CEN/TC 191 - Fixed firefighting systems

The requirements of this document set out the materials, construction, and performance of components intended for use in fixed foam fire fighting systems, and using foam concentrates conforming to EN 1568-1 to EN 1568-4. The components covered are: proportioners, sprayers, semi-subsurface hose units, branchpipes, low/medium expansion foam generators, high expansion foam generators, foam chambers, tanks and pressure vessels. Methods of test are given in Annex A to Annex K.
Requirements are also given for the provision of the characteristic data needed for correct application of components.
NOTE 1   Unless otherwise stated pressures are gauge pressures expressed in bar.
The requirements of this document do not cover, except where stated, the use of combinations of components to form part, or the whole, of a fire fighting system.
NOTE 2   Components conforming to this document are not necessarily compatible one with another.
Requirements for pumps, motors and the functioning of mechanical components (i.e. remote control turrets) are outside the scope of this document.

This document specifies requirements and gives recommendations for the design, installation, inspection and maintenance of all types of fixed land based water mist systems.
This document is intended to apply to water mist automatic nozzle systems and water mist deluge systems supplied by stand alone or pumped systems.
The document covers only applications and occupancies which are covered by the fire test protocols of the EN 14972 series.
Aspects of water mist associated with explosion protection and/or use within vehicles are not covered by this document.
This document does not cover all legislative requirements. In certain countries specific national regulations apply and take precedence over this document. Users of this document are advised to inform themselves of the applicability or non-applicability for this document by their national responsible authorities.

This document specifies requirements and test methods for spray pattern sprinklers with a k-factor of at least K160, extended coverage (EC) sprinklers of at least K80, extended coverage storage sprinklers of at least K200 and control mode special application (CMSA) sprinklers. This document only covers sprinkler types up to K360.
This document does not apply to concealed, conventional, flat spray, flush and recessed sprinklers.

This document specifies the requirements and describes the test methods for check valves for water mist firefighting systems.
Check valves allow the passage in the direction of flow and they prevent flow in the reverse direction.
This document is applicable to check valves installed in the pipework of water mist firefighting systems.

This document specifies requirements for the design and installation of early suppression fast response (ESFR) and control mode specific application (CMSA) sprinklers in automatic sprinkler systems, in accordance with this standard and additionally the EN 12845 series of standards.
This document does not cover all legislative requirements.
NOTE   In certain countries, specific national regulations can apply. Attention is drawn to the applicability or non-applicability for this document as specified by national responsible authorities.

This document specifies design, assembly, installation and commissioning requirements for pump sets for use in sprinkler systems conforming to EN 12845:2015+A1:2019.
Where applicable, this document can also be used for pump sets for other water based fixed firefighting systems.

This document specifies requirements and gives recommendations for the design, installation, testing, maintenance and safety of gas extinguishing systems in buildings, plants or other structures, and the characteristics of the various extinguishants and types of fire for which they are a suitable extinguishing medium.
This document describes total flooding systems primarily related to buildings, plants and other specific applications, utilizing electrically non-conducting gaseous fire extinguishants that do not leave a residue after discharge and for which there are sufficient data currently available to enable validation of performance and safety characteristics by an appropriate independent authority. This document is not applicable to explosion suppression.
This document is not intended to indicate approval of the extinguishants listed therein by the appropriate authorities, as other extinguishants may be equally acceptable. CO2 is not included as it is covered by its own European standard.
This document is applicable to the extinguishants listed in Table 1. This document is intended to be used in conjunction with the given parts of EN 15004 for fire extinguishing agents in Table 1.
Table 1 - Listed extinguishant
[...table not represented...]

This document specifies the evaluation of the fire performance of water mist systems for non-stacking garages, fully enclosed garages and underground garages.
This document is applicable for horizontal, solid, flat ceilings with heights of 2 m and above.

This document specifies requirements and gives recommendations for the design, installation, testing, maintenance and safety of fixed carbon dioxide firefighting systems in buildings, plants or other structures. It is not applicable to extinguishing systems on ships, in aircraft, on vehicles or on mobile fire appliances, or to below ground systems in the mining industry; nor does it apply to carbon dioxide pre-inerting systems.
Design of systems where unclosable opening(s) of the protected volume exceed a specified area and where the opening(s) can be subject to the effect of wind is not specified, although general guidance on the procedure to be followed in such cases is given (see 7.4.3.2).

