This guide provides important information on what Watermist is, how it works, challenges and considerations, applicable standards, best practice, environmental credentials, and general guidance information relating to Watermist as an active fire protection system.

Watermist systems are highly effective but must be designed with the exact environment in mind. As the design of a system is often almost entirely unique, every system should be tested prior to installation. At the Fire Protection Association, we offer testing on residential and...

With watermist systems becoming increasingly popular for the protection of property, assets, and people against the risks of fire, regular third-party testing of watermist nozzles is vital to ensure your system will continue to do its job in the event of a fire. In addition to offering UKAS...

Question "Where the first floor bedrooms in a two-storey flat are both inner rooms from the ground floor kitchen, which the front entrance door opens into, can a watermisting system be used as adequate mitigation – along with escape windows and appropriate early warning...

In 2025, BSI released BS EN 14972-17:2025 which introduced a new testing regime for watermist systems. This new standard supersedes BS 8458, which has now been formally withdrawn, marking a significant change for designers, installers, manufacturers and...

Stewart Kidd covers the appropriate applications and approvals for watermist fire suppression systems, amid potential problems GIVEN THAT watermist systems have been in use for fire suppression for more than 20 years, some people may be surprised to find that there are still significant issues...

The Fire Protection Association is among the first UK testing laboratories to become UKAS accredited for BS 8458 watermist system testing. The Fire Protection Association (FPA) is delighted to announce we have been awarded UKAS accreditation to carry out fire tests on watermist systems to BS...

Dale Kinnersley, FPA Principal Consultant, cross-examines the differences between sprinkler and watermist systems. This article looks at the comparison of sprinkler systems and watermist systems for general building fixed fire suppression/protection using a sealed-bulb wet pipe system....

New standard provides new testing regime for watermist systems and supersedes the existing British Standard BSI have released BS EN 14972-17:2025 - Fixed firefighting systems. Water mist systems - Test protocol for residential occupancies for automatic nozzle systems as a replacement for the...

The FPA is currently the only UKAS-accredited test facility for BS EN 14972-17 in the UK With the release of the new watermist standard: BS EN 14972-17:2025 – Fixed firefighting systems. Water mist systems – Test protocol for residential occupancies for automatic nozzle systems, the...

DEATHS FROM fire persist in flats, sheltered accommodation and premises where people are detained. The recent report into the 14 deaths in the 2004 fire at the Rosepark care home in Uddingston, Lanarkshire, starkly illustrates this. The low, and sometimes non-existent, staffing levels available...

In part one of a two part series, Gary Howe covers watermist technology in terms of market growth, current guidance and standards AN INSTALLED automatic fixed firefighting system is a highly effective element in the fire protection strategy of a building, because it is immediately available and...

Coronavirus has affected us all and has been fundamentally reshaping the ways in which we live our daily lives. In times of crisis, change is inevitable, decisive and invariably fast paced. Importantly, the window of opportunity that is opened up can be used purposefully to make or hasten...

IN AN earlier article in this magazine (Overlooked asset, November 2017), I suggested that the heritage sector could usefully reconsider the way in which portable fire extinguishers are provided in cultural resources buildings. In that article, I quoted from research which suggested that water was...

BUILDINGS ARE being constructed ever taller in height, often over 12m and up to 20m (‘lofty’ in insurance terms). With waste piles typically being managed to 4m to 6m in height, it means that roof level sprinklers don’t necessarily provide fully effective fire protection for the...

Bettina McDowell suggests how watermist fits into a world that is increasingly facing the many challenges of environmental protection SUSTAINABILITY AND eco friendliness are part of the current zeitgeist. Humankind has an impact on nature, and all too often it is a negative one. Everyone is...

The FPA are the market leaders in sprinkler system inspection and testing.  We provide detailed and comprehensive reporting, written by our team of experts to help ensure that your system works as it should. All sprinkler heads are tested in our purpose-built sprinkler laboratory where we will...

This RISCAuthority questionnaire is intended to be a powerful tool to gather all the evidence that should be seen in support of a thorough water mist fire protection system design.

This RISCAuthority questionnaire is designed to aid the purchaser of the system and their insurer to ensure that all elements pertinent to the selection, performance, design, delivery, and upkeep of the system have been addressed.

