Start with the number of outlets. A single headed valve feeds one hose line and suits most floor landings on wet risers and downcomers and most yard hydrants. A double headed valve feeds two hose lines from one point and is chosen where two jets may be needed together, such as large floor plates, basements and high risk occupancies. Minimax flow tests its single headed Type A valve at 900 LPM and its double headed Type B valve at 1800 LPM, both at 7 kg/cm2. Most models here are oblique pattern, and New Age and Aaag also offer right angle, horizontal, downward or turn down, straight, bib nose and gate pattern valves for cabinets and shafts where the hose has to leave the valve in a particular direction.
Next match the connections. Most single headed valves have a 3 inch flanged inlet, listed as 75 NB by Aaag, 80 mm by Kartar Valves, Zoloto and Minimax and 3 inch by New Age, while the double headed valves from Kartar Valves, New Age, Minimax and Aaag take a 100 mm (4 inch) inlet, so the valve must suit the branch on your riser or hydrant main. The hose outlet is a 63 mm (2.5 inch) female instantaneous coupling on most models, Kartar's website gives 65 mm, and New Age can also supply NH, NST or BSP male threaded outlets, so check the outlet against the couplings on your hoses. New Age and Aaag also offer BSP threaded inlet versions for threaded pipework.
Then choose the body material and the standard your project specifies. Gunmetal or bronze bodies are offered by most makers here, stainless steel (SS 202 or SS 304 from Balaji Fire Safety, SS 304 from Zoloto, SS 316 on Aaag's FM Approved valve) suits sites that need corrosion resistance, and Kartar Valves and Balaji Fire Safety also offer cast iron bodies with stainless steel or gunmetal working parts. Valves made to IS 5290 with the ISI mark are listed by Kartar Valves, New Age, Minimax, Savemax and Aaag, Savemax also lists CPWD approval, and Zoloto designs its bronze and SS 304 valves to IS 5290 Type A. Where a project calls for other approvals, New Age and Aaag offer FM Approved valves, Aaag offers BS 5041-1 wet riser valves, some LPCB approved, and New Age a UL Listed brass angle hose valve in 38 mm and 65 mm.
On tall buildings the lower floors see far higher pressure than the top, which can make a hose hard to handle. Pressure reducing or regulating landing valves hold a steadier outlet pressure: Aaag's bronze valve to BS 5041-1 is LPCB approved and handles inlet pressures up to 20 bar, Aaag also makes an SS 304 regulating valve with an 80 mm flanged inlet, New Age's Class F valve to BS 5041 and its bib nose regulating valve can be adjusted on site for each floor, and New Age's pressure restricting valve limits how far the valve opens. FPS installs, pressure tests and maintains hydrant valves across Madhya Pradesh.