This document establishes the minimum requirements applicable to the design, installation, functioning, test and maintenance of fixed automatic fire extinguishing systems for kitchen protection that covers the cooking appliances, the hood, the plenum and the air extract ducts. This document also provides requirements for the construction and components performance as applicable to specific types, designs, sizes and arrangements of pre-engineered kitchen fire-extinguishing systems.
This document does not cover household kitchens or industrial food production equipment.
The detailed test procedures for the plenum and air extract ducts are contained in CEN/TS 17749.
Closed plenum type ventilated ceilings designed similar to standard hoods are included in this document. Open plenum type ventilated ceilings are excluded and require an engineered solution for the plenum protection. Protection for appliances below open or closed plenum ventilated ceilings are included.

This document specifies product characteristics and test methods of open nozzles and automatic nozzles for use in water mist systems.
NOTE   All pressure data in this document are given as gauge pressures in bar.

This document specifies requirements for the construction and performance of residential sprinklers as well as test methods for their type approval, which are operated by a change of state of an element or bursting of a glass bulb under the influence of heat and incorporating the following types of water seals:
—   conical metal spring with a PTFE gasket or coating;
—   metal cap or disc with PTFE gasket or coating;
—   copper gasket, with or without a PTFE coating.
Sprinklers in accordance with this document are only used in automatic sprinkler systems for domestic and residential applications as defined in EN 16925.

This document provides specific requirements for gaseous fire-extinguishing systems with respect to the Halocarbon Blend 55 extinguishant. It includes details of physical properties, specification, usage and safety aspects. It also covers systems operating at nominal pressures of 25 bar, 35 bar, and 42 bar and 50 bar, superpressurized with nitrogen. This document does not preclude the use of other systems.
NOTE   1 bar = 0,1 MPa = 105 Pa; 1 MPa = 1 N/mm2.

This document specifies the evaluation of the fire fighting performance of water mist systems used for fire protection of commercial deep fat cooking fryers.
This document covers the area of the fryer and its close vicinity only and does not include surrounding areas beyond that the system is intended to cover.
This document includes protection of the cooking area, filters, exhaust hood, and duct against fires originating from the fryer.
This document covers only manually operated systems.

This document specifies requirements and test methods for materials, construction and performance of components intended for use in powder firefighting systems complying with EN 12416-2:2001+A1:2007.
The components covered are as follows:
-   powder containers;
-   expellant gas container assemblies;
-   pressure regulators and gauges;
-   actuators;
-   main isolating valves and selector valves;
-   nozzles.
The components are suitable for powder firefighting systems for general use in buildings and other construction works. In areas with a risk of explosion, earthquake zones, extreme environmental conditions, e.g. marine, offshore, mining or aircraft additional considerations apply.
This document covers components for use in powder extinguishing systems complying with EN 12416-2:2001+A1:2007. It does not cover, for example, pipes and fittings which are covered by more general standards for which requirements and recommendations are given in EN 12416-2:2001+A1:2007. Nor does it cover fire detectors or electrical control and indicating equipment.

This document specifies requirements for earthquake protection of automatic sprinkler systems in accordance with EN 12845:2015+A1:2019.
This document applies only to locations in earthquake zones in accordance with EN 1998-1:2004, 3.2.1 and the Nationally Determined Parameters.
NOTE   The requirements in this document are based on the principle that certain peak ground acceleration values are considered as an earthquake which require special means. Attention is drawn to EN 1998-1:2004, where a peak ground acceleration above 0,08 g (0,78 m/s2) is considered an earthquake risk. Additional characteristics, NDP and/or NCI can exist in some countries as well as national annexes.
The principles defined in this document can be applicable to other water based fixed manual or automatic fire fighting systems, according to local requirements.

This document specifies the evaluation of the fire performance of water mist systems for lightly loaded non-storage and non-manufacturing occupancies with ordinary combustibles, such as offices, schools, hospitals and hotels.
This document is applicable to ceiling mounted and sidewall automatic nozzles to be used in restricted and/or unlimited areas.
This document is applicable for horizontal, solid, flat ceilings with heights of 2 m and above, up to the maximum tested ceiling height.

This document specifies requirements for single stage and multi-stage centrifugal pumps with mechanical seal or soft packing for use in automatic sprinkler systems and is for use with EN 12845 and EN 17451 .
This document is applicable for the following pumps, independent of installed orientation (vertical, horizontal or sloped according to the manufacturer indications):
-   end suction pumps (close coupled or long coupled) of the back pull-out type pump;
-   axial horizontal split case pumps;
-   ring section pumps including multistage single or multi outlet;
-   single or multistage inline pumps (pump with inlet and outlet in line);
-   submersible motor borehole pumps.
This document is also applicable to vertical turbine pumps.

This document specifies fire testing requirements for water mist systems used for fire protection of commercial low hazard occupancies up to 5 m ceiling height.