Summary iMist is a designer, manufacturer and installer of watermist fire protection systems for homes and residential buildings, and in 2022 became the first company to pass the FPA’s UKAS accredited BS 8458 Annex C range of residential and domestic watermist system...

Summary Quenchfire is a family company wholly focused on fire suppression for the domestic and residential sector. In 2015, Quenchfire developed the Halo Mist Fire System: a high-pressure watermist system designed to suppress fire in any type of home in the UK. In 2022, Halo became the first...

National Safe Boating Week runs from 24-30 May. At the Fire Protection Association we thought this would be a great opportunity to share our knowledge, information and testing standards when it comes to preventing boat fires. Watermist systems are an effective way to protect ships from...

We hope all our members had an enjoyable festive break and are looking forward to the year ahead. 2025 is an exciting time for the FPA membership as we prepare for the release of new documents and research which will be distributed to FPA members, a new events schedule...

In the final part of a two part series, Gary Howe provides examples of challenges faced when considering watermist suppression for various types of buildings THE FOLLOWING examples provide an insight into the real challenges faced by the author and other authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs)...

Inside Housing reported that the government had budgeted the money to pay for the 'eight-year' programme of fire safety improvements across its parliamentary estate, with 'high pressure water mist systems' to be installed alongside sprinklers. This comes despite its repeated...

BT Redcare’s Rob McLaughlin and Sodhi Dhillon first spoke on the next step in the UK’s digital transformation – Digital Voice – and how alarm signalling will be affected. The programme proper began with London Fire Brigade’s Paul Eastland explaining what to expect...

READERS OF FRM will be aware of our sustained objections to the publication by BSI of the commercial watermist standard, BS 8489. Our challenge is on the grounds that it paves the way for large array, bulb actuated systems, which we believe remain technically unproven, at best might not perform...

A PERSONAL Protection System (PPS) is a local application watermist fire suppression system designed to protect a vulnerable person in a domestic or residential environment from fire. These systems were developed in response to detailed analysis of the underlying causes of fatal fires in dwellings...

The FPA’s Assembly Point podcast continues its second series with a deep dive into sprinkler and watermist standards. In the latest episode of Assembly Point, the FPA’s suppression systems expert and Principal Consultant, Dale Kinnersley facilitates a technical discussion on...

IN 2008, the Fire Industry Association (FIA) carried out a survey into the usage of portable fire extinguishers, which showed that 80% of the fires fought with them were successfully extinguished and that in 75% of cases there was no need to call the fire and rescue...

In July 2025, the UK adopted BS EN 14972-17:2025 – Fixed firefighting systems. Watermist systems – Test protocol for residential occupancies for automatic nozzle systems, which changed the testing regime for watermist systems. Developed as part of the wider European EN 14972, Fixed...

This RISCAuthority questionnaire refers to installations protecting building compartments to their boundaries with closed-head thermally actuated ‘bulbed’ spray heads arranged to protect the compartment in its entirety.

IN 2012, the Fire Protection Association (FPA) began adding to its already extensive fire research, training and test laboratory in Gloucestershire by creating an ‘IMO’ high temperature test facility. The rig construction was based on the requirements of the International Maritime...

On Wednesday 23 September 2020, the FPA hosted a one day virtual event to educate key stakeholders on the importance of fire testing, and to showcase the range of facilities available at the FPA’s state of the art fire research and testing laboratory. The day was attended by...

Gazette Live reported on the probe’s review, which ‘urged’ that sprinkler and watermist systems be installed in ‘all’ high rise residential buildings in the area, alongside removal combustible cladding from one tower – Kennedy Gardens in Billingham –...

INSTALLATION OF fixed fire suppression systems has become a hot potato for the waste industry in recent years. This is in the face of pressure from regulators and insurers who, along with the operators, have been witness to a spike in the number of fires at waste handling sites since the...

The Fire Protection Association has been conducting fire research since 1946, and its Fire Testing Laboratory in Gloucestershire is UKAS accredited to test to several British Standards, including BS 8414 Cladding Testing, BS 8458 Watermist Systems Testing, and a range of fire resistance test...

THE LARGE scale closure of the UK’s coal-fired older power stations to comply with the EU’s Large Combustion Plant Directive1 has resulted in a serious shortfall of reserve generating capacity. Despite investment in wind and solar power, there is a real concern in industry that the...

