ISO 15779:2026

• Abstract:

  This document specifies the requirements and test methods for components of condensed aerosol firefighting systems. It gives recommendations for the design, installation, testing, maintenance and safety of these systems, as well as their application in buildings, plants or other structures. The characteristics of the extinguishants in the condensed aerosol firefighting systems are also specified, as well as the types of fire for which they are a suitable extinguishing medium. This document covers total flooding systems primarily related to buildings, plants and other specific applications, utilizing electrically non-conducting condensed aerosol fire extinguishants for which there are sufficient data currently available to enable validation of performance characteristics by an appropriate independent authority. Local applications of condensed aerosol extinguishing systems are not covered by this document. Any local applications require a pre-engineered and pre-designed system which has been tested and approved for a specific application by a relevant authority.

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 24-Aug-2026
• ICS: 13.220.10 - Fire-fighting
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 21/SC 8 - Gaseous media and firefighting systems using gas
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 21/SC 8 - Gaseous media and firefighting systems using gas
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 25-Aug-2026
• Due Date: 28-Jul-2026
• Completion Date: 25-Aug-2026

• Revises: ISO 15779:2011 - Condensed aerosol fire extinguishing systems — Requirements and test methods for components and system design, installation and maintenance — General requirements
• Effective Date: 29-Oct-2022

ISO 15779:2026 is an International Standard from ISO for condensed aerosol fire extinguishing systems. It specifies requirements and test methods for components, system design, installation, maintenance and safety for total flooding systems using electrically non-conducting condensed aerosol fire extinguishants. It is written for the people who design, approve, install, test and maintain these systems in buildings, plants and other enclosed hazards.

What does ISO 15779:2026 specify?

ISO 15779:2026 sets the scope, terminology, safety limits, extinguishant concentration rules, system design rules, commissioning checks, and ongoing inspection and maintenance requirements for condensed aerosol fire extinguishing systems. It applies to total flooding systems for enclosed spaces and excludes local applications.

The document is organized into nine clauses and four annexes.

Annex	What it covers
Annex A	Documentation requirements, including working documents for design and approval
Annex B	Toxicity and visibility testing guidance
Annex C	Test methods for condensed aerosol generators
Annex D	Extinguishing density and coverage test procedure

What are the key requirements of ISO 15779:2026?

ISO 15779:2026 focuses on competent design, safe use, verified extinguishing performance, and documented acceptance and maintenance. In practice, the standard makes sure the system is chosen for the right hazard, installed with the right clearances and controls, and kept serviceable over time.

Use limits and safety boundaries

Clause 4 limits use to hazards where condensed aerosol is suitable, mainly surface Class A fires and Class B fires in enclosed spaces. It also says the system should not be used on certain reactive, oxidizing or pyrophoric fuels unless relevant testing has been accepted by the relevant authority.

Clause 4 also requires bonding and earthing to reduce electrostatic discharge risk, and it warns that explosive atmospheres need specific listing and approval. For users, this means the agent and the protected hazard must be checked together before the system is selected.

Design, documentation and approval

Clause 7 requires specifications to be prepared under the supervision of someone experienced in aerosol extinguishing system design, with approval where appropriate from the relevant authority. The required working documents are listed in Annex A and include location drawings, hazard descriptions, calculations, venting information and detection, actuation and control details.

This matters because the standard treats the design package as part of the system. The installer and owner need a clear, approved basis for the installed arrangement, not just a product list.

Extinguishing performance and system sizing

Clause 6 sets out design application density requirements, fire-class-based sizing, generator performance requirements and marking. ISO 15779:2026 uses extinguishing density, safety factor and design application density as the basis for system design, and it relies on test methods in Annex D to determine those values for specific fuels and hazards.

Clause 7 also requires the hold time to be long enough for effective emergency action, and it states a minimum hold time of 10 min unless otherwise specified by the standard of reference. In practice, this means the enclosure must retain the extinguishing condition long enough for shutdown, evacuation and response.

Generator selection, placement and operating conditions

Clause 7 requires the designer to consider enclosure venting, leakage, generator size and quantity, mounting location, protected height limits and multiple-generator arrangements. Where more than one generator is needed, the standard prefers generators from the same family and type, and asks for a rationale if that is not possible.

