oSIST prEN 14972-21:2026

Fixed firefighting systems – Water mist systems – Part 21: Test protocol for residential occupancies for electronically operated targeting nozzles

This document specifies fire testing requirements for water mist systems using wall mounted, electronically operated targeting nozzles for fire protection of domestic and residential occupancies up to a maximum ceiling height of 7,3 m.
EXAMPLE Examples for residential occupancies are family dwelling/house, bed and breakfast, apartment buildings, blocks of flats, care homes, small hotels or hostels, and residential areas in hotel bedrooms and guest corridors.
NOTE Some countries can have a national annex with guidance on the maximum height of the building, minimum design area and any additional requirements.

Ortsfeste Brandbekämpfungsanlagen – Wassernebelsysteme – Teil 21: Prüfprotokoll für Wohnbelegungen für elektronisch gesteuerte Zieldüsen

Dieses Dokument legt Anforderungen an Brandprüfungen für Wassernebelsysteme fest, die wandmontierte, elektronisch gesteuerte Zieldüsen für den Brandschutz von Wohnraum und Wohnbelegungen bis zu einer maximalen Deckenhöhe von 7,3m nutzen.
BEISPIEL Beispiele für Wohnbelegungen sind Einfamilienhäuser, Gästehäuser, Wohnanlagen, Mehrfamilienhäuser, Pfle
geheime, kleine Hotels oder Jugendherbergen und Wohnbereiche in Hotelzimmern und Gästeflure.
ANMERKUNG Für einige Länder kann ein nationaler Anhang gelten, der Leitlinien zur maximalen Gebäudehöhe, zur Mindestauslegungsfläche und sämtliche zusätzlichen Anforderungen enthält.

EN 14972-21 Installations fixes de lutte contre l’incendie – Systèmes à brouillard d’eau – Partie 21: Protocol d’essai des systèmes à les buses de ciblage à commande électronique pour locaux rèsidentiels

Vgrajeni gasilni sistemi - Sistemi s pršečo vodo - 21. del: Protokol preskušanja elektronsko krmiljenih usmerjevalnih šob za stanovanjske prostore

Ta dokument določa zahteve za požarno testiranje sistemov z vodno meglo, ki uporabljajo na steno nameščene, elektronsko upravljane ciljne šobe za požarno zaščito v stanovanjskih in bivalnih prostorih z največjo višino stropa 7,3 m.
PRIMER Primeri stanovanjskih prostorov vključujejo družinske hiše, prenočišča z zajtrkom, stanovanjske zgradbe, bloke stanovanj, domove za nego, majhne hotele ali hostle ter stanovanjske površine v hotelskih sobah in gostinskih hodnikih.
OPOMBA Nekatere države lahko imajo nacionalni dodatek z navodili o največji višini zgradbe, minimalni projektni površini in morebitnih dodatnih zahtevah.

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 09-Sep-2026
• ICS: 13.220.10 - Fire-fighting
• ICS: 13.220.20 - Fire protection
• Technical Committee: POZ - Požarna varnost
• Current Stage: 4020 - Public enquire (PE) (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 30-Jun-2026
• Due Date: 17-Nov-2026
• Ref Project: prEN 14972-21 - Fixed firefighting systems – Water mist systems – Part 21: Test protocol for residential occupancies for electronically operated targeting nozzles

Overview

oSIST prEN 14972-21:2026 sets out the fire testing requirements for water mist systems equipped with wall-mounted, electronically operated targeting nozzles, specifically designed for residential and domestic occupancies. Developed by SIST, the standard covers occupancies with ceiling heights up to a maximum of 7.3 meters. Typical applications include family homes, apartments, care facilities, guest accommodations such as bed and breakfasts, small hotels, hostels, and residential areas within hotels.

The document ensures that water mist systems using advanced targeting technology are rigorously tested for effectiveness and reliability in typical home and multi-family residential environments. This approach enhances safety and provides a framework for consistent performance assessment throughout Europe.

