Fire spreads so quickly that it takes only thirty seconds to make it very difficult to be controlled. This little-known fact is the reason for the enormous damage that a fire cause to buildings, people, physical assets and workflow. The problem can be overcome by using water mist systems – the only performance-based system in the fire protection industry.
Water mist is highly effective in fighting fires. The unique properties of the technology are highly manifested in comparison with sprinkler systems. Water mist systems provide the greatest speed, efficiency and effectiveness in firefighting while using little water resources and are really sparing in terms of equipment and installation space.
WATER MIST FIRE PROTECTION MEANS EFFICIENT FIRE PROTECTION
Water mist systems are designed to protect both the occupants of the buildings and the tangible assets and equipment inside the buildings. The purpose of water mist fire protection is to eliminate all dangers to people and to minimize damage to property, equipment and the buildings or premise’s structure. In case of fire, the system is activated immediately in the areas where the fire is detected. In addition to the exceptional extinguishing efficiency, the water mist has excellent properties for capturing smoke released during combustion, thus ensuring maximum safety for people – there is no danger of suffocation and facilitates evacuation. Thanks to the small amount of water, damage to property and equipment is minimized.
Water mist extinguishing technology makes it possible to create stable and high-quality engineering solutions that provide efficient extinguishing with a minimum amount of water. Water mist systems are designed to create the required water density, depending on the type of fire and the application. They cover all fire classes.
Tested and approved technology
The innovative technology behind water mist systems is already comprehensively proven and approved by regulatory authorities in the fire industry, including through a number of independent tests and inspections by third parties. Water mist is a performancе-based technology and is the only technology which is full-scale fire tested. This technology allows engineers to create custom fire protection solutions, which meets the unique needs, expectations and requirements of clients. The systems realized with water mist cover almost all fire risks. They are the right choice when it comes to innovative, reliable, environmentally friendly, safe and long-term fire protection.
The main internationally refereed water mist guidelines and standards are CEN EN 14972, NFPA 750, FM 5560, IMO A800 / MSC 265, IMO MSC Circ.1165, VdS 3188 (VdS 3883), UL 2167, BS 8489, BS 8458, APSAD D2, Nordic Standard, Danish Guideline, Swedish Standard (Reference IWMA).
WHAT ARE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS OF THE WATER MIST SYSTEMS?
The main advantage of water mist is the intelligent use of water. The use of less water compared to traditional sprinkler systems, thanks to which damage to premises and tangible assets is minimal. On the other hand, due to the lower water requirements, smaller diameter pipelines are used, which reduces the cost of materials as well as the cost of installation. The small amount of water makes water mist systems suitable for stand-alone applications where access to water may be limited. In such situations, a tank or bottles filled with water may be used.
The intelligent use of water brings several benefits:
⇒ A distinctive advantage is the ability to use water tanks with significantly smaller dimensions compared to sprinkler systems, as well as the ability under certain conditions to connect the installation directly to the main water supply network and thus eliminating the need to build a tank. This allows architects or general contractors to use the space for other purposes, such as redistribution of workspace, additional parking spaces and other services for the benefit of the occupants of the building.
⇒ Lower water consumption also allows the use of smaller diameter distribution pipes. Water mist systems typically use stainless steel pipes with an outer diameter of 12 mm, 22 mm, 28 mm and 42 mm. This saves space in suspended ceilings, which can be shared with other installations in the building such as ventilation, air conditioning, lighting and more. The use of small diameter pipes simplifies the installation of the system and coordination with other installations in the building. Pipes can be cut easily, shaped and processed on site without the need for prior preparation.
⇒ Damage reduction is another important advantage of water mist systems over sprinkler systems. They provide significantly less water damage to buildings, premises, property and equipment. For this reason, the water mist systems are installed in a wide range of critical applications – from historic buildings of significant cultural value to extremely complex modern technological facilities that require a high degree of security and business continuity. The rapid recovery, even continuous workflow in case of fire, is the most significant benefit of the water mist systems especially for critical applications with a continuous production cycle. Saving water resources is an additional advantage of water mist systems, which makes them an economical and environmentally sustainable solution for fire protection.
⇒ An important advantage of the water mist system is the reliability in the protection of high-rise buildings. The use of pipes and tanks of small size saves substantial space to accommodate the installation and also significantly relieves the load on the supporting structure with approximately 80% less weight. Another advantage is that there is no need to place the pumping stations on more levels, leaving these spaces free for other purposes such as more apartments, shops, parking lots, retail space, etc. Water mist systems require approximately 30% fewer nozzles due to the greater distance between them, which saves expensive equipment and facilitates the construction of the installation.