The document also ties operation to the manufacturer’s declared temperature, humidity and vibration ranges. That matters because the system must work under the actual conditions of the protected space, not just in ideal test conditions.

Commissioning and acceptance

Clause 8 requires enclosure checks, review of design calculations, review of mechanical and electrical components, preliminary functional tests and a system functional operational test. It also covers remote monitoring, control panel power supply checks, and completion documentation.

For the user, this is the point where the installed system is confirmed against the approved design before it is put into service.

Inspection, maintenance and training

Clause 9 requires regular inspection, maintenance and training for people who inspect, test, maintain or operate the system. It also requires record keeping, visual checks of aerosol generator assemblies and checks on enclosure integrity and pressure relief devices.

This is important because aerosol systems can be disabled by tampering, leakage, expiry or damaged components even when they were originally installed correctly.

What terms does ISO 15779:2026 define?

• condensed aerosol - An extinguishing medium of very fine solid particles suspended in gas and generated by combustion of a solid aerosol-forming compound.
• aerosol generator - A non-pressurized container that produces the condensed aerosol extinguishing agent when activated.
• design application density - The extinguishing density multiplied by the safety factor, used as the design value.
• extinguishing density - The minimum mass of discharged agent per unit enclosure volume needed to extinguish a fire under defined test conditions.
• hold time - The period during which the agent must keep at least the extinguishing density throughout the protected volume.
• system discharge time - The time from the first generator activation until the last generator finishes discharging for the protected volume.
• total flooding system - A firefighting system arranged to discharge extinguishant into an enclosed space to reach the required design application density.
• system isolate switch - A manual switch that prevents electrical actuation of the generators and gives an alarm of system isolation.

Who uses ISO 15779:2026?

ISO 15779:2026 is used by fire protection engineers, system designers, installers, commissioning technicians, maintenance contractors, manufacturers and approval authorities. It is also relevant to building owners and users who are responsible for operation and for keeping performance consistent with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Typical applications include electrical and electronic equipment rooms, telecommunications facilities and flammable or combustible liquid hazards in enclosed spaces. It is also used by test and certification organizations that evaluate generator performance, marking and environmental resistance.

What changed in ISO 15779:2026 from the previous edition?

ISO 15779:2026 is the second edition and replaces ISO 15779:2011. The changes stated in the document are:

• a requirement was added for Class B fires concerning the time to reach minimum design density from the start of discharge
• Clause C.12, the impact test, was removed
• the wood crib test preburn time in D.6.1.3.2 was changed from 6 min to 2 min
• figures were updated for clarity
• the bibliography no longer cites ISO 14520-1 and now adds the ATEX Directive reference

Which standards are used with ISO 15779:2026?

• ISO 3941 - Provides the fire classification used throughout the document for Class A and Class B fire references.
• EN 60068-2-6 - Provides the vibration test method used in Annex C for generator vibration resistance.
• EN 60068-2-30 - Provides the damp heat cyclic test method used in Annex C for humidity-related environmental testing.

What does the ISO 15779:2026 document contain?

ISO 15779:2026 contains the full set of clauses needed to specify, test and maintain condensed aerosol fire extinguishing systems, from use limits through to training. Clause 4 covers use and limitations, including activation devices, temperature limits and compatibility with other extinguishants.

Clause 5 covers safety topics such as toxicity, reduced visibility, turbulence, thermal hazards, electrical hazards and earthing, including Table 1 for electrical clearances. Clause 6 sets the concentration framework and generator marking requirements.

Clause 7 gives the design and approval framework, including enclosure venting, total flooding quantity, leakage, generator sizing, hold time, discharge, detection and alarms. Clause 8 covers commissioning and acceptance tests, while Clause 9 covers inspection, maintenance, testing and training.

Annex B gives guidance on toxicity and visibility assessment, including a flowchart, a visibility table and a visual-range formula. Annex C provides the generator test methods, and Annex D gives detailed fire test arrangements, instrumentation layouts, and procedures for distribution verification, extinguishing density and hold time determination.