Key Topics

• Scope and Purpose

  • Targets water mist systems for domestic and residential buildings up to 7.3 m ceiling height.
  • Focuses on systems with electronically controlled nozzles for rapid fire suppression.
  • Recognizes regional deviations, as some countries may provide additional national guidance.

• Test Protocols

  • Fire tests with specific fuel packages such as fabricated sofa, corner fires, and cooking oil are used to simulate realistic residential scenarios.
  • Protocols require systematic arrangement of ignition sources, fuel loads, and nozzle activations in both small and large test rooms.
  • Includes temperature monitoring at set locations to verify system performance.

• Performance Criteria

  • Systems must demonstrate suppression of test fires for a 30-minute period or until extinguishment.
  • Strict temperature limits are set for critical room zones to ensure occupant safety.
  • Systems must be capable of targeting and suppressing fire using only the required number of nozzles, optimizing water usage.

• Reporting and Documentation

  • Comprehensive reporting formats are defined to provide consistent and audit-ready test results.
  • Requires compliance with EN 14972-1 on documentation practices.

Applications

Practical utility of oSIST prEN 14972-21:2026 centers on the selection, certification, and installation of water mist systems in:

• Family dwellings and single-family houses: Ensures fire protection solutions are suited to household layouts and hazards.
• Apartment buildings and blocks of flats: Supports safe and scalable suppression system deployment in multi-unit residential structures.
• Care homes and residential care facilities: Safeguards vulnerable occupants by requiring effective and reliable detection/response.
• Small hotels, hostels, and bed & breakfasts: Aligns with the needs of lodging environments with residential characteristics and moderate ceiling heights.
• Hotel bedrooms and guest corridors: Ensures tailored coverage for accommodation areas within larger complexes.

Installers, manufacturers, fire safety engineers, and building operators use this standard to verify that the latest electronically operated targeting nozzle systems achieve compliance, offering both effective fire protection and water efficiency.

Related Standards

• EN 14972-1: Design, installation, inspection, and maintenance rules for water mist systems (essential for full system implementation).
• EN 14972-17: Test protocol for residential occupancies using automatic (non-targeting) nozzle systems.
• ISO 5660-1: Reaction-to-fire tests for evaluating material fire characteristics.
• UL 723: Test for surface burning characteristics of building materials.
• EN 520: Requirements and methods for gypsum plasterboards used in construction and fire testing.
• Other EN 14972 Parts: Covering commercial areas, industrial equipment, machinery spaces, and more, supporting comprehensive water mist fire protection strategies.

oSIST prEN 14972-21:2026 is a key reference for bringing innovative water mist fire protection with electronically operated targeting nozzles to the European residential and domestic property market, promoting occupant safety and advancing fire protection technology.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2026
Vgrajeni gasilni sistemi - Sistemi s pršečo vodo - 21. del: Protokol preskušanja
elektronsko krmiljenih usmerjevalnih šob za stanovanjske prostore
Fixed firefighting systems – Water mist systems – Part 21: Test protocol for residential
occupancies for electronically operated targeting nozzles
Ortsfeste Brandbekämpfungsanlagen – Wassernebelsysteme – Teil 21: Prüfprotokoll für
Wohnbelegungen für elektronisch gesteuerte Zieldüsen
EN 14972-21 Installations fixes de lutte contre l’incendie – Systèmes à brouillard d’eau –
Partie 21: Protocol d’essai des systèmes à les buses de ciblage à commande
électronique pour locaux rèsidentiels
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 14972-21
ICS:
13.220.10 Gašenje požara Fire-fighting
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
June 2026
ICS 13.220.20
English Version
Fixed firefighting systems - Water mist systems - Part 21:
Test protocol for residential occupancies for electronically
operated targeting nozzles
EN 14972-21 Installations fixes de lutte contre Ortsfeste Brandbekämpfungsanlagen -
l'incendie - Systèmes à brouillard d'eau - Partie 21: Wassernebelsysteme - Teil 21: Prüfprotokoll für
Protocol d'essai des systèmes à les buses de ciblage à Wohnbelegungen für elektronisch gesteuerte
commande électronique pour locaux rèsidentiels Zieldüsen
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 191.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.

