Standards and Guidelines

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CEN EN 14972 - Fixed Firefighting Systems - Water Mist Systems / Design and Installation

CEN/TC 191/WG 10 Clarification Note: CEN/TC 191/WG 10 “water mist systems” wishes to clarify that a water mist system according to EN 14972 requires the compliance of the system design according to EN 14972-1, with the specific test protocol for the intended application and with the water mist system components tested according to EN 17450 series. This compliance is usually certified by a third party. Successful testing of any individual part does not constitute in itself system certification or approval.

• EN 14972-1:2020: Design, Installation, Inspection and Maintenance (published / to be reviewed in 2030)
• EN 14972-2:2026: Test protocol for shopping areas for automatic nozzle systems (published)
• EN 14972-3:2021: Test protocol for office, school and hotel for automatic nozzle systems (published / to be reviewed in 2026)
• EN 14972-4:2024: Test protocol for non-storage occupancies for automatic nozzle systems (published / to be reviewed in 2029)
• EN 14972-5:2024: Test protocol for car garages for automatic nozzle systems (published / to be reviewed in 2030)
• EN 14972-6:2023: Test protocol for false floors and false ceilings for automatic nozzle systems (published / to be reviewed in 2028)
• EN 14972-7:2023: Test protocol for commercial low hazard occupancies for automatic nozzle systems (published / to be reviewed in 2028)
• EN 14972-8:2020: Test protocol for machinery in enclosures exceeding 260 m3 for open nozzle systems (published / systematic review)
• EN 14972-9:2020: Test protocol for machinery in enclosures not exceeding 260 m3 for open nozzle systems (published / systematic review)
• EN 14972-10:2022: Test protocol for atrium protection with sidewall nozzles for open nozzle systems (published / to be reviewed in 2027)
• EN 14972-11:2023: Test protocol for cable tunnels for open nozzle systems (published / to be reviewed in 2028)
• EN 14972-12:2024: Test protocol for commercial deep fat cooking fryers for open nozzle systems (published / to be reviewed in 2029)
• EN 14972-13:2026: Test protocol for wet benches and other similar processing equipment for open nozzle systems (published)
• EN 14972-14:2021: Test protocol for combustion turbines in enclosures exceeding 260 m³ for open nozzle systems (published / to be reviewed in 2026)
• EN 14972-15:2021: Test protocol for combustion turbines in enclosures not exceeding 260 m³ for open nozzle systems (published / to be reviewed in 2026)
• EN 14972-16:2019: Test protocol for industrial oil cookers for open nozzle systems (published / systematic review)
• EN 14972-17:2025: Test protocol for residential occupancies for automatic nozzle systems (published / to be reviewed in 2030)
• prEN 14972-18: Test protocol for local application involving flammable liquid fires for open nozzle systems 
• prEN 14972-19: Test protocol for areas with combustible flammable liquids for open nozzle systems 
• prEN 14972-20: Test protocol for data processing areas for automatic nozzle systems
• prEN 14972-21: Test protocol for residential occupancies for electronically operated targeting nozzles 

FYI: Annex 1, which was published in 2025 as part of EN 14972-1, was subsequently reviewed following discussions about its position within the standard. It was decided to remove it from EN 14972-1 and develop it as a standalone document. Please also refer to prEN 18431.

CEN EN 17450 - Fixed Firefighting Systems - Water Mist Components

• EN 17450-1:2021: Product Characteristics and Test Methods for Strainer and Filter Components (published / to be reviewed in 2026)
• EN 17450-2:2024: Nozzles (published / to be reviewed in 2029)
• EN 17450-3:2025: Check Valves (published / to be reviewed in 2030)
• EN 17450-4: Control Deluge Valves and Actuators
• EN 17450-5: Pressure Switches

CEN prEN 18431 - Fixed Firefighting Systems - Water Mist Systems - Guidance on Developing Fire Test Protocols for Water Mist Systems 

NFPA 750 - Standard on Water Mist Fire Protection Systems
www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/document-information-pages
(first published in 1996, current version: 2019)

IMO A800 + MSC 265 (covers automatic water mist nozzles)
To read more on IMO A800 please click HERE! Please also see the presentation by Magnus Arvidson held during the 14th IWMC in Istanbul! Please click HERE!
To read more on MSC 265 please click HERE!

IMO MSC.1/Circ. 1165 (covers open water mist nozzles) 
Revised Guidelines for Approval of Equivalent Water-Based Fire-Extinguishing Systems for Machiery Spaces and Cargo Pump-Rooms
www.imo.org
To read more on IMO 1165 please click HERE!

FM 5560 - Approval for Water Mist Standards
fmglobal.com/fmglobalregistration
The last revision of FM 5560 was published in April 2016. To down the document please click HERE!
(first published in 1995)

VdS Guideline 3188
To purchase VdS 3188 please click HERE!
(first published in 2015, last revised in 2020)

The British Standards
The British Standard documents are:
BS 8489 / Fixed Fire Protection Systems - industrial and commercial Water Mist Systems - Code of Practice for Design and Installation (parts 1, 4, 5, 6, 7) and
BS 8498.
BS 8458 / Fixed Fire Protection Systems - residential and domestic Water Mist Systems - Code of Practice for Design and Installation
The British Standards can be purchased from the BSI (British Standards, formerly British Standards Institution) website.

Further reading: "Best Practice", an article by Bob Whiteley, Tyco, in the Industrial Fire Journal, issue no. 106 / 4th quarter 2016, o page 22 - 23

The French Standard
Technical Document APSAD D2 - Water Mist (Guide for Installation of Water Mist Protection Systems)
http://www.cnpp.com/fr/Boutique-Editions/Referentiels/Referentiels-APSAD/Technical-document-APSAD-D2-Water-Mist

UL 2167 - Standard for Water Mist Nozzles for Fire Protection Services
To go to UL's webpage to read more details please click HERE!

The Nordic Standard
You can buy the Standard if you click HERE! 
For further information click HERE! (Norwegian only)

IS 15519 - Water Mist Fire Protection Systems
Systems Design, Installation And Commissioning (Code Of Practice)
by: Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
(first published in 2004)

The Danish Guideline
The Danish guideline consists of part 1 (design, installation and maintenance) and part 2 (classification tests). It can be obtained from DBI Danish Institute of Fire and Security Technology:
www.dbi-net.dk/en
To read a summary, please click HERE!

UPTUN Guidance
(Engineering Guidance for water-based fire-fighting systems for the Protection of Tunnels and Subsurface Facilities)
To read this document, please click HERE!

IWMA Scaling Project 2009
The IWMA Scaling project was successfully finished and the results were presented at IMO FP meeting 2009. The final report was published and you may request  a copy by sending an email to info [at] iwma.net. The paper summarizes and suggests with respect to machinery spaces that we allow doubling the enclosure volume based on the tested volume if the duration of the water supply is increased to 45 minutes.