International
Standard
ISO 15779
Second edition
Condensed aerosol fire
2026-08
extinguishing systems —
Requirements and test methods
for components and system design,
installation and maintenance —
General requirements
Systèmes d'extinction d'incendie utilisant des aérosols —
Exigences et méthodes d'essai pour la conception des composants
et des systèmes, l'installation et l'entretien — Exigences générales
Reference number
© ISO 2026
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .vi
Introduction .vii
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Use and limitations . 5
4.1 General .5
4.2 Aerosol agent description .5
4.2.1 Condensed aerosol .5
4.2.2 Physical characteristics .6
4.2.3 Extinguishing mechanism .6
4.3 Application .6
4.4 Activation device .6
4.4.1 General .6
4.4.2 Electrical activation device.6
4.4.3 Thermal activation device .6
4.4.4 Other methods of activation device .7
4.5 Limitation of use .7
4.6 Electrostatic discharge .7
4.7 Potentially explosive atmosphere .7
4.8 Temperature limitations .7
4.9 Compatibility with other extinguishants .8
4.10 Environment .8
5 Safety . 8
5.1 General .8
5.2 Toxicity .8
5.2.1 General .8
5.2.2 Condensed aerosols .8
5.3 Reduced visibility .9
5.3.1 General .9
5.3.2 Safety precautions .9
5.4 Turbulence .9
5.5 Thermal hazards . .9
5.5.1 Minimum thermal clearance .9
5.5.2 Removal of discharged generators .9
5.5.3 Hot work .10
5.5.4 Casing temperatures for condensed aerosol generators .10
5.6 Safety precautions .10
5.6.1 General .10
5.6.2 Specific requirements .10
5.7 Electrical hazards .11
5.8 Electrical earthing .11
5.9 Electrostatic discharge .11
6 Extinguishant concentrations .11
6.1 General .11
6.2 Design application density requirements . 12
6.2.1 Fire classification . 12
6.2.2 Class B fire. 12
6.2.3 Class A solid burning surface fire. 12
6.2.4 EDP (electronic data processing) rooms, telecommunication and electronic risks . 12
6.3 Aerosol generator performance requirements . 13
6.3.1 Distribution coverage . 13
6.3.2 Effective discharge . 13

iii
6.3.3 Ambient temperature and humidity operation range . 13
6.3.4 Service life . 13
6.3.5 Vibration and shock resistance . 13
6.3.6 Corrosion . 13
6.3.7 Drop impact . 13
6.3.8 Actuation element . 13
6.3.9 Exposure to fire . .14
6.4 Marking .14
7 Specifications, plans and approvals . 14
7.1 Specifications .14
7.2 Enclosure .14
7.2.1 Venting and structural strength .14
7.2.2 Loss of extinguishant to adjacent hazards . 15
7.2.3 Forced-air ventilating systems . 15
7.2.4 Venting requirements . 15
7.3 Total flooding quantity . 15
7.3.1 General . 15
7.3.2 Safety factor .16
7.4 Design application density adjustment .16
7.4.1 Effects of altitude and temperature .16
7.4.2 Effects of ventilation .16
7.4.3 Compensation for leakage through enclosure openings .17
7.5 Unit size and quantity of aerosol generators .17
7.5.1 Maximum or minimum protected height limitations.17
7.5.2 Minimum thermal clearance .17
7.5.3 Several smaller units versus few large units .17
7.5.4 Mounting locations .17
7.5.5 Quantity of aerosol generators .17
7.5.6 Multiple generator systems .18
7.6 Operating conditions .18
7.7 Duration of protection .18
7.8 System discharge .19
7.8.1 Discharge time .19
7.8.2 Effectiveness of discharge .19
7.8.3 Thermal clearance .19
7.8.4 Extended discharge .19
7.9 Detection, actuation and control systems .19
7.9.1 General .19
7.9.2 Automatic detection .19
7.9.3 Operating devices . 20
7.9.4 Electric control equipment . . 20
7.9.5 Operating alarm indicators . 20
7.9.6 System isolate switch .21
8 Commissioning and acceptance .21
8.1 General .21
8.2 Tests .21
8.2.1 General .21
8.2.2 Enclosure check .21
8.2.3 Review of design calculations . 22
8.2.4 Review of the mechanical components of condensed aerosol generators . 22
8.2.5 Review of electrical components . 23
8.2.6 Preliminary functional tests .24
8.2.7 System functional operational test .24
8.2.8 Remote monitoring operations .24
8.2.9 Control panel primary power source .24
8.2.10 Completion of functional tests . 25
8.2.11 Completion certificate and documentation . 25