Isabel joined the FPA in 2023 with experience in pharmaceutical laboratories, including in diagnostic government laboratories during the covid-19 pandemic. She leads the fire suppression department at the FPA’s Fire Testing Laboratory in Blockley. Isabel oversees sprinkler head testing, pipe...

BBC News reported on the improvement programmes for the blocks, built in the 1960s, which include the retrofitting of a watermist sprinkler system post Grenfell. The sprinklers are part of a £4.5m package for the 14 floor towers, with work begun in August and set to be completed in...

New regulations are a welcome step towards improving fire safety, writes William Makant, but their measures need to address all important risks IN 2011, Wales became the first country in the world to make the installation of automatic fire suppression systems (AFSSs) mandatory in new homes...

The Welsh Government has published new guidance on water mist systems aimed at local authority building control and installers to assist compliance with building regulations. Automatic water mist systems for domestic and residential premises was published on 27 August. This new guidance sets...

William Makant asks whether traditional fire suppression standards and techniques are keeping up with new building methods. To be effective and to continue saving lives, it is imperative that fire protection measures move with the times, keeping pace with changes in building construction,...

In the face of growing fire safety challenges, the role of Automatic Water Suppression Systems (AWSS) has never been more critical. The BAFSA Sprinkler Saves Project showcases how sprinklers and watermist systems protect lives and property across the UK, using real incident data to tell powerful,...

AT THE start of the seminar, FPA managing director Jonathan O’Neill pointed out that the implementation of the recommendations outlined by Dame Judith Hackitt in her report on building regulations and fire safety had become a ‘waiting game’, with the government (even at the time...

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has called on the government for “greater inclusion” of automatic water suppression systems (AWSS) in the built environment, including schools, student accommodation, and care homes, irrespective of building height. In a recently published...

The Fire Protection Association provides a much-needed facility for fire testing standards including fire resistance tests, large-scale cladding tests, and residential and domestic watermist systems tests. We are proud to be the first fire testing facility in the UK to be UKAS accredited to...

Dave joined the FPA in 2025, having previously worked for the FIA where he acted as Secretary to its Extinguishing, Fire and Rescue and Export Councils for almost 20 years. He began his career as a Research Scientist in the Kidde Group looking into Halon replacement gases and later specialising in...

SIDELAND’S PHIL Prosser, formerly a retail engineer at BAA, discussed the Heathrow Terminal 1 fire in December 1997, which began in a Burger King when a fire in the broiler – which cooks hamburgers via fat dripping on the element – travelled up vertical...

IFSM members and guests are welcome to attend the meeting, which will be held at the Royal College of Surgeons in London on 17 October. The meeting will include the Institute’s AGM and there will be an IFSM stand present at the exhibition that runs for both days of the Fire Sector...

International Women's Day (IWD) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality, and recognising the significant activities of groups who come together to call for positive...

A closed head (bulb) water mist system is a fixed fire protection system that uses fine water droplets to control, suppress or extinguish a fire. The system consists of automatic nozzles attached to a hydraulically calculated piping system containing water and connected to a water supply....

AUTOMATIC FIRE suppression is well established in businesses ranging from restaurant kitchens to data centres, and a range of technology is available. By contrast, only manual suppression methods such as fire extinguishers and blankets have any real presence in domestic premises, very few of...

DESIGN STANDARDS for the very first viable fixed firefighting method, sprinkler systems, have been evolving since the first rules for automatic sprinkler installations were written in the late 1800s. Since then, under the stewardship of various organisations with risk management interests, rules...

OUR ELDERLY community is growing significantly and forecasts suggest that the number of people over 65 will rise by almost 50% in the next 20 years to more than 16 million. This demographic shift, together with major changes in the way we fund retirement, has driven Westminster measures to...

The Fire Industry Association (FIA) has released a new guidance note regarding the compliance of certain fire suppression systems with the European Union's Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) Coming into force in 2016, the PED applies to the “design, manufacture, and conformity...

THE USE of bursting tube systems is not perhaps as new as some people believe. Burst tubes combined with low pressure cylinders containing a suitable firefighting agent provide low cost, easily installed automatic fire suppression systems (AFSSs) that are now a reality – and they have been...

