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IS 15222:2002 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for carbon dioxide as fire extinguishing media for fire protection -specification. This standard specifies the requirements for carbon dioxide used as a fire extinguishing medium in fire protection systems. It covers the essential properties of the gas, such as purity, water content, and oil content, along with guidelines for its storage in cylinders, marking, and testing procedures.
Carbon Dioxide as Fire Extinguishing Media for Fire Protection -Specification
! The maximum permissible water content (150 ppm) is critical to prevent the formation of carbonic acid (which is corrosive) and to avoid freezing of discharge nozzles during operation.
! CO2 is an asphyxiant at the concentrations used for fire suppression (typically >34%). Therefore, systems in normally occupied spaces must include safety interlocks, pre-discharge alarms, and time delays to allow for safe evacuation.
! Cylinders must be periodically inspected and hydrostatically tested as mandated by the Gas Cylinder Rules, administered by the Chief Controller of Explosives (CCOE/PESO).
ISO 5923:2012International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International
HighCurrent
Fire protection — Fire extinguishing media — Carbon dioxide
Directly specifies the physical properties, chemical properties, and minimum purity levels for CO2 used as a fire extinguishant.
NFPA 12:2022National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), USA
MediumCurrent
Standard on Carbon Dioxide Extinguishing Systems
Covers complete system design, but its chapter on supply and agent refers to external standards (like CGA G-6.2) for CO2 quality.
BS EN ISO 5923:2012British Standards Institution (BSI), United Kingdom
HighCurrent
Fire protection. Fire extinguishing media. Carbon dioxide
The UK's adoption of the ISO 5923 standard, making it technically identical in its requirements for the extinguishing media.
CGA G-6.2Compressed Gas Association (CGA), USA
HighCurrent
Commodity Specification for Carbon Dioxide
Provides quality specifications for CO2 for various uses; its 'Type F' or 'Grade H' is what NFPA 12 typically references for fire protection.
Key Differences
≠The maximum permissible water content in IS 15222 is 0.015% by mass (150 ppm), which is more lenient than ISO 5923 (100 ppm) and significantly more lenient than the quality specified by NFPA 12 via CGA G-6.2 (typically 32 ppm for Grade H).
≠While the minimum purity in IS 15222 (≥99.5%) matches ISO 5923, it is lower than the purity typically required by NFPA 12 (which references CGA G-6.2 Grade H, requiring ≥99.9% purity).
≠IS 15222 is a standalone specification for the CO2 agent only. In contrast, NFPA 12 is a comprehensive system standard covering design, installation, components, hydraulics, and maintenance, with the agent specification being just one small part.
≠IS 15222 provides self-contained test methods for properties like acidity. NFPA 12 relies on referencing external, specialized standards like those from the Compressed Gas Association (CGA) for agent quality verification.
Key Similarities
≈All standards fundamentally aim to define the quality of carbon dioxide to ensure it is effective for fire extinguishment and will not cause damage (e.g., corrosion) or malfunction in the storage and distribution system.
≈Both IS 15222 and ISO 5923 specify an identical maximum oil content of 5 mg/kg (5 ppm), which is critical for preventing the blockage of discharge nozzles.
≈All standards implicitly or explicitly require the CO2 to be free from objectionable odors and significant acidity, which could indicate harmful contaminants or pose a corrosion risk to cylinders and pipework.
≈The standards are all predicated on the use of liquefied carbon dioxide stored under its own vapor pressure in either high-pressure cylinders or low-pressure refrigerated tanks.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Purity (CO2 Content, min.)
≥ 99.5% by volume
≥ 99.5% (V/V)
ISO 5923:2012
Purity (CO2 Content, min.)
≥ 99.5% by volume
≥ 99.9% by volume (for Grade H)
NFPA 12:2022 (ref. CGA G-6.2)
Water Content (max.)
≤ 0.015% by mass (150 ppm)
≤ 0.01% by mass (100 ppm)
ISO 5923:2012
Water Content (max.)
≤ 0.015% by mass (150 ppm)
≤ 32 ppm
NFPA 12:2022 (ref. CGA G-6.2 Grade H)
Oil Content (max.)
≤ 5 mg/kg (5 ppm)
≤ 5 mg/kg (5 ppm)
ISO 5923:2012
Acidity
No persistent pink or red colour with methyl orange indicator
Shall contain no mineral acidity. When 10 ml of water...are shaken with 10 l of gas...the water shall be neutral to methyl orange.
ISO 5923:2012
High Pressure Cylinder Filling Ratio (max.)
0.67 kg/L (for use up to 45°C, as per related IS 4947)
Shall not exceed 68% of the water capacity by weight (0.68 kg/L)
NFPA 12:2022
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
What is the minimum purity of CO2 specified by IS 15222?+
The minimum purity required is 99.5 percent by volume (Clause 4.2).
What is the maximum allowed water content in fire-grade CO2?+
The maximum water content is 0.015 percent by mass, which is equivalent to 150 parts per million (ppm) (Clause 4.3).
Which standard should the CO2 storage cylinders comply with?+
The cylinders must conform to IS 7285 for seamless steel gas cylinders and be approved by the Chief Controller of Explosives (Clause 5.1).
Is CO2 extinguishing agent safe for use in occupied areas?+
No, it is not breathable and displaces oxygen. It is considered life-threatening at extinguishing concentrations and requires stringent safety measures like pre-discharge alarms and evacuation time delays for use in occupied spaces.