CO2 Protected Area Sign

CO2 Protected Area Sign – ISO 7010 Warning Symbol HS0038

This CO2 Protected Area sign warns crew, contractors and visitors that the space beyond the door or bulkhead is protected by a fixed carbon dioxide fire suppression system and can become an asphyxiation risk if the system discharges.

The sign combines the standard black exclamation triangle with a bold “WARNING – You are entering a CO2 protected area” text panel beneath it, giving anyone approaching the space an instant visual cue plus an explicit written instruction in a single fixture. As SKU HS0038 in the Hazard Signs range, it is built for continuous marine exposure and suits engine rooms, pump rooms, paint lockers and any compartment protected by a fixed CO2 flooding system.

The upper section shows the familiar black exclamation mark inside a warning triangle, while the lower panel spells out “WARNING” in bold capitals followed by “You are entering a CO2 protected area” in smaller text, a combined pictogram-and-wording format that removes any ambiguity about what the space behind the door actually is.

Because a CO2 discharge can displace breathable oxygen within seconds, the written panel gives crew and visiting contractors the specific context a generic triangle alone cannot provide. The photoluminescent base keeps the CO2 protected area warning visible for a period after lighting fails, useful in machinery spaces where a fire event and a loss of main lighting can occur together.

Why CO2 Protected Area Marking Matters

Fixed CO2 systems are effective firefighting tools precisely because they remove oxygen from a compartment, which makes accidental entry during or shortly after a discharge extremely dangerous. Clear CO2 protected area signage at every access point supports the vessel’s fire and abandon-space procedures and reminds crew to check for alarm activation before opening a door into a space that may have been flooded. It also gives new crew, riding gangs and shore contractors an unmistakable warning before they set foot in a compartment that looks, on the surface, like any other machinery space.

Compliance and Certification

This sign is produced to align with IMO shipboard safety signage guidance and the combined pictogram-and-text warning format used across shipping and industrial machinery safety, supporting the ISM Code’s requirement for documented control of fixed fire-suppression hazards. A visible CO2 protected area warning at every entry point to a flooded space is a documented control that classification surveyors and internal safety auditors expect to see during a fire safety review.

Installation Recommendations

Mount the sign at eye level on every door, hatch and access point leading into a space protected by a fixed CO2 system, positioned so it is seen before the door is opened. Use the pre-drilled fixing holes with marine-grade fasteners for exterior and weatherdeck access points, and the self-adhesive backing for interior watertight doors and control panel applications. Confirm during fire drills and permit-to-work reviews that the sign remains legible at every relevant access point, particularly after a door or bulkhead has been repainted.

• 425 x 567mm rigid or self-adhesive format for steel, aluminium or GRP surfaces
• Photoluminescent base for visibility during power loss or blackout drills
• UV-stable, saltwater-resistant construction for long-term exterior exposure
• Self-adhesive or pre-drilled fixing options for fast, secure installation
• Combined pictogram and bold English text for added clarity beyond the symbol alone

Order the HS0038 CO2 Protected Area sign today to mark every access point into your vessel’s fixed fire-suppression spaces before your next fire safety audit. Safety Sign Hub stocks the complete IMPA/ISSA-coded hazard sign range and ships marine-grade signage across Australia and to vessels in port, with bulk pricing for fleet orders.

See the full Hazard Signs range for related ISO 7010 warning pictograms, or browse our Fire Fighting Signs for IMO A.654(16) fire control signage to complete your vessel’s safety signage plan.