⇒ An additional benefit of the high-pressure water mist technology is the effective protection of glass facades from thermal damage. Instead of „pouring” water on the glass, the water mist system sprays the fine water droplets in front of the glass, effectively cooling the space and protecting the glass from thermal shock. This method of cooling makes it possible to use thinner glass and other modern structural materials, ensuring the realization of modern and sustainable architectural concepts. Last but not least, the unique benefit of applying water mist systems in high-rise buildings is their exceptional reliability in terms of human safety.
WHERE CAN THE WATER MIST TECHNOLOGY BE APPLIED?
Then the answer to this question can be very short – almost everywhere. But if we have to describe all the applications, it will take us much more time as the list is long.
Water mist is the most economical technology with the widest variety of applications.
Water mist technology can be used as a complete solution for almost any fire class. Examples of the use of water mist are industrial facilities, chemical plants, engine rooms, control rooms, industrial kitchens, cable tunnels, turbines, etc. In industries where fuels and lubricants are used, as well as combustible and flammable liquids, there is a risk of rapidly developing fires. This type of fire can be extinguished quickly with the help of water mist due to its ability to absorb heat very quickly. Food manufacturers who use large industrial deep fryers can also take advantage of the technology. Water mist nozzles can be mounted directly in the fryer hood to prevent the spread of fire.
Buildings storing valuable historical heritage such as museums, libraries and art galleries contain valuable, irreplaceable assets. It is not only the fire that presents a huge risk to these assets, but saturation with water in conventional sprinkler systems can also cause considerable damage. The significantly smaller amount of water used by the new technology prevents this damage, while providing more effective fire protection.
The water mist technology covers a wide range of ordinary and industrial fire risk applications. It is assumed that the only applications where water mist may not be the best fire protection solution are warehouses and storage rooms. Everything else can be protected with water mist – offices, hotel rooms, restaurants, meeting rooms, atriums, parking lots, high-rise buildings, tunnels, saunas, hospitals, nursing homes, churches, concert halls, museums, archives and libraries, cable tunnels, power plants, engine rooms, escalators, data centers, railway and sea transport vehicles, freight containers, offshore oil platforms.
Water mist systems are increasingly used in the printing, chemical and oil industries. The technology can help you protect any type of structures – wooden, brick, glass and steel. Even Nasa’s international space station is equipped with a portable water mist system.
It can be summarized that the water mist systems are the most attractive solution for specific and complex applications. For example, the demand for water mist technology for data center fire protection has increased in recent years. Concerns among telecommunication service providers about the safety of the technology have gradually switched focus onto the benefits the water mist systems would provide in case of fire – the continuous workflow. They recognize the technology as the ideal solution, thanks to its many advantages, including easy installation, fast activation, and smooth operation of facilities even in the case of fire. For example, a water mist system with double pre-action and modular design would provide additional safety and space flexibility for these sites.
It is expected for the water mist systems to become the fastest growing client‘s sector in the firefighting industry with growth of over 8% in the coming years. Thanks to flexibility, economy, excellent efficiency and minimal damage, customers from industry, business and the public sector are increasingly inclined to implement water mist fire protection systems.
THE WATER MIST SYSTEMS – SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY WITH A FUTURE
Water mist is a 100% environmentally friendly firefighting technology. By using water as an extinguishing agent, the technology is harmless to humans and environment and contributes to the implementation of safer and more sustainable solutions in building construction.
The favourable environmental impact, reduced water consumption, safety and reliability compared to other fire extinguishing systems will lead to an increasing demand for water mist systems. In light of these significant environmental, technical and commercial advantages, the water mist systems are becoming more widely recognized as an alternative to sprinkler technology.
Water mist systems are the ideal solution for fire protection of the modern environment.
The origin and development of water mist systems for marine and offshore applications in the late 1980s is stimulated by the Montreal Protocol as a result of which the production of halon is phased out due to its harmful effects on the ozone layer.
Today, new environmental factors stimulate the demand for effective ecological fire extinguishing solutions. It can be seen in the increasingly high demands for more physical space, the rapid development of modern high-rise buildings, the increasingly high targets for energy efficiency and the existing permanent necessity of saving water.
Against the background of these new challenges, the successful „offer” for fire protection is the water mist system. The compact size of the system, the low consumption of water and energy, as well as the safety of the technology perfectly „fit” the modern building environment.
The water mist systems, recognized relatively recently for ground-based applications, will open up more and more new opportunities for architects, consultants and project contractors, offering potential for both technical and commercial advantages over previous technologies in the firefighting industry.
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