In a fire emergency, few things are more important than choosing the right fire extinguisher. Using the wrong extinguisher is not only ineffective against a fire but can actually make it worse. Of course, to be able to use the right fire extinguisher, you first need to understand the differences between them.

One of the most common causes of confusion is the difference between Water Fire Extinguishers and Water Mist Fire Extinguishers. On a surface level, they sound pretty much identical. However, these two extinguisher types are quite different. In this article, we will discuss the differences between water and water mist fire extinguishers. We’ll go through how they work, what types of fire they’re used on, the importance of knowing the difference, and how you can quickly and easily identify them.

Water fire extinguishers

What is a water fire extinguisher?

Water fire extinguishers are some of the most popular and commonly used fire extinguishers on the market today. Water fire extinguishers have been used since 1881 and the basic principles behind them have remained pretty similar to this day.

Water has a cooling effect, which makes it a very effective agent for certain types of fire. As the water cools the temperature of the fire, it becomes much harder for the fire to sustain itself. The water also creates steam which displaces oxygen, which is essential for a fire to continue burning.

The water inside water fire extinguishers doesn’t act on the flames themselves. Instead, it acts on the fuel. This makes it very important to understand the types of fire that water fire extinguishers are suitable for.

What are water fire extinguishers used for?

Water fire extinguishers are extremely effective at fighting Class A fires. Class A fires are started through combustible solids. This includes paper, wood and textiles. When used on Class A fires, the rapid cooling effect that a water fire extinguisher provides can help to extinguish the fire very quickly.

The drawback of a traditional water fire extinguisher is that is it somewhat limited in the types of fires that it can tackle. For example, when fighting Class B fires started by flammable liquids, water fire extinguishers can be extremely dangerous. Rather than putting out the fire, the water simply displaces the fuel, causing the fire to spread further.

Water fire extinguishers are also unsuitable for electrical fires or around any electrical equipment. Because of the conductivity of water, using it on live electrical equipment presents a real risk of electrocution.

Water fire extinguishers are ideal for use in any setting where your fire risk assessment has recognised the risk of Class A fires. Environments like offices and retail stores benefit from a water-based extinguisher.

The primary benefit of a water fire extinguisher is that it is highly cooling. This means that, when used on Class A fires, it can quickly extinguish them.

Water fire extinguishers also have no negative environmental impact. This makes them ideal for use in indoor, populated spaces, as well as natural environments where Class A fires are likely.

Water Mist Fire Extinguishers

What is a water mist fire extinguisher?

At first glance, water mist fire extinguishers appear to be the same as traditional water fire extinguishers. However, there are some very significant differences.

The most important difference is in the agent itself. Water mist extinguishers contain “de-ionised water.” De-ionised water has gone through a process that removes all electrically conductive minerals. This makes it quite similar to distilled water, though de-ionised water hasn’t had all impurities removed, only dissolved minerals. This ensures that the water inside a water mist fire extinguisher has very low electrical conductivity.

Our FireShield Water Mist Fire Extinguishers also use specially designed rotors to generate a fine mist of micron molecules. These tiny droplets have a much higher surface area coverage than water, allowing them to cool fires far more quickly.

What are water mist fire extinguishers used for?

Not only are they every bit as effective against Class A fires as traditional water extinguishers, but water mist can also be used on electrical fires and live electrical equipment. In fact, water mist fire extinguishers are versatile enough that they can be used to tackle the majority of fire classes.

Our range of Water Mist Extinguishers is suitable for Class A, F, and electrically started fires. If your Fire Risk Assessment has identified the risk of multiple classes of fire, a water mist fire extinguisher could well be the versatile, effective fire safety solution that you need.

Despite the increased versatility and effectiveness of water mist fire extinguishers, they are just as environmentally friendly as traditional water extinguishers, making them ideal for a wide range of different environments. In modern office environments where electrical equipment is extremely common, water mist extinguishers are extremely useful.

The importance of choosing the right extinguisher

When tackling a fire, being able to extinguish it quickly and effectively is your top priority. If you don’t use the correct type of fire extinguisher for the fire you’re attempting to tackle, you could end up putting yourself at serious risk.

The wrong extinguisher can make the fire even worse or can risk direct harm to you. Even if it doesn’t make the fire worse, if an extinguisher isn’t effective in fighting a particular fire, the fire could continue to spread and worsen.

Identifying your fire extinguishers

During a fire emergency, you likely won’t have the time to carefully consider the type of extinguisher you need. Because of this, it’s important that you can immediately identify your extinguishers. This can be done in several ways.

The most obvious is the labelling on your fire extinguisher itself. Different extinguisher types are colour-coded for easy identification. Water and water mist fire extinguishers are both identified by their fully red bodies. Foam extinguishers, on the other hand, are identified by the cream panel on their body.

Another essential