CO2 Protected Area Sign

CO2 Protected Area Sign – MS0053

This MS0053 mandatory sign identifies a space protected by a fixed CO2 (carbon dioxide) fire-suppression system and warns that on hearing the alarm, the space must be vacated immediately with all exits closed behind you. Featuring the ISO 7010 blue circular mandatory-action pictogram alongside the CO2 protected area text and evacuation instruction, this sign is a critical life-safety item wherever a total-flooding CO2 system is installed, such as engine rooms, pump rooms, paint lockers, and cargo holds.

Manufactured from durable, photoluminescent material, this sign remains legible in smoke-filled or low-light conditions during an actual discharge event, when visibility can drop to near zero and crew must locate exits quickly. Its rigid, UV- and corrosion-resistant construction is built to withstand the demanding conditions of engine rooms and machinery spaces, ensuring the warning remains clearly visible throughout the vessel’s service life.

Why CO2 Protected Area Signage Matters

Carbon dioxide fire-suppression systems work by displacing oxygen within an enclosed space, which makes them highly effective against fire but also lethal to anyone remaining inside when the system discharges. Under SOLAS Chapter II-2 and the associated fixed fire-fighting system requirements, every space protected by a total-flooding CO2 system must be clearly marked so crew, contractors, and visitors understand the danger and know to evacuate immediately on hearing the pre-discharge alarm. Clear signage at every entrance to a CO2 protected area is one of the most important life-safety controls aboard a vessel, giving personnel the seconds they need to escape before a discharge renders the atmosphere unbreathable.

Compliance and Certification

This sign is produced in accordance with the ISO 7010 international standard for graphical safety symbols, ensuring instant recognition by multilingual crews regardless of nationality. It supports compliance with SOLAS Chapter II-2 requirements for fixed gas fire-extinguishing systems and complements the broader safety management framework required under the ISM Code. Maintaining correct, durable warning signage at every CO2 protected space is also consistent with the safety-of-life obligations set out under SOLAS, the International Maritime Organization’s convention governing safety aboard ships, and is a mandatory item checked during flag-state surveys and port-state control inspections.

Installation Recommendations

Mount this sign at every entrance to the protected space, positioned at eye level where it will be seen by anyone about to enter, and pair it with the corresponding alarm point and any pre-discharge warning devices required for the system. Clean the mounting surface thoroughly before application to ensure strong adhesion in the humid, oily conditions typical of engine rooms and machinery spaces, and consider a mechanical fixing in addition to adhesive backing given the critical safety function of this sign. Include it in routine fire-safety inspections and drills so that crew remain familiar with the evacuation instruction and any damaged or faded signs are replaced without delay.

• ISO 7010 compliant mandatory-action pictogram with CO2 protected area warning text
• Photoluminescent material for visibility during low-light or smoke-affected evacuations
• Durable, UV- and corrosion-resistant construction suited to engine room environments
• Supports SOLAS Chapter II-2 fixed fire-extinguishing system marking requirements
• Clear evacuation instruction: vacate on alarm, close all exits behind you

Every space protected by a fixed CO2 system should have this sign fitted at each entrance and reviewed during fire drills, so that everyone aboard immediately recognises a CO2 protected area and knows the correct action to take on hearing the alarm.

Protect your crew and comply with SOLAS Chapter II-2 fixed fire-suppression marking requirements with the MS0053 CO2 Protected Area Sign – an essential life-safety sign for every space guarded by a total-flooding CO2 system.

For related shipboard signage, browse our Hazard Signs and Fire Fighting Signs categories to complete your vessel’s IMO/SOLAS-compliant safety signage program.