iv
9 Inspection, maintenance, testing and training .25
9.1 General . 25
9.2 Inspection . 25
9.2.1 General . 25
9.2.2 Enclosures . 26
9.3 Maintenance . 26
9.3.1 General . 26
9.3.2 User's programme of inspection . 26
9.3.3 Service schedule .27
9.4 Training .27
Annex A (normative) Documentation requirements .28
Annex B (informative) Toxicity and visibility testing .29
Annex C (normative) Test methods.35
Annex D (normative) Extinguishing density/Coverage test procedure .44
Bibliography .71

v
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 21, Equipment for fire protection and fire
fighting, Subcommittee SC 8, Gaseous media and firefighting systems using gas.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 15779:2011), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— in 6.2.2 and 7.8.1, a requirement concerning the time taken to reach minimum design density from the
beginning of discharge has been added for Class B fires;
— Clause C.12, Impact test, has been removed;
— in D.6.1.3.2, Wood crib test, the total preburn time has been changed from 6 min to 2 min;
— figures have been updated to improve clarity;
— in the Bibliography, the reference to ISO 14520-1 has been removed and a reference to ATEX Directive
has been added.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

vi
Introduction
The firefighting systems covered in this document are designed to provide a supply of condensed aerosol
extinguishing medium for the extinction of fire.
Several different methods for supplying condensed aerosol extinguishant to, and applying it at, the
required point of discharge for fire extinction have been developed in recent years, and there is a need for
dissemination of information on established systems and methods. This document has been prepared to
meet this need.
The requirements of this document are made in the light of the best technical data known to the working
group at the time of writing but, since a wide field is covered, it has been impracticable to consider every
possible factor or circumstance that can potentially affect implementation of the recommendations.
It has been assumed in the preparation of this document that the execution of its provisions is entrusted to
people appropriately qualified and experienced in the specification, design, installation, testing, approval,
inspection, operation and maintenance of systems and equipment, for whose guidance it has been prepared,
and who can be expected to exercise a duty of care to avoid unnecessary release of extinguishant.
It is important that the fire protection of a building or plant be considered as a whole. Condensed aerosol
extinguishing systems form only a part, albeit an important part, of the available facilities. Their adoption
does not remove the need to consider supplementary measures, such as the provision of portable fire
extinguishers or other mobile appliances for first aid or emergency use, or to deal with special hazards.
For many years, condensed aerosol extinguishants have been a recognized effective medium for the
extinction of flammable liquid fires and fires in the presence of electrical and ordinary Class A hazards.
However, it is important to note in the planning of comprehensive schemes that there can be hazards for
which these mediums are not suitable, and in certain circumstances or situations there can be dangers in
their use requiring special precautions.
Advice on these matters can be obtained from the appropriate manufacturer of either the extinguishant
or the extinguishing system, or both. Information can also be sought from the appropriate fire authority,
the health and safety authorities and insurers. In addition, reference should be made as necessary to other
national standards and statutory regulations of the particular country.

vii
International Standard ISO 15779:2026(en)
Condensed aerosol fire extinguishing systems —
Requirements and test methods for components and
system design, installation and maintenance — General
requirements
1 Scope
This document specifies the requirements and test methods for components of condensed aerosol
firefighting systems. It gives recommendations for the design, installation, testing, maintenance and safety
of these systems, as well as their application in buildings, plants or other structures. The characteristics
of the extinguishants in the condensed aerosol firefighting systems are also specified, as well as the types
of fire for which they are a suitable extinguishing medium. This document covers total flooding systems
primarily related to buildings, plants and other specific applications, utilizing electrically non-conducting
condensed aerosol fire extinguishants for which there are sufficient data currently available to enable
validation of performance characteristics by an appropriate independent authority.
Local applications of condensed aerosol extinguishing systems are not covered by this document. Any local
applications require a pre-engineered and pre-designed system which has been tested and approved for a
specific application by a relevant authority.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 3941, Classification of fires
EN 60068-2-6, Environmental testing — Part 2-6: Tests — Test Fc: Vibration (sinusoidal)
EN 60068-2-30, Environmental testing — Part 2-30: Tests — Test Db and guidance: Damp heat, cyclic (12 h +
12 h cycle)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
aerosol generator
non-pressurized container that, when activated, generates a condensed aerosol (3.7) extinguishing agent
3.2
aerosol generator assembly
aerosol generator (3.1) with its mounting bracket

