Watermist systems: “lacking performance, reliability and the extent of protection”
A recent publication in ‘Fire Risk Managements’ journal discussed the benefits of a sprinkler system installation, over a Watermist Installation.
Lee Wallace reports from the latest monthly lecture held for Association of Insurance Surveyors members, which looked at the protection of commercial risks.
Below are a few extracts from the article:
“In view of the launch of new technical guidance to insurers, principal technical consultant at the FPA, Dr Simon Bird, updated AiS members on watermist protection.”
“Dr Simon Bird explained that, while watermist is often chosen for ‘local application’ and compartment ‘deluge’ systems, poor design and equipment complexities especially in detection and reliability have been seen.
BS 8489-1:2016: Fixed Fire Protection Systems
“Industrial and commercial watermist systems: code of practice for design and installation paves the way for large-array ‘closed-head’ watermist systems, yet there are important technical reservations abut this form of system being applied on land.”
“There is no safety factor concept for watermist – to date the only mechanism for approvals has relied on full-scale, semi-realistic testing with no allowance for upward scaling. How long the fire has been burning and watermist density affect performance, as does ventilation.”
“For property protection, it may seem strange to see the two technologies competing for the same application, but they do! only sprinkler standards deal with whole buildings – watermist would be a very bespoke design.”
“Where equivalency is requested between competing water-based suppression systems, performance, reliability and the extent of protection need to be considered. There is little by way of codes or standards to dictate that watermist systems will have many of the features that make sprinkler systems effective for the long-term protection of property and business.”
FRM
To read the full article please click here
Article Source: FRM (Fire Risk Management) , Lee Wallace
Image source: FRM (Fire Risk Management)
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