This document specifies the evaluation of the firefighting performance of water mist systems for false ceilings and false floors with heights between 300 mm and 800 mm.
This fire test protocol is applicable to pendent or upright automatic nozzles to be used in unlimited volume.
This document is applicable for horizontal, solid, flat ceilings.
It is not possible to apply these tests to other applications than the ones specified within this fire test protocol.

This document specifies fire testing requirements for water mist systems used for fire protection of cable tunnels. The test protocol covers deluge water mist systems with open nozzles which are either activated with an automatic release system, e.g. fire detection system, or manually released.

This document gives guidelines for fulfilling the requirements contained in ISO 6183:2022, 6.4.1 and 7.4.1 and ISO 14520‑1:2023, 5.2.1 h) and 5.3 h), in respect to over- and under-pressurization venting and post-discharge extract.
It considers the design, selection and installation of vents to safeguard the structural integrity of enclosures protected by fixed gaseous extinguishing systems and the post-discharge venting provisions where used.

This document specifies requirements and test methods for early suppression and fast response (ESFR) sprinklers with a nominal discharge coefficient of 200 (pendent and upright), 240 (pendent and upright), 320 (pendent), 360 (pendent), 400 (pendent) and 480 (pendent) l/min/(bar)1/2.

This document gives calculation methods, guidance and requirements for the design, installation, acceptance testing, routine testing and maintenance for pressure differential systems (PDS).
PDSs are designed to hold back smoke at a leaky physical barrier in a building, such as a door (either open or closed) or other similarly restricted openings and to keep tenable conditions in escape and access routes depending on the application.
It covers systems intended to protect means of escape e.g. staircases, corridors, lobbies, as well as systems intended to provide a protected firefighting space (bridgehead) for the fire services.
It provides details on the critical features and relevant procedures for the installation.
It describes the commissioning procedures and acceptance testing criteria required to confirm that the calculated design is achieved in the building.
This document gives rules, requirements and procedures to design PDS for buildings up to 60 m.
For buildings taller than 60 m the same requirements are given (e.g. Table 1), but additional methods of calculation and verification are necessary. Requirements for such methods and verification are given in Annex D, but the methods fall outside the scope of this document [e.g. Additional mathematical analysis and/or Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)].
Routine testing and maintenance requirements are also defined in this document.
In the absence of national requirements and under expected ambient and outside conditions, the requirements in Table 1 are fulfilled by the PDS.

This document specifies the evaluation of the fire performance of water mist systems for fire protection of interior atriums, with low or medium fire load where the fire load or any obstructions do not extend above 1,5 m height.

This document gives minimum design, installation and commissioning requirements for powered smoke and heat control systems for enclosed car parks using horizontal flow powered ventilation, with or without sprinkler protection, on one or more levels, for cars and light commercial vehicles (max 3,5 t), to reach the design objectives outlined in this document .
This document is applicable for car parks with vehicles powered by petrol, diesel, electricity, CNG or LPG.
NOTE 1   For the purpose of this document for smoke ventilation systems, it is assumed that cars powered by electricity, CNG (compressed natural gas) or LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) will have similar HRR to vehicles powered by petrol or diesel.
NOTE 2   Cars powered by hydrogen are not covered by this document.
This document only covers traditional car parks that are with cars parked alongside each other, with common car access lanes. It does not cover other forms of car parking systems, such as stacking systems.
This document does not cover requirements for day‐to‐day ventilation.
Any other risks than fire from cars are not covered by this document.

This document applies to pressure differential system kits and components, positioned on the market and intended to operate as part of a pressure differential system. The purpose of a pressure differential system is to prevent protected spaces from smoke spread by using pressure difference and airflow. This document specifies characteristics and test methods for components and kits for pressure differential systems to produce and control the required pressure differential and airflow between protected and unprotected space.

This document specifies the evaluation of the fire performance for water mist systems used for fire protection of combustion turbines in enclosures with volumes exceeding 260 m³.

This document specifies fire testing requirements for water mist systems used for fire protection of combustion turbines in enclosures with volumes not exceeding 260 m³.

This document establishes the detailed test procedures for conducting the test on the plenum and air extract ducts.

This document specifies the evaluation of the fire performance of water mist systems for offices, school classrooms and hotels. This fire test protocol is applicable to ceiling mounted automatic nozzles to be used in unlimited volume. This document is applicable for horizontal, solid, flat ceilings with heights of 2 m and above, up to the maximum tested ceiling height.

This document specifies product characteristics and test methods for strainer and filter components for water supply connections and pipe work in water mist systems. This document is applicable to strainers and filters with filtration grades up to 6 mm.