This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 14972-21:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 4
4 General requirements . 4
4.1 General. 4
4.2 Fire test categories . 5
5 Fuel packages . 6
5.1 Ignition packages . 6
5.1.1 Ignition package for fuel package A . 6
5.1.2 Ignition package for fuel package B . 6
5.2 Fuel packages . 6
5.2.1 Fabricated sofa fuel package A . 6
5.2.2 Corner fire fuel package B . 10
5.2.3 Cooking oil fuel package C . 12
6 Test arrangements . 13
6.1 General. 13
6.2 Room configurations . 14
6.3 Temperature measurement locations in room . 16
6.4 Fuel package arrangements and nozzle positions in test rooms . 17
7 Fire tests . 25
8 Pass/fail criteria . 26
9 Test report . 27
Bibliography . 28
European foreword
This document (prEN 14972-21:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 191 “Fixed
firefighting systems”, the secretariat of which is held by BSI.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
EN 14972, Fixed firefighting systems — Water mist systems, consists of the following parts:
— Part 1: Design, installation, inspection and maintenance;
— Part 2: Test protocol for shopping areas for automatic nozzle systems;
— Part 3: Test protocol for office, school class rooms and hotel for automatic nozzle systems;
— Part 4: Test protocol for non-storage occupancies for automatic nozzle systems;
— Part 5: Test protocol for car garages for automatic nozzle systems;
— Part 6: Test protocol for false floors and false ceilings for automatic nozzle systems;
— Part 7: Test protocol for commercial low hazard occupancies for automatic nozzle systems;
— Part 8: Test protocol for machinery in enclosures exceeding 260 m for open nozzle systems;
— Part 9: Test protocol for machinery in enclosures not exceeding 260 m for open nozzle systems;
— Part 10: Test protocol for atrium protection with sidewall nozzles for open nozzle systems;
— Part 11: Test protocol for cable tunnels for open nozzle systems;
— Part 12: Test protocol for commercial deep fat cooking fryers for manually activated open nozzle
systems;
— Part 13: Test protocol for wet benches and other similar processing equipment for open nozzle systems;
— Part 14: Test protocol for combustion turbines in enclosures exceeding 260 m for open nozzle systems;
— Part 15: Test protocol for combustion turbines in enclosures not exceeding 260 m for open nozzle
systems;
— Part 16: Test protocol for industrial oil cookers for open nozzle systems;
— Part 17: Test protocol for residential occupancies for automatic nozzle systems;
— Part 18: Test protocol for local application involving flammable liquid fires for open nozzle systems;
— Part 19: Test protocol for areas with combustible flammable liquids for open nozzle systems;
— Part 20: Test protocol for data processing areas for automatic nozzle systems;
— Part 21: Test protocol for residential occupancies for electronically operated targeting nozzles.
1 Scope
This document specifies fire testing requirements for water mist systems using wall mounted,
electronically operated targeting nozzles for fire protection of domestic and residential occupancies up
to a maximum ceiling height of 7,3 m.
EXAMPLE Examples for residential occupancies are family dwelling/house, bed and breakfast, apartment
buildings, blocks of flats, care homes, small hotels or hostels, and residential areas in hotel bedrooms and guest
corridors.
NOTE Some countries can have a national annex with guidance on the maximum height of the building,
minimum design area and any additional requirements.
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.
EN 520:2004+A1:2009, Gypsum plasterboards — Definitions, requirements and test methods
EN 14972-1:2020+A1:2025, Fixed firefighting systems — Water mist systems — Part 1: Design,
installation, inspection and maintenance
ISO 5660-1, Reaction-to-fire tests — Heat release, smoke production and mass loss rate — Part 1: Heat
release rate (cone calorimeter method) and smoke production rate (dynamic measurement)
