16 C.3 Procedure. 16 Annex D (normative)
Determination of viscosity for pseudo-plastic foam concentrates . 17 D.1 Pseudo-plastic foam concentrates . 17 D.2 Viscosity determination. 17 D.2.1 Apparatus . 17 D.2.2 Test temperatures . 17 D.2.3 Viscosity measurement . 17 D.2.4 Results . 18 Annex E (normative)
Temperature conditioning of foam concentrates . 19 E.1 General . 19 SIST EN 1568-4:2018

Determination of surface tension . 22 F.1 Solution of foam concentrate . 22 F.2 Procedure — Surface tension . 22 Annex G (normative)
Determination of expansion and drainage time . 23 G.1 Apparatus . 23 G.2 Temperature conditions . 23 G.3 Procedure . 23 G.4 Simulated fresh and sea water . 24 Annex H (normative)
Determination of test fire performance . 29 H.1 General . 29 H.2 General conditions . 29 H.2.1 Test series and criteria for success . 29 H.2.2 Temperature and wind speed . 29 H.2.3 Records . 29 H.2.4 Foam solution. 30 H.2.5 Fuel . 30 H.3 Fire test . 30 H.3.1 Apparatus . 30 H.3.2 Test procedure . 31 Annex I (informative)
Small-scale fire test . 33 I.1 Apparatus . 33 I.2 Test procedure . 34 I.2.1 Test conditions . 34 I.2.2 Set-up . 34 I.2.3 Fire test . 34 Annex J (informative)
Description of a radiation measurement method . 43 J.1 Evaluation . 43 J.2 General arrangement of test . 43 J.3 Technical data for radiometers . 44 J.4 Procedure . 44 Annex K (normative)
Freezing point determination . 47 K.1 General . 47 K.2 Apparatus . 47 K.3 Procedure . 47 K.4 Example of a temperature against time curve for evaluation . 48 Annex L (normative)
Stability/Separation test of foam concentrate . 49 L.1 General . 49 L.2 Apparatus . 49 L.3 Procedure . 49 Annex M (normative)
Occupational health and ecotoxicological testing . 50 SIST EN 1568-4:2018

Example of a technical data sheet . 51 Annex O (informative)
A-Deviations . 53 Bibliography . 55
IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp 3.1 25 %/50 % drainage time time taken for 25 %/50 % of the volume of the original foam solution to drain out of the generated foam 3.2 Expansion (E) expansion value expansion ratio ratio of the volume of foam to the volume of the foam solution from which it was made 3.3 low expansion foam foam which has an expansion ratio less than 20 3.4 medium expansion foam foam which has an expansion ratio greater than or equal to 20 but less than 200 3.5 high expansion foam foam which has an expansion ratio greater than or equal to 200 3.6 fire-fighting foam aggregate of air-filled bubbles formed from a foam solution used for fire fighting 3.7 foam concentrate liquid which is diluted with water to produce foam solution Note 1 to entry: Annex A gives information on grades of foam concentrate. 3.8 foam solution solution of foam concentrate in water SIST EN 1568-4:2018

cm «1 4 Sediment in the foam concentrate 4.1 Sediment before ageing Any sediment in the foam concentrate sampled in accordance with Annex B, but not aged in accordance with C.1, shall be dispersible through a 180 not more than 0,25 % when tested in accordance with Annex C. 4.2 Sediment after ageing Any sediment in the foam concentrate sampled in accordance with Annex B, and aged in accordance with C.1, shall be dispersible through a 180 e not more than 1,0 % when tested in accordance with Annex C. SIST EN 1568-4:2018

(min) 25 % Burn-back time not less than (min)
A 3 15 I B 3 10
C 3 5
A 5 15 II B 5 10
C 5 5 12 Occupation health The manufacturer shall provide information as specified in Annex M. 13 Technical data sheet The manufacturer should provide information for the foam concentrate. An example of the type of information provided in a manufacturer's technical data sheet is given in Annex N. SIST EN 1568-4:2018

Grades of foam concentrate Foam concentrates are graded as follows: a) protein foam concentrates (P): these are liquids derived from hydrolysed protein materials; b) fluoroprotein foam concentrates (FP): these are protein concentrates with added fluorinated surface active agents; c) synthetic foam concentrates (S): these are based upon mixtures of hydrocarbon surface-active agents and do not contain fluoroorganic compounds; d) alcohol-resistant foam concentrates (AR): these can be suitable for use on hydrocarbon fuels, and additionally are resistant to breakdown when applied to the surface of water-miscible liquid fuels. Some alcohol-resistant foam concentrates can precipitate a polymeric membrane on the surface of alcohol; e) aqueous film-forming foam concentrates (AFFF): these are generally based on mixtures of hydrocarbon surfactants and fluorinated surface active agents and have the ability to form an aqueous film on the surface of some hydrocarbon fuels; f) film-forming fluoroprotein foam concentrates (FFFP): these are fluoroprotein foam concentrates which have the ability to form an aqueous film on the surface of some hydrocarbon fuels. g) fluorine free foam concentrates (F3): these foam concentrates are dedicated to meeting fire performance ratings and are targeting applications similar to AFFF and/or AR-foams without using fluoroorganic compounds. These foam concentrates are based upon mixtures of hydrocarbon surface-active agents and non-fluorine containing stabilizers. SIST EN 1568-4:2018

