IG-01 is an inert gas fire extinguishing agent consisting of 100% Argon. It extinguishes fires by lowering the oxygen concentration in the protected space to a level that will not support combustion.

What is the minimum design concentration for an IT server room (Class A fire)?

The minimum design concentration for a Class A surface fire is 37.5%. A safety factor is typically added, resulting in a common design concentration of 41.9% (Clause 5.4).

Is an enclosure integrity test (Door Fan Test) mandatory?

Yes, an enclosure integrity test must be conducted to verify that the agent can be held for the required retention time, which is typically 10 minutes (Annex E).

What are the safety requirements for occupied spaces?

Systems in occupied spaces require a time delay mechanism and a pre-discharge alarm (both audible and visual) to ensure safe evacuation of personnel before the agent is released (Clause 7).

IS 15497

: 2004

Gaseous Fire Extinguishing Systems - IG 01 Extinguishing Systems

CurrentSpecializedCode of PracticeBIMFire Safety · Fire Fighting

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This standard specifies requirements for the design, installation, testing, and maintenance of gaseous fire extinguishing systems using IG-01 (100% Argon). It is intended for total flooding applications in enclosed spaces like data centers and archives, where it extinguishes fire by reducing the oxygen concentration.

Gaseous Fire Extinguishing Systems - IG 01 Extinguishing Systems

Quick Reference Values

Minimum design concentration for Class A surface fires37.5%

No Observable Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL)43%

Lowest Observable Adverse Effect Level (LOAEL)52%

Typical cylinder storage pressure200 or 300 bar

Minimum required agent retention time10 min

Maximum oxygen concentration for design in normally occupied spaces12%

Key Formulas

Agent Quantity V = S * ln(100 / (100-C)) — Where V is the volume of agent required, S is the specific volume, and C is the design concentration in percent.

Practical Notes

Room integrity is paramount for system effectiveness. A Door Fan Test (Annex E) is mandatory to ensure the enclosure can hold the gas concentration for the required 10-minute retention time.

For normally occupied spaces, the design concentration must not exceed the NOAEL (43%), and safety interlocks with a pre-discharge alarm and time delay are required to allow for personnel evacuation.

Pipe network calculations must be performed using a validated hydraulic software to ensure the agent is discharged within the specified time (typically 60 seconds) and distributed evenly.