Water Mist System Vs. Sprinkler System - Head To Head

Sprinkler systems have been around for decades. But now, new technology has enabled water mist systems to become a popular substitute for sprinklers for fire suppression. Many households and offices have already replaced sprinklers systems with water mist systems lately. They have their reasons, and you should consider them too before choosing the better fire suppression system for your home or office. Let's compare their features one by one.

1. Fire Fighting Capacity

Sprinklers and water mist systems are both effective for putting out fires. They use two different methods to do it. Sprinkler systems are triggered by smoke and release sprinkles of water in all directions to put the fire out. Water mist systems use a compact pump unit and water mist nozzles that respond to smoke or heat and react immediately to release tiny droplets of water in the air. The tiny droplets make a mist that puts out the fire instantly.

The difference between the two is only that the water mist system's droplets have a larger surface area in total and have more contact with the heat and the fire, thereby extinguishing it more quickly.

2. Tank Capacity

Sprinkler systems typically need a water tank of 1500-2000 litre capacity to store water ready for the sprinklers to release at a time it’s activated. Water mist systems only use a compact pump unit to increase the pressure of water coming from the water supply line into the water mist nozzles.

The obvious advantage is that less space and less water quantity requirement for water mist systems to operate effectively.

3. Smoke Washing

Smoke is a deadly by-product of fire. When something starts to burn, it produces smoke which can be extremely hazardous to health, sometimes even fatal. People get suffocated when they are trapped in rooms, and even when they are safe from the fire outside, the smoke that seeps in can be dangerous.

Sprinkler systems are ineffectual in washing smoke, but water mist systems have been observed to remove smoke from the environment successfully.

4. Fire Insurance

Whenever there is a fire, some damage is done to the property and the assets within. You can't have insurance for everything you own, so you have to bear some loss due to fire. Fortunately, fire insurance is common, and you can ensure your things can be replaced in case of a fire.

Traditional sprinkler systems are good at putting out fires, but they completely drench the objects and equipment in the area to do so. The result is damaged personal items due to water, which might void your insurance because the things were not affected by the fire. If the insurance for damage done due to sprinkler systems is included in the fire insurance, the premium would be higher. Water mist systems do not dampen the assets in the room because the mist quickly evaporates from the surface. Therefore, no damage (or very little) is done to your material possessions in the room, and insurance claims are therefore easier to file.