2021-03-31 - TC - Correction of expression in Formula (3) in 4.5.4

This document contains specific requirements for gaseous fire-extinguishing systems, with respect to FK-5-1-12 extinguishant. It includes details of physical properties, specifications, usage and safety aspects.
This document is applicable only to systems operating at nominal pressures of 25 bar, 34,5 bar, 42 bar and 50 bar with nitrogen propellant. This does not preclude the use of other systems.

This document contains specific requirements for gaseous fire-extinguishing systems, with respect to the HFC 125 extinguishant. It includes details of physical properties, specifications, usage and safety aspects.
This document is applicable to systems operating at nominal pressures of 25 bar and 42 bar, superpressurized with nitrogen. This does not preclude the use of other systems.

This document contains specific requirements for gaseous fire-extinguishing systems, with respect to the HFC 227ea extinguishant. It includes details of physical properties, specification, usage and safety aspects.
This document covers systems operating at nominal pressures of 25 bar, 42 bar and 50 bar with nitrogen propellant. This does not preclude the use of other systems.

This document contains specific requirements for gaseous fire-extinguishing systems, with respect to the HFC 23 extinguishant. It includes details of physical properties, specifications, usage and safety aspects. It is applicable to systems operating at a nominal pressure of 41 bar without nitrogen superpressurization and 70 bar superpressurized with nitrogen.

This European standard specifies oxygen reduction systems that are used as fire prevention systems by creating an atmosphere in an area which is having a lower permanent oxygen concentration as in ambient conditions. The level of oxygen reduction is defined by the individual risks of these areas (see Annex A). Oxygen reduction is achieved by technical systems which are providing a flux of air containing a reduced concentration of oxygen.
This European standard specifies minimum requirements and defines the specifications governing the design, installation and maintenance of fixed oxygen reduction systems with oxygen reduced air in buildings and industrial production plants. The standard also applies to the extension and modification of existing systems.
This European standard applies to oxygen reduction systems using nitrogen which are designed for continual oxygen reduction in enclosed spaces.
NOTE   Nitrogen is today the most suitable gas to be used for oxygen reduction. For other gases this European standard can be used as basis.
This European standard does not apply to oxygen reduction systems that use water mist or combustion gases.
The European standard does not apply to:
-   explosion suppression systems;
-   explosion prevention systems;
-   fire extinguishing systems using gaseous extinguishing agents;
-   inertization of portable containers;
-   systems in which oxygen levels are reduced for reasons other than fire prevention (e.g. steel processing in the presence of inert gas to avoid the formation of oxide film);
-   inerting required during repair work on systems or equipment (e.g. welding) in order to eliminate the risk of fire or explosion.
In addition to the conditions for the actual oxygen reduction system and its individual components this European standard also covers certain structural specifications for the protected area.
The space protected by an oxygen reduction system is a controlled and continuously monitored indoor climate for extended occupation. This standard does not cover unventilated confined spaces that may contain hazardous gases.

This part of EN 12259 specifies requirements, test methods, evaluation of conformity and marking of deluge
alarm valves with a nominal size range DN40 to DN250 intended to be used in fire protection water spray
systems.
This European Standard does not cover elastomeric sleeve type valves and does not include rules for design,
installation and maintenance of fire protection water spray systems.
Auxiliary components and attachments to deluge alarm valves are not covered by this part of EN 12259 with the
exception of automatic drain valves.

This document specifies requirements and gives recommendations for the design, installation, water supplies and backflow prevention, commissioning, maintenance and testing of fixed residential fire sprinkler systems in buildings for residential occupancies.
This document is intended for use by those concerned with purchasing, designing, installing, testing, inspecting, approving, operating and maintaining automatic residential sprinkler systems, in order that such equipment will function as intended throughout its life.
This document identifies construction details of buildings which are the minimum necessary for satisfactory performance of residential sprinkler systems complying with this standard.
This document applies to any addition, extension, repair or other modification to the residential sprinkler system.
This document does not cover situations such as arson where fires of a malicious intent may be started in multiple locations simultaneously.

This document specifies fire testing requirements for water mist systems used for fire protection of machinery in enclosures with volumes exceeding 260 m³.

This document specifies fire testing requirements for water mist systems used for fire protection of machinery in enclosures with volumes not exceeding 260 m³.

