ISO 7010:2019 / ISO 3864-1
ISO F014 Remote release station Sign
ISO F014 Remote release station Sign means the F014 sign marks a remote release station — the manual control, located outside the protected space, from which a fixed extinguishing system such as a CO2 total-flooding installation is discharged into the compartment it protects. It should be used where the cited standard, facility risk assessment, SDS, emergency plan, or written safety procedure requires this hazard or safety message to be communicated.
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Reference artwork: Wikimedia Commons · License: CC0
Technical Data
| Legal Standard | ISO 7010:2019 / ISO 3864-1 |
|---|---|
| Color Codes | #FF0000 / Closest practical match: RAL 3020 Traffic Red |
| Viewing Distance | 100 mm: approximately 5 m; 200 mm: approximately 10 m; 300 mm: approximately 15 m; 400 mm: approximately 20 m; 600 mm: approximately 30 m. |
| Review Status | approved / last reviewed 2026-07-07 |
| Jurisdiction Scope | Global, United States, European Union |
| Keywords | f014, iso 7010, fire, remote, release, station, indicate, location |
Standard Dimensions Table
| Sign Size | Recommended Visibility |
|---|---|
100 mm | approximately 5 m |
200 mm | approximately 10 m |
300 mm | approximately 15 m |
400 mm | approximately 20 m |
600 mm | approximately 30 m. |
Where This Sign Is Used
On ships and in industrial plants the sign mounts directly at the release cabinet or panel — at a fire control station, outside the engine room entrance, or on a dedicated release cabinet — with directional variants along escape and response routes. Where one station houses releases for several spaces, such as engine room, purifier room, and cargo holds, each control also needs unambiguous labeling of the compartment it discharges into.
In-Depth Guidance
The Trigger Point of a Fixed System
F014 marks a remote release station: the manual control from which a fixed extinguishing system is discharged into the space it protects, located away from that space. It is the action sign of the fixed-system family — F008, F012, and F013 tell you where hardware sits, but F014 tells the person responsible for the decision where to go to actually release the agent.
Remoteness is the defining feature. Total-flooding systems, above all CO2 systems for machinery spaces and cargo holds, cannot safely be triggered from inside the compartment they flood. The release station therefore sits outside the protected boundary — at a fire control station, outside the engine room entrance, or in a dedicated release cabinet — reachable when the protected space itself is on fire and untenable.
Why the Release Decision Is Procedural, Not Reflexive
Discharging a CO2 flooding system into an occupied space can kill, so the release sequence is deliberately gated. Typical arrangements sound a distinct discharge alarm in the protected space when the release cabinet is opened or the control is armed, and build in a time delay or a two-step operation, so that everyone inside can evacuate before the gas floods in. Confirming the space is evacuated and closed up — ventilation stopped, dampers and doors shut — is part of the drill before the valves are opened.
That procedure is why the station's marking matters so much. In an engine room fire, the master or duty officer must find the correct release point quickly, under stress, possibly in smoke — and equally, an untrained person must not mistake it for an ordinary alarm call point. F014 identifies the station; access control, instructions at the cabinet, and training govern who operates it and how.
Placement, Labeling, and Common Failures
Mount F014 directly at the release cabinet or panel, with directional variants along escape and response routes where the station is not visible from the protected space's exits. Where one location houses releases for several spaces — a fire control station serving engine room, purifier room, and cargo holds — each control needs unambiguous labeling of the space it discharges into, because operating the wrong release wastes the agent and leaves the fire untouched.
The recurring audit findings are predictable: release cabinets blocked by stores, break-glass covers painted over, instruction cards missing or in a language the crew does not read, and signage that survived a refit while the system behind it was rerouted. Since a fixed system usually gets exactly one discharge, the signed release station has to work correctly the first time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a remote release station for a fire suppression system?
The manual actuation point, located outside the protected space, from which a fixed extinguishing system such as a CO2 flooding installation is discharged. ISO 7010 F014 marks its position so the trained responder can find it when the protected compartment itself is on fire.
Why does CO2 release involve an alarm and a delay?
Because CO2 in extinguishing concentrations is lethal to anyone still inside. Release arrangements typically sound a dedicated discharge alarm in the space and impose a delay or two-step operation, giving occupants time to evacuate before the gas is released. Verifying evacuation and closing the space are part of the release procedure.
Where is the F014 sign placed?
At the release cabinet or control panel itself — outside the protected compartment, often at a fire control station or near the space's entrance — with arrowed variants guiding responders to it. Where several releases share one location, each control also needs a label naming the space it serves.
Can anyone operate a remote release station?
No. Discharge is normally reserved for designated, trained personnel following a defined procedure, since releasing the agent into an occupied or unsealed space is dangerous and the system can usually discharge only once. The F014 sign locates the station; authority to use it comes from the emergency organization, not the sign.