UL 723, Standard for Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN 14972-1 and the following 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
electronically operated targeting nozzle
nozzle utilizing one or more sensors to determine whether there is a fire and its location and discharges
water mist only at the direction of the fire
4 General requirements
4.1 General
Up to a maximum of 5 nozzles used in the fire tests shall be kept for later verification.
A system which utilizes electronically operated targeting nozzles relies on an algorithm to read data from
sensors integral to the fire suppression system to determine the probability and location of a fire. Only
once the nozzle has pointed at the seat of the fire is the water discharged from the nozzle. The fire tests
in this test protocol include a corner fire test, and also tests the potential failure modes of a horizontal
targeted discharge, such as its interaction with an oil pan fire and the risk of a travelling fire overcoming
the targeted discharge.
The system can be either a wet or dry pipe water mist system. For a dry pipe system the discharge delay
of an installed system shall be considered, as detailed in Clause 7.
The nozzles shall be wall mounted, electronically operated targeting nozzles.
Wall mounted nozzles shall have their height specified below the ceiling or above the floor in accordance
with the installation instructions.
4.2 Fire test categories
Fire tests are specified in Clause 7.
Room testing shall be carried out for all nozzle systems with the following fuel packages:
a) Fuel package A: Fabricated sofa, 5 tests;
b) Fuel package B: Corner fire, 6 tests;
c) Fuel package C: Cooking oil, 2 tests.
The fire test that shall be carried out for each fuel package is specified in Table 1. For four of the fire tests
the fuel package is determined by the test results of previous tests in Table 1.
Table 1 — Fire test series
Test Fuel package Location of fire in regards Nozzle Room
No. to the nozzle obstructed? size
1 Fabricated sofa with combustible Far wall – see Figure 9 No Small
wall (A)
2 Fabricated sofa with combustible Near wall – see Figure 9 No Small
wall (A)
3 Fabricated sofa with combustible Near wall – see Figure 10 No Small
wall (A)
4 Corner fire (B) Far corner – see Figure 11 No Small
5 Corner fire (B) Near corner – see Figure 11 No Small
6 Same as Test No. 4 with drapes in Far corner – see Figure 12 No Small
lieu of plywood walls (B)
7 Same as Test No. 5 with drapes in Near corner – see Figure 12 No Small
lieu of plywood walls (B)
8 Cooking oil (C) Near wall – see Figure 13 No Small
9 Cooking oil (C) Far wall – see Figure 13 No Small
10 Fire considered to be closest to Far wall or corner – Yes Small
failure from Test No. 1 to Test obstruction near nozzle
No. 7
11 Fire considered to be closest to Near wall of corner – Yes Small
failure from Test No. 1 to Test obstruction near nozzle
No. 7
12 Fire considered to be closest to Far wall or corner – Yes Small
failure from Test No. 1 to Test obstruction near fuel
No. 7 package
Test Fuel package Location of fire in regards Nozzle Room
No. to the nozzle obstructed? size
13 Fire considered to be closest to Near wall or corner – Yes Small
failure from Test No. 1 to Test obstruction near fuel
No. 7 package
14 Fabricated sofa with combustible See Figure 14 No Large
wall (A)
15 Corner fire (B) See Figure 15 No Large
16 Fabricated sofa with combustible See Figure 16 Yes Large
wall (A)
17 Corner fire (B) See Figure 17 Yes Large
5 Fuel packages
5.1 Ignition packages
5.1.1 Ignition package for fuel package A
The ignition package consists of a nominal 75 mm diameter, 152 m long cellulosic bundle, wrapped in a
polyethylene bag with 118 ml of gasoline. The ignition package shall be centrally located 254 mm away
from the leading edge of the couch, and positioned on a fire brick (see Figure 4).
5.1.2 Ignition package for fuel package B
The ignition package consists of a square tray of internal dimensions 300 mm × 300 mm × 100 mm deep,
made from 12-gauge steel containing 200 ml of commercial grade heptane floated on water of 25 mm
