Water mist fire protection is a valuable safety tool. Water mist became a formal fire protection technology in the 1990’s. It is considered an alternative to gaseous fire extinguishing agents. Water mist fire protection technology is also required as a sprinkler system on passenger ships.
This mandate has now triggered the development of a new form of sprinkler system that requires less water and weighs less than conventional sprinkler systems.
In marine fire safety, water mist systems were developed for deluge-type, total flooding fire protection systems for machinery spaces. The water mist sprinkler systems are equivalent to automatic sprinkler systems.
The water mist system is an effective fire suppression agent because it’s hardware is different than traditional fire sprinkler equipment in water pressure to reduce liquid damage during a fire.
Water mist systems can be the following types:
- Low Pressure Systems that operate within the pressure range of conventional sprinkler pumps and fittings.
- Intermediate Pressure Systems that operate slightly higher pressure than conventional sprinklers.
- High Pressure Systems operating higher than conventional sprinklers.
Each type of pressure system differs by nozzle. Water mist approval protocols are designed to evaluate an assembly of components as a whole. This means individual valves, switches, motors not listed or approved, could still pass the comprehensive performance test if assembled to be a whole.
In 2005 FM Approvals created a water mist approval guide. This guide provides information on component testing requirements and fire test protocols for applications such as turbine enclosures, machinery spaces, industrial cookers, light hazard occupancies, wet benches and computer room subfloors.
In the 1990s the NFPA 750 committee wrote an installation standard for water mist systems and modeled this document on NFPA 13. Manufactures, designers, and installers to approve and test sprinklers and sprinkler systems use NFPA 13 guidelines.
NFPA 13 has allowed design of water mist systems to match sprinkler systems for multiple occupancy classifications. It also provides the advantage of an easily accessible installation standard.
Water mist systems can perform just as well and sometimes better than conventional sprinklers in fire tests. Water mist systems follow the same building codes as conventional sprinklers.
Manufacturers of Sprinkler equivalent water mist systems are looking to gain support for more usage of water mist systems in the next few years, including tackling fire hazards in buildings.
Manufacturers desire to use Water mist sprinkler systems more often in building spaces because they can achieve equal or superior in performance than automatic sprinklers yet the water mist sprinkler systems use significantly less water than conventional sprinklers.
Install a reliable fire sprinkler system and have it regularly serviced by Fireline Corporation to keep your building protected at all times.
Fireline can design, furnish and install all types of fire sprinkler systems including wet pipe systems, pre-action systems and deluge systems as well as standpipe systems and fire pumps. Read about our sprinklers by clicking here.
We are a Maryland corporation founded in 1947 by John S. Waters. Fireline remains a pioneer in the fledgling fire equipment distribution business and we have grown to encompass all facets of fire protection. Our Totally Integrated Protection Solutions provide you with a wide variety of services. We can design, install, inspect, or service any type of fire protection system. From fire alarm to fire extinguisher, we do it all.
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