ISO 6183-2022 PDF

Full title and description

Fire protection equipment — Carbon dioxide extinguishing systems for use on premises — Design and installation. This International Standard specifies requirements and gives recommendations for the design, installation, commissioning, testing, maintenance and safety of fixed carbon dioxide (CO2) firefighting systems intended for use in buildings, plants and other structures.

Abstract

This document sets out the technical requirements and guidance for CO2 total‑flooding and related fixed extinguishing systems used on premises, addressing system design (including concentration and flow calculations), safety measures to protect personnel, installation and pipework, commissioning and acceptance tests, inspection, maintenance, testing and training. It excludes CO2 systems for ships, aircraft, vehicles, mobile appliances, below‑ground mining applications and CO2 pre‑inerting systems.

General information

• Status: Published
• Publication date: March 2022 (2022-03)
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
• ICS / categories: 13.220.10 — Fire‑fighting
• Edition / version: Edition 3 (ISO 6183:2022)
• Number of pages: 68

(Core bibliographic information from the ISO record for ISO 6183:2022.)

Scope

ISO 6183:2022 applies to the design and installation of fixed CO2 extinguishing systems used within buildings and industrial premises to ensure effective fire suppression while protecting people and property. It provides rules and recommendations for determining required CO2 concentrations, pipe sizing and distribution, discharge characteristics, enclosure venting considerations, safety interlocks, alarms and emergency procedures. The standard explicitly excludes marine, aviation, vehicular and underground mining CO2 systems and CO2 pre‑inerting systems; it also gives guidance (but not prescriptive design rules) where unclosable openings or wind effects are significant.

Key topics and requirements

• Design criteria for CO2 total‑flooding systems, including hazard definition and required extinguishing concentrations.
• Calculations for CO2 flow rates, distribution, nozzle/orifice sizing and pipework layout to achieve target concentrations.
• Safety measures: personnel warning and evacuation procedures, entry prevention, interlocks and residual hazard control.
• Commissioning, acceptance testing and performance verification procedures.
• Inspection, maintenance, periodic testing and training requirements to ensure long‑term reliability.
• Venting and structural integrity considerations for enclosures (post‑discharge pressure relief and design guidance).

Typical use and users

Used by fire protection and building services engineers, system designers, installation contractors, facility and plant managers, safety officers, testing and commissioning teams, inspectors and authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs), and insurers who need to ensure CO2 extinguishing systems are safe, effective and compliant with international practice.

Related standards

Key related international and national documents include the ISO 14520 series (gaseous fire‑extinguishing systems — physical properties and system design) and ISO 21805:2023 (guidance on vents for enclosures protected by gaseous extinguishing systems). National codes and standards such as NFPA 12 (Standard on Carbon Dioxide Extinguishing Systems) cover similar subject matter and are commonly cross‑referenced in country‑specific installations.

Keywords

carbon dioxide; CO2; extinguishing system; total flooding; design; installation; commissioning; venting; safety; fire protection; ISO 6183; gaseous extinguishing systems.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 6183:2022 is an International Standard that specifies requirements and recommendations for the design and installation of fixed carbon dioxide fire‑extinguishing systems used on premises (buildings and plants). It is the 3rd edition, published in March 2022.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers system design (including concentration and flow calculations), distribution and pipework, discharge characteristics, safety features (warnings, interlocks and evacuation), commissioning and acceptance testing, inspection, maintenance and training. It excludes systems for ships, aircraft, vehicles, mobile appliances, underground mining and CO2 pre‑inerting systems.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Fire protection designers and engineers, installation contractors, facility managers, AHJs, testing and commissioning personnel, safety officers and insurers—anyone responsible for specifying, installing, testing or maintaining fixed CO2 extinguishing systems.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 6183:2022 is the current edition (published March 2022). It supersedes previous editions and amendments (for example the 2009 edition and subsequent amendments).

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: ISO 6183 is part of the suite of standards addressing gaseous extinguishing systems and complements the ISO 14520 series (gaseous fire‑extinguishing systems) and associated guidance documents such as ISO 21805 (venting guidance). Users often consult these related standards together when designing and installing gaseous systems.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: carbon dioxide, CO2 extinguishing, total flooding, system design, installation, venting, commissioning, testing, maintenance, safety, gaseous fire suppression, ISO 6183.