This standard specifies requirements and gives recommendations for the design, installation and maintenance of fixed fire sprinkler systems in buildings and industrial plant, and particular requirements for sprinkler systems, which are integral to measures for the protection of life. This standard covers only the types of sprinkler specified in EN 12259-1. The requirements and recommendations of this 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 standard. This standard does not cover water supplies to systems other than sprinklers. Its requirements can be used as guidance for other fixed fire fighting extinguishing systems, however, provided that any specific requirements for other fire fighting extinguishing supplies are 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 may 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.