A SHORT distance from the Houses of Parliament, where an evening reception for delegates was held with Fire Minister Nick Hurd, the Fire Sector Summit 2018 was in full swing on 31 October, bringing some hard hitting comment and reflecting strong sector endeavour and wide expectation that words post...

With competency being the standout theme from recent webinars hosted for the sector, William Makant looks at areas for improvement DURING LOCKDOWN, our company team hosted a series of webinars1, which related to innovation in fire safety, person centred fire strategies and designing for the...

BT Redcare’s Rob McLaughlin and Sodhi Dhillon first spoke on the next step in the UK’s digital transformation – Digital Voice – and how alarm signalling will be affected. This was followed by FPA technical director Dr Jim Glockling giving the first of three daily updates...

The Guardian reported that sprinklers ‘had not been fitted’ after the first fire at the Mackintosh Library in the building, which was ‘almost entirely destroyed by fire’ in May 2014. A spokesperson for the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association (BAFSA) stated at...

WELCOME TO the November issue of F&RM, which looks at waste fires in terms of fire service measures, suppression options and site management. Waste fires produce some of the more visible and news worthy disruption when they occur, but also have the capability to cause far more localised...

Jade Musto outlines the pros and cons of water mist suppression systems and emphasises the importance of pre-installation third-party testing. Water mist systems work by spraying very fine droplets of water at relatively high pressure, propelling water through specially designed nozzles...

The call from LFB asks that landlords retrofit sprinklers in all high rise blocks ‘and other buildings with vulnerable residents’, after Waltham Forest Council pledged to retrofit sprinklers in all 61 of its ‘high priority’ blocks, which LFB said was something it is...

The new figures released by LFB showed that there is, on average, more than one fire every day in such buildings housing ‘some of the capital’s most vulnerable residents’, with the service aiming to use Sprinkler Awareness Week to call for automatic fire suppression systems...

THE BREXIT referendum coincided with FIREX 2016 and we are still adjusting to the ‘long game’ and frustrating lack of clarity about our future, economic and otherwise. The Grenfell Tower tragedy hit just before FIREX 2017, and one year on, the mood at FIREX 2018 made it clear that on...

There are in fact five different types of portable fire extinguishers- water, powder, foam, wet chemical and carbon dioxide -and there are as many as 15 if you count the supplementary portable fire extinguishers. Anyone who may have to use a portable fire extinguisher should be trained by a...

THE FIRE SAFETY fixes required in the Houses of Parliament are now believed possible to undertake ‘without emptying the building’. Two years ago, it was revealed that ‘much of the parliamentary estate’ would close that summer for ‘urgent renovation work’ amid...

Summary Plumis were looking for a bespoke environment in which to test their product, Automist Smartscan, under real life fire conditions. They wanted to compare how the product performed against other options available in the market, and create video content to evidence its effectiveness. With...

Schools are considered high risk premises when it comes to fire safety. The size of the building, the number of people occupying it at any one time, the vulnerability of young school children and the potential presence of hazardous materials are all factors for consideration. There is also an...

Two years ago, it was revealed that ‘much of the parliamentary estate’ would close that summer for ‘urgent renovation work’ amid fire safety concerns, after a report in September 2017 stated that the Houses of Parliament would receive a £118m upgrade, with...

Construction News interviewed Mr Attwood about the ‘niche refurbishment specialist’ company’s work on the Houses of Parliament, specifically in relation to the ‘catastrophic’ fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral last year, which was ‘a warning to owners of historical...

To allow for effective tenant engagement and safety, it is important that the interior of the WRaP building is holistically designed, with inclusivity and fire safety at its core. This will help ensure it meets the needs of the diverse community of tenants and assuring long-term usability for all...

Integrated fire systems play a critical role in providing a clear pathway to compliance with industry standards in mind, offering essential management and an insight into a system’s status throughout the premises. But the question is, are we underestimating the importance of system...

Considering that the built environment is responsible for a significant portion of the UK’s carbon emissions, the government’s ambition for 1.5 million new homes in England over the course of its current parliament seems at odds with its net zero goals to decarbonise all sectors of the...

Tell us about Tyco/JCI and its history We have been operating as a fire engineering business in the UK for over 150 years and were originally known as Mather and Platt, who many readers will know were the first company outside the United States to obtain rights to manufacture the Grinnell...