3.3
approved
acceptable to a relevant authority (3.4)
Note 1 to entry: In determining the acceptability of installations or procedures, equipment or materials, the authority
can base acceptance on conformance to the appropriate standards.
3.4
authority
organization, office or individual responsible for approving equipment, installations or procedures
3.5
automatic
performing a function without the necessity of intentional human intervention
3.6
competent person
person who is suitably trained, qualified by knowledge and practical experience, and with the necessary
instructions to enable the required system design, installation and maintenance
3.7
condensed aerosol
aerosol extinguishing agent
extinguishant
extinguishing medium consisting of finely divided solid particles, generally in the order of magnitude of
microns in diameter suspended in gas which is generated and distributed by a combustion process of a solid
aerosol-forming compound
3.8
coolant
heat-absorbing medium or process
3.9
design application density
extinguishing density multiplied by the safety factor, required for system design purposes
Note 1 to entry: Extinguishing density is the actual concentration of aerosol in the test room.
Note 2 to entry: The extinguishing density and the design application density are expressed in g/m .
3.10
discharge time
time from the generator activation until the end of its discharge
Note 1 to entry: Measured in s.
Note 2 to entry: The end of discharge is determined by the drop of the temperature (primary), sound (secondary) and
visual indication if possible.
3.11
effective mass
mass of discharged extinguishant required to achieve the design application density within the protected
volume within the specified system discharge time
3.12
electrical activation device
device which automatically operates via an electrical input and is arranged to initiate the aerosol-forming
compound (3.34).
3.13
electrical clearance
unobstructed air distance between the aerosol generator (3.1) components and unenclosed or uninsulated
live electrical components not at ground potential
3.14
emergency hold device
device that prevents the electrical actuation (3.12) of aerosol generators (3.1)
3.15
extinguishing density
effective minimum mass of discharged extinguishant per unit of enclosure volume required to extinguish
fire involving a specific fuel under defined experimental conditions, using a specific aerosol generator (3.1)
type and size, excluding any safety factor
Note 1 to entry: Measured in g/m .
3.16
family of condensed aerosol generators
range of aerosol generators (3.1) designed with the same solid compound, the same kind of cooling device,
discharge outlet, ignition device, layout and internal/external architecture, with variation in the mass of the
solid compound
3.17
hold time
period of time during which an extinguishant is required to maintain at least the extinguishing density to
ensure even distribution throughout the protected volume
3.18
hot work
grinding, welding, thermal cutting, oxygen cutting, thermal heating, oxygen heating and other related heat-
producing or spark-producing operations
3.19
ignition device
device that is able to ignite the solid aerosol-forming compound (3.34)
3.20
inspection
visual examination to give reasonable assurance that the extinguishing system is fully operable and has
not been activated or tampered with, and that there is no obvious physical damage or condition to prevent
operation
3.21
listed
systems or components that are included in a list published by a listing organization
3.22
listing organization
internationally recognized fire protection system or components test and certification organization
3.23
location drawing
layout diagram of protected volume clearly indicating the as-installed location of all aerosol generator
assemblies (3.2), controls, system isolate switch (3.36), emergency hold device (3.14), and associated
components of the firefighting system