Sampling of foam concentrates The samples for testing shall be delivered by the supplier in completely filled sealable containers. The samples for testing shall be taken and delivered by the supplier using a method which provides a representative sample of the foam concentrate to be tested. NOTE Nominal 25-l containers are convenient. SIST EN 1568-4:2018

Determination of percentage sediment NOTE See Clause 4. C.1 Sampling Use a sample prepared in accordance with Annex B. Place approximately 1 l of the sample in a suitable container of nominal capacity sufficient to provide an ullage of 5 % to 10 % of the container volume. Seal the container. Ensure that any sediment is dispersed by agitating the sample container. Take two samples, testing one immediately at a temperature of (20 ± 5) °C, and the other after ageing for (24 ± 2) h at (60 ± 2) °C in a completely filled container without access to air. C.2 Apparatus C.2.1 Graduated centrifuge tubes. NOTE The centrifuge tubes described in ISO 3734 [7] are suitable. C.2.2 Centrifuge, operating at (6 000 ± 600) m s «2. NOTE The centrifuge described in ISO 3734 [7] is suitable. C.2.3 180
conforming to ISO 3310-1. C.2.4 Plastic wash bottle C.3 Procedure C.3.1 Centrifuge each sample of the concentrate for 10 min. Determine the volume of the sediment and report it as a percentage of the volume of the centrifuged sample. C.3.2 Wash the contents of the centrifuge tube onto the sieve and check whether the sediment can be dispersed through the sieve by the jet from the plastic wash bottle. SIST EN 1568-4:2018

Determination of viscosity for pseudo-plastic foam concentrates NOTE The procedure is described in EN ISO 3219:1994, Annex A or B. D.1 Pseudo-plastic foam concentrates Pseudo-plastic foam concentrates have a viscosity which decreases with increasing shear rate at constant temperature. NOTE Pseudo-plastic foam concentrates are a particular class of non-Newtonian foam concentrate. D.2 Viscosity determination D.2.1 Apparatus D.2.1.1 Rotational viscometer in accordance with EN ISO 3219 with the following parameters: — maximum shear stress
· 75 Pa; u maximum shear rate
· 600 s «1. The viscometer shall be fitted with a temperature control unit which can maintain the sample temperature within ± 1 °C of the required temperature. D.2.2 Test temperatures The viscosity of the foam concentrate shall be measured from 20 °C up to and including the lowest temperature for use claimed by the manufacturer in steps of 10 °C. Use a fresh sample for each temperature. D.2.3 Viscosity measurement If the sample contains suspended air bubbles, the sample shall be centrifuged for 10 min using the apparatus specified in C.2.1 and C.2.2 before the sample is applied in the apparatus. The viscosity measurement shall be obtained according to the following test procedure: 1) adjustment of temperature control unit; 2) setting of the gap; 3) application of the sample; 4) minimum 10 min waiting period (no shear) to reach temperature equilibrium; 5) 1 min pre-shearing at 600 s «1; 6) 1 min waiting period without shearing; 7) measure the shear stress for 10 s at each shear rate starting at the lowest shear rate (preferable at 75 s «1). SIST EN 1568-4:2018

Temperature conditioning of foam concentrates E.1 General If the foam concentrate is claimed by the supplier not to be adversely affected by storage at
« u r °C, condition the sample in accordance with E.2 and then in accordance with E.3; otherwise, condition only in accordance with E.3. E.2 Low temperature conditioning E.2.1 Apparatus E.2.1.1 Freezing chamber,
± 3) °C. E.2.1.2 Sample containers, in accordance with Annex B. NOTE More than one container can be needed to condition sufficient volume of foam concentrate for subsequent testing. E.2.2 Procedure
± 3) °C. Do not agitate the content of the container(s) at any time until the sample of foam concentrate has been divided into top and bottom half-samples (see E.4). Place the sample container(s) in the freezing chamber and maintain at the required temperature for (24 ± 1) h. At the end of this period store the container(s) for not less than 48 h and not more than 96 h in an ambient temperature of (20 ± 5) °C. Repeat 3 times so that there are four cycles of freezing and thawing before testing. E.3 High-temperature conditioning E.3.1 Apparatus E.3.1.1 Oven, capable of achieving a temperature of (60 ± 3) °C. E.3.2 Procedure Set the temperature of the oven to (60 ± 3) °C. If the foam concentrate sample has not been conditioned in accordance with E.2 use foam concentrate sampled in accordance with Annex B; otherwise use containers conditioned in accordance with E.2. Do not agitate the content of the container(s) at any time until the sample of foam concentrate has been divided into top and bottom half-samples (see E.4). Place the container(s) in the oven and maintain at required temperature for 7 d. At the end of this period store the container(s) for not less than 48 h and not more 96 h in an ambient temperature of (20 ± 5) °C. SIST EN 1568-4:2018

Key 1 air pressure pipe 2 delivery pipe diameter (8 to 15) mm 3 detachable cone and plate, diameter (25 to 35) mm, height (40 to 50) mm, distance between cone and plate (10 to 12) mm 4 sample container approximately 25 l 5 top sample 6 bottom sample Figure E.1 — Example of a suitable equipment to divide the conditioned foam concentrate into top
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