Enhancing cladding system fire safety  The occurrence of large cladding system fires has been increasing since 1990. This is of particular concern as a building’s cladding system has the potential to spread fire around a building, bypassing the internal fire...

Executive Committee The RISCAuthority Executive Committee is responsible for the setting of high-level strategic scheme objectives and budget scrutiny. The committee comprises representation from the five major contributors to the scheme, two representatives of the other remaining members, ABI,...

WORKSHOP on timber framed buildings was chaired by IFE chief executive Neil Gibbins, who explained how growing concerns over total and large losses from fire in timber framed buildings led to cross-sector initiatives to reduce the impact of fires during their construction and use. From 2010, a...

A QUESTION that often arises is how innovative fire suppression systems fit with British Standard (BS) 9251: 2005: Sprinkler systems for residential and domestic occupancies. Code of practice, and the more recent draft standard, DD 8458-1: 2010: Fixed fire protection systems.  Residential...

THE SKYLINES in many cities are being populated with taller and more exotic buildings. Architects are competing with each other for singular iconic shapes and detail, while emerging economies are signifying their fiscal ascendancy with structures that are statement buildings of national...

THE UNIQUE set of capabilities held by the Fire Protection Association’s (FPA’s) fire testing laboratory, and the depth and range of skillsof its consultancy team, have made for another exciting and varied year of projects. In recent years, the FPA’s special projects group has...

WITH ITS insurance heritage, it is no surprise that the Ministry of Defence often looks to the FPA to assist in the development of codes and standards for the protection of its critical infrastructure, be it a land-vehicle, ship, submarine or built installation. The objectives of the two...

A PERSONAL protection system (PPS) is a local application fire suppression system designed to protect a specific risk, typically a life, within a domestic environment from fire. The background to the development of these systems is based on detailed analysis of the underlying causes of fatal...

CONSTRUCTION AND refurbishing projects carry with them a number of additional challenges in terms of fire protection because of the presence of flammable materials, use of hot works and limited escape routes.    Set in the context of this background is the fact that there are...

Fire extinguishers are a legal requirement in the workplace. Those who may have to use them should have received appropriate fire safety training. Using the correct fire extinguisher is the most important consideration. Should the wrong extinguisher be used it can have severe, life threatening...

What are the different types of fire extinguishers?  CO2 extinguisher– suitable for liquid and electrical fires  Water extinguisher – suitable for wood, cloth, coal, plastics, paper, textile and other solid material fires Foam extinguisher – for solid material...

Stewart Kidd looks at the benefits of and hurdles faced when fitting fire suppression systems in historic and heritage buildings While all modern buildings include the provision of a range of fire safety measures intended to protect the lives of occupants should a fire occur, these are not...

The Fire Protection Association is the UK’s leading fire safety organisation, committed to setting the highest industry standards, influencing policy, and supporting our members with the most comprehensive fire safety news, advice, training, resources, and exclusive member benefits to support...

Research and experimental fire testing plays a critical role in shaping fire safety strategies, improving building resilience, and informing regulatory and insurance practices. The Fire Protection Association has been conducting fire research since 1946 and we offer one of the most versatile and...

Following your feedback, last year the FPA membership scheme was refreshed and divided into three simpler category types – Individual, Small Business, and Corporate – which differentiate between company size to ensure appropriate access to the technical advice and guidance resources...

TAGEVAC’S ALAN Oliver referenced the ‘huge impact’ Grenfell continues to have on the industry, stating that ‘we have failed’ – the fire was a ‘tragedy waiting to happen’ that ‘we must ensure never happens again’. There should be no such...

JONATHAN O’NEILL, FPA managing director, reflected on Nick Ross’ speech at the pre event drinks (see pages 32-34), stating his ‘wise words’ aligned with the need for ‘reflection and the action to take’. He highlighted the importance of events ‘setting the...

When choosing the right fire extinguisher, it is important to know that no single type of fire extinguisher can be used on all types of fires. Your fire risk assessment should identify which types of fires are most likely to occur in your building/premises, making this a good place to...

When choosing the right fire extinguisher, it is important to know that no single type of fire extinguisher can be used on all types of fires. Your fire risk assessment should identify which types of fires are most likely to occur in your building/premises, making this a good place to...