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What You Need to Know About the R107 Fire Suppression Requirement?

Industrial Safety Fire Protection Engineering Insight
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Many countries have adopted the UNECE R107 regulation to improve passenger safety in bus transportation. To date, 37 countries have signed on to this regulation, which is specifically designed to reduce the risk of catastrophic bus engine fires.

What You Need to Know About the R107 Fire Suppression Requirement?

Engine fires in buses often go unnoticed by drivers and passengers until the fire has already reached a dangerous size. To address this risk, UNECE R107 mandates the use of automatic fire suppression systems in bus engine compartments.

Why UNECE R107 Fire Suppression Is Required?

When a fire starts in a bus engine, it can spread rapidly due to confined space, fuel sources, and high operating temperatures. Automatic fire suppression systems are required to detect and suppress fires early—before they endanger passengers, drivers, or the vehicle itself.

The R107 regulation directly targets this risk by making engine fire suppression mandatory for certain types of buses.

UNECE R107 Compliance Timeline

The regulation defines clear implementation deadlines based on bus type:

  • From July 2019
    All new 22+ passenger coaches (buses where all passengers are seated) must be equipped with engine fire suppression systems.

  • From September 2021
    All new 22+ passenger buses of all types, including city buses where some passengers may be standing, must have engine fire suppression systems installed.

Fire Testing Requirements Under R107

To meet UNECE R107 standards, engine fire suppression systems must demonstrate proven reliability.

  • Systems must pass fire performance testing

  • Specifically, 4 out of the 11 tests defined in SP Method 4912 are required under R107

  • These tests validate the system’s ability to detect and suppress engine fires effectively

Risk Analysis Requirement

Before installation of any engine fire suppression system:

  • A formal risk analysis must be completed

  • This assessment ensures the system is correctly designed and positioned for the specific engine configuration and fire risk

Risk analysis is a mandatory step under UNECE R107 and cannot be skipped.

NERO R107-Compliant Bus Engine Fire Suppression Systems

NERO bus engine fire suppression systems have successfully passed all 11 tests defined in SP Method 4912.

This includes:

  • The 4 fire tests required by R107

  • Additional tests designed to verify performance under the harsh conditions of a bus engine environment

As a result, NERO systems are:

  • Fully R107 compliant

  • PMark SPCR 183 certified

How to Ensure Full UNECE R107 Compliance?

To meet all UNECE R107 fire suppression requirements, the following steps must be completed:

  1. Purchase a system from a manufacturer that has successfully passed SP Method 4912 fire testing

  2. Perform a risk assessment before installation in the engine compartment

  3. After installation, complete the Declaration of Installment

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