3.24
maintenance
thorough check to give maximum assurance that the extinguishing system will operate as intended
Note 1 to entry: Maintenance includes a thorough examination and any necessary repair or replacement of system
components.
3.25
manual
requiring intentional intervention to accomplish a function
3.26
manufacturer
entity that manufactures a product or has a product designed or manufactured, and markets that product
under its name or trademark
3.27
mass median aerodynamic diameter
MMAD
particle size and distribution of any aerosol statistically, based on the weight and size of the particle, along
with the geometric standard deviation
3.28
monitoring
supervision of the operating integrity of an electrical, mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic control feature of
a system
3.29
normally occupied area
area that is occupied by persons, under normal circumstances
3.30
normally unoccupied area
area not normally occupied by people, but which may be entered occasionally for brief periods
3.31
particulate concentration
concentration of the solid fraction of the aerosol in the protected space after system discharge at the design
application density
Note 1 to entry: Measured in g/m .
Note 2 to entry: This information is necessary to assess the potential health effects of accidental exposure to the agent
and the potential degree of visibility obscuration.
3.32
release
physical discharge or emission of extinguishant as a consequence of the aerosol generator’s actuation
3.33
safety factor
multiplier of the extinguishing density to determine the aerosol design application density
3.34
solid aerosol-forming compound
mixture of oxidant, combustible component and technical admixtures producing fire-extinguishing aerosol
upon ignition
3.35
system discharge time
time from the first generator activation until the end of the last generator discharge time to achieve the
design application density within the protected volume
Note 1 to entry: This time measurement is relevant to an extinguishing system of interconnected aerosol generators
(3.1) intended to protect the same hazard.
3.36
system isolate switch
key-operated or dual mode switch manual device that prevents the electrical actuation (3.12) of aerosol
generators by electrically isolating them from the released circuit
Note 1 to entry: The actuation of this device provides an indication of system isolation and shall result in an audible
and visual alarm of system impairment at the control panel.
Note 2 to entry: The intention is to prevent the discharge of agent into the hazard area when the system isolation
switch device is activated.
3.37
thermal activation device
device which automatically operates at a rated temperature and is arranged for the activation of the solid
aerosol-forming compound (3.34)
3.38
thermal clearance
minimum air distance between both a condensed aerosol (3.1) generator surface and its discharge ports and
either personnel, any structure or components sensitive to the temperature developed by the generator
during and following discharge
3.39
total flooding system
firefighting system arranged to discharge extinguishant into an enclosed space to achieve the appropriate
design application density
3.40
unoccupiable area
area which cannot be occupied due to dimensional or other physical constrains
EXAMPLE Shallow voids or cabinets.
3.41
user
entity for whom the system is designed, and who is responsible for operation and for ensuring the consistency
of performance as described by the manufacturer and for following the legal regulation
4 Use and limitations
4.1 General
The design, installation, testing and maintenance of aerosol fire-extinguishing systems shall be performed
by persons competent in this fire extinguishing system technology.
4.2 Aerosol agent description
4.2.1 Condensed aerosol
Condensed aerosol is an extinguishant consisting of finely divided solid particles, typically based on alkali
metal salts, and gases mainly comprised of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and water vapour.

Condensed aerosol is self-generated by a combustion process of a solid aerosol-forming compound contained
in a non-pressurized can, an aerosol generator. Aerosol generators also contain one or more actuation
device(s) designed to ignite the aerosol-forming compound and can have various cooling arrangements to
cool the aerosol prior to its release into a protected volume. The aerosol generating combustion process
provides sufficient energy for a rapid discharge rate and efficient distribution of the aerosol. No stored
propelling gas is required for the aerosol delivery. An aerosol generator has one or more discharge outlets
and is normally placed inside the protected risk area. No piping is required.
4.2.2 Physical characteristics
Aerosols are electrically non-conductive media, which are suspended in the air in the protected volume.
Being a suspension of fine solid particles in a gaseous medium, the aerosol is not a clean agent. Following
the actuation of an aerosol generator, there is a period of time during which the aerosol remains suspended
within the enclosure; if the enclosure is not ventilated, the aerosol suspension will eventually settle down,
forming a dust-like residue.
4.2.3 Extinguishing mechanism
Condensed aerosols extinguish fires chemically, interfering with the flame chain reaction by chemically
bonding to the reactive free radicals and physically, by cooling the seat of the fire. Both actions take place
mainly on the surface of the aerosol particles, and as such, the finer the particles the more efficient the
extinguishment.
4.3 Application
Aerosol extinguishants have been recognized as an effective media for the extinguishing of surface type
Class A fires and Class B fires, as specified in ISO 3941. The hazards against which these systems offer
protection, and any limitations on their use, shall be contained in the system manufacturer’s design manual.
Total flooding fire-extinguishing systems are used primarily for protection against hazards located in
enclosures or hazards with equipment that in
...