This European Standard specifies requirements and gives recommendations for the design, installation and maintenance of fixed fire sprinkler systems in buildings and industrial plants, and particular requirements for sprinkler systems that are integral to measures for the protection of life.
This European Standard covers only the types of sprinkler specified in EN 12259 1 (see Annex L).
The requirements and recommendations of this European Standard are also applicable to any addition, extension, repair or other modification to a sprinkler system. They are not applicable to water spray or deluge systems.
It covers the classification of hazards, provision of water supplies, components to be used, installation and testing of the system, maintenance, and the extension of existing systems, and identifies construction details of buildings which are the minimum necessary for satisfactory performance of sprinkler systems complying with this European Standard.
This European Standard does not cover water supplies to systems other than sprinklers. Its requirements can be used as guidance for other fixed firefighting extinguishing systems, provided that any specific requirements for other firefighting extinguishing supplies are taken into account.
This European Standard is intended for use by those concerned with purchasing, designing, installing, testing, inspecting, approving, operating and maintaining automatic sprinkler systems, in order that such equipment will function as intended throughout its life.
This European Standard is intended only for fixed fire sprinkler systems in buildings and other premises on land. Although the general principles might well apply to other uses (e.g. maritime use). For these other uses additional considerations should be taken into account.
The requirements are not valid for automatic sprinkler systems on ships, in aircraft, on vehicles and mobile fire appliances or for below ground systems in the mining industry.
Sprinkler system design deviations might be allowed when such deviations have been shown to provide a level of protection at least equivalent to this European Standard, for example by means of full-scale fire testing where appropriate, and where the design criteria have been fully documented.

This document specifies requirements and gives recommendations for the design, installation, water supplies and backflow prevention, commissioning, maintenance and testing of fixed residential fire sprinkler systems in buildings for residential occupancies.
This document is intended for use by those concerned with purchasing, designing, installing, testing, inspecting, approving, operating and maintaining automatic residential sprinkler systems, in order that such equipment will function as intended throughout its life.
This document identifies construction details of buildings which are the minimum necessary for satisfactory performance of residential sprinkler systems complying with this standard.
This document applies to any addition, extension, repair or other modification to the residential sprinkler system.
This document does not cover situations such as arson where fires of a malicious intent may be started in multiple locations simultaneously.

This document specifies fire testing requirements for water mist systems used for fire protection of industrial oil cookers. This does not include requirements for systems used for protection of other equipment such as exhaust air ducts, heaters, heat exchangers, and food processing and food preparation areas.

This European Standard specifies requirements for chemical and physical properties, and minimum performance requirements of low expansion foams suitable for surface application to water-immiscible liquids. Requirements are also given for marking.
WARNING - Any type approval according to this standard is invalidated by any change in composition of the approved product.
Some concentrates conforming to this part of EN 1568 can also conform to other parts and therefore can also be suitable for application as medium and/or high expansion foams, and for application at low expansion to water-miscible liquids.

This European Standard specifies requirements for chemical and physical properties, and minimum performance requirements of medium expansion foams suitable for surface application to water-immiscible liquids. Requirements are also given for marking.
WARNING - Any type approval according to this standard is invalidated by any change in composition of the approved product.
Some concentrates conforming to this part of EN 1568 can also conform to other parts and therefore can also be suitable for application as low and/or high expansion foams.

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.

This European Standard specifies requirements for chemical and physical properties, and minimum performance requirements of high expansion foams suitable for surface application to water-immiscible liquids. Requirements are also given for marking.
WARNING - Any type approval according to this standard is invalidated by any change in composition of the approved product.
Some concentrates conforming to this part of EN 1568 can also conform to other parts and therefore can also be suitable for application as low and/or medium expansion foams.

This document specifies the requirements and describes the methods for design, installation, testing and maintenance of low, medium, and high expansion foam fire extinguishing systems.
Foam systems may be used to suppress the release of toxic vapours but this application is outside the scope of this document.
This document provides guidance for the design of various foam systems available to persons with knowledge and experience in determining the selection of foam fire extinguishing systems which will be effective in protecting specific hazard configurations. For the application of this standard, a risk assessment by a qualified and experienced person should be performed for both new and existing systems, however the risk assessment is outside the scope of this document.
This document does not cover a risk analysis carried out by a competent person.
Nothing in this document is intended to restrict new technologies or alternative arrangements, provided that the level of foam system performance prescribed in this standard is not lowered, and supported by documented evidence/test reports.
All foam systems are generally unsuitable for the following:
-   chemicals, such as cellulose nitrate, that release sufficient oxygen or other oxidizing agents which can sustain combustion;
-   energized unenclosed electrical equipment;
-   metals such as sodium, potassium and sodium-potassium alloys which are reactive to water;
-   hazardous, water-reactive materials such as triethyl-aluminium and phosphorous pentoxide;
-   combustible metals such as aluminium and magnesium.