What is BS EN 14373 about?
BS EN 14373 describes the basic requirements for the design and application of explosion suppression systems. BS EN 14373 also specifies test methods for evaluating the effectiveness and the scaling up of explosion suppression systems against defined explosions.
BS EN 14373 is applicable only to explosion suppression systems intended for the protection of closed, or closed, enclosures in which an explosion could result because of ignition of an explosible mixture, e.g., dust-air, gas(vapour)-air, dust-gas(vapour)-air and mist-air. BS EN 14373 covers:
- General requirements
- Development and evaluation of design tools
- Evaluation of effectiveness, installation
- Operation and maintenance instructions
- Evaluation of scale up of an explosion suppression system to larger than tested volumes
Note: BS EN 14373 is not applicable for explosions of materials such as unstable materials that are liable to dissociate, explosive materials, pyrotechnic materials, pyrophoric materials.
Who is BS EN 14373 for?
BS EN 14373 on explosion suppression systems is useful for:
- Explosion suppression system manufacturers
- Explosion suppression system testers
- Explosion suppression system designers
- Any organization that wants to install an explosion suppression system
Why should you use BS EN 14373?
Explosion suppression systems help minimize the risk of industrial explosions. Explosion Suppression systems are designed to detect and chemically suppress an explosion in its earliest (incipient) stages. Explosion suppression systems satisfy some basic requirements for efficient operation. Poorly designed explosion suppression systems can lead to significant loss of property and life in case of industrial explosions.
BS EN 14373 provides you with the basic requirements for the design and application of explosion suppression systems for your factory premises. BS EN 14373 also specifies test methods for analysing the effectiveness and the scaling up of explosion suppression systems against defined explosions.
BS EN 14373 guides you to design or install an efficient explosion suppression system.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN 14373:2021 supersedes EN 14373:2005. BS EN 14373:2021 includes some technical changes with respect to EN 14373:2005. These include:
- Standard restructured, editorial update of scope, terms and definitions updated
- Requirements on environmental aspects added
- Experimental testing of the efficacy of an explosion suppression system, instructions, marking and packaging updated
- Original clauses “Requirements for the design of an explosion suppression system” and “Safety integrity of explosion suppression systems” have been removed and replaced by Clause 6
- Three informative annexes have been added: “Development of an explosion suppression calculation model”, “Applications” and “Extrapolation to large volumes”

