Next Generation Water Mist Fire Protection Systems: Safe, Effective and Environmentally Sustainable Solutions

Water mist fire protection systems have been successfully used for many years to keep people and property safe throughout the world. 

Water mist technology was first introduced in North America in the early 1990s, and since then has proven to be highly effective at fire suppression, gaining credibility and recognition as a solid alternative to traditional sprinkler systems in commercial buildings. As both the control and suppression mechanisms and water mist features have become better understood over the past decade, the use of this technology has expanded to a range of land-based buildings, including museums, hotels, data centers, hospitals and skyscrapers.

Water mist systems provide superior fire suppression capabilities compared to traditional sprinklers in water usage and firefighting properties. They use less water and are more efficient at suppressing fires; the mist consists of fine droplets that absorb heat more efficiently than water drops discharged by traditional sprinklers therefore blocking radiant heat and cooling the flame. The micro-droplets also vaporize more efficiently, which reduces oxygen available at the flame source thereby enhancing fire suppression.  Less water means less damage, less clean-up time and less cost.

LESS IS MORE

There are two predominant types of water mist systems in the North American market: high pressure (>500 psi) and low pressure (175 psi or less). High pressure water mist systems use less water compared to low pressure water mist systems, and consume significantly less water than traditional sprinkler systems to effectively control and suppress fires. Fire tests with Marioff’s high pressure water mist system, HI-FOG^®, and traditional sprinkler systems show that HI-FOG used up to 90 percent less water to bring the same fire under control. This feature makes water mist systems more environmentally sustainable than traditional sprinkler systems.

High pressure water mist systems deliver potable water at a high velocity through specially designed and patented sprinklers targeting two main elements that fire needs to survive – heat and oxygen. The result is a mist consisting of fine droplets that have a significantly greater specific surface area (surface area per unit mass of water) and heat-absorbing capacity compared to water drops discharged from low pressure water mist systems and traditional sprinkler heads. Additionally, high pressure water mist systems typically require fewer nozzles than low pressure water mist systems.    

High pressure water mist systems also help minimize the impact on natural resources. These systems eliminate the need for and cost of extending water mains or increasing water pressure. They have become an important fire suppression option in areas where water is expensive, in short supply or not readily available, or where water pressure is low. The stainless steel tubes used in the high pressure water mist systems do not rust and useful life can reach 100 years versus less than half which can be typical for black iron pipes that are used by traditional sprinkler systems.  Furthermore the build-up of impurities and bacteria associated with the contents of black iron pipe is avoided, so clean-up is faster, safer and easier compared to traditional sprinkler systems. This helps minimize costly business interruptions and downtime, which allows organizations to recover more quickly after system activation.

EASY INSTALLATION

Beyond resource preservation, high pressure water mist systems have an especially distinct advantage in retrofit settings where buildings are being updated to meet new fire codes. The technology is easily customizable and features small, lightweight, bendable stainless steel tubes that are more adaptable than those used in traditional sprinkler systems. This makes installation easier, especially in older buildings with tighter spaces. High pressure water mist systems also take up less volume than traditional sprinklers as they consist of small tubing that is quick to install and easy to maneuver around unique angles, corners and architectural obstructions. The tube network is small enough to be hidden from view by using a variety of design elements, such as crown molding to preserve the building aesthetics.

WIDER ACCEPTANCE

When water mist fire protection technology launched in North America more than a decade ago, system manufacturers educated key influencers through live product demonstrations and data-outcome presentations. Subsequently, architects, engineers, contractors and building owners began incorporating the technology into proposed building designs.

In December 2011, the technology achieved a critical milestone when HI-FOG became the first water mist fire protection product to receive Underwriters Laboratory (UL) listing for Ordinary Hazard Group 1 (OH1) applications. This, together with Factory Mutual (FM) Light Hazard (LH) system approval, has paved the way for HI-FOG to provide a complete fire protection solution for a range of commercial buildings, including data centers, high rise buildings, hospitals, hotels and cultural heritage sites.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lance D. Harry, P.E. is General Manager, Marioff North America. Mr. Harry has been extensively involved in designing, developing, testing and deploying water mist systems around the world. With thousands of full-scale fire tests completed, the HI-FOG Water Mist Fire Protection System is the world’s most tested water mist solution. HI-FOG has been tested across a wide variety of applications and holds a large number of type approvals from recognized approval authorities.

About Marioff and HI-FOG^®

Marioff is the leading developer of water mist fire protection technology and supplies system solutions worldwide. The company designs and manufactures all key components of the water mist fire protection system under the name HI-FOG. The HI-FOG water mist fire protection system is a modern, highly effective solution suitable for most types of fires, on land and at sea. It safely controls and suppresses fire by discharging a fine water mist at high velocity. It uses up to 90 percent less water than traditional sprinkler systems. Less water means less water damage, and less clean-up time, significantly reducing operational downtime.      

Marioff is part of UTC Climate, Controls &  Security Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp., which provides high technology products and services to the building and aerospace industries worldwide. More information about Marioff can be found on its website at www.marioff.com.