minimum depth.
The fire source shall consist of a wood crib and simulated furniture. The wood crib shall be ignited with
a pan of heptane and the simulated furniture shall be ignited with two 15 cm long by 6,4 mm diameter
cotton wicks soaked in heptane.
The wood crib shall weigh (2,5 to 3,2) kg and shall be dimensioned 305 mm × 305 mm × 152 mm high.
The crib shall consist of four alternate layers of four trade size 38 mm × 38 mm cross section kiln-dried
spruce or fir lumber each 305 mm long. The alternate layers of the lumber shall be placed at right angles
to the adjacent layers. The individual wood members in each layer shall be evenly spaced along the length
of the previous layer of wood members and stapled.
After the wood crib is assembled, it shall be conditioned at a temperature of (104 ± 5) °C for not less than
24 h or more than 72 h. Following the conditioning, the crib shall be placed in a plastic bag and stored at
room temperature for at least 4 h before being used in a test. The wood crib shall be placed on top of a
nominal 300 mm × 300 mm × 100 mm high, 2,5 mm thick, steel test pan positioned on the floor near a
corner of the test enclosure. The wood crib shall be positioned 50 mm from each wall.
5.2 Fuel packages
5.2.1 Fabricated sofa fuel package A
The fabricated sofa fuel package shall be constructed using a steel frame with two pieces of polyurethane
foam as seat and back cushions and three polyester fibre loose-fill pillows (see Figure 1). A diagram of
the steel frame and dimensions is given in Figure 2 and Figure 3. The steel frame shall consist of two
pieces constructed of nominal 25 mm rectangular solid stock or hollow stock with a nominal wall
thickness of not less than 3 mm. The backrest frame shall be bolted at a 60° angle to the base frame as
shown in Figure 3.
The seat cushion shall consist of a polyurethane foam having nominal dimensions 1 829 mm long by
660 mm deep by 203 mm thick. The back cushion shall consist of the same polyurethane foam with
nominal dimensions 1 829 mm long by 610 mm deep by 203 mm thick. The back cushions shall be held
in place by two metallic retention holders located on the top of backrest. The polyurethane foam pieces
3 3
shall be pure polypropylene oxide polyol, polyether foam having a density of 27,4 kg/m to 30,4 kg/m .
Each polyurethane foam piece shall be wrapped in a flat-black, 100 % polyester fibre fabric such that the
top, bottom, and front of the foam slab is covered by a single layer of fabric. The front and sides of the
foam may have overlapping fabric to ensure form-fitting coverage of the entire foam piece by the fabric.
Steel safety pins shall be used to hold the fabric seams together. The fabric shall have a nominal area
density of (225 to 259) g/m .
Three pillows shall be placed evenly and secured against the backrest of the simulated sofa using a thin
gauge wire between the armrests of the sofa and across the front of the pillows. Each pillow shall consist
of nominally 2,27 kg of 100 % polyester loose fibrefill held within a pouch of the same 100 % flat-black
polyester fibre previously specified. The fabric pouch consists of two 762 mm × 1 016 mm rectangles of
fabric held together around the edges by steel safety pins. The safety pins shall be spaced to not allow the
loose fill to project outward. When filled with fibrefill, the pillows have dimensions of approximately
610 mm × 864 mm.
A 1 829 mm × 254 mm board of 6,4 mm plywood shall be bolted to the front legs of the frame to form a
shield as shown in Figure 1. The bolt holes shall be as shown in Figure 2.
The right side of the sofa fuel package shall have an arm rest with dimensions and mounting as shown in
Figure 4. The armrest shall consist of two sheets of 12,7 mm plywood with nominal dimensions
660 mm × 279 mm and 457 mm × 178 mm. Two nominal 457 mm wide strips of the flat-black 100 %
polyester fabric shall be pulled around the armrest to form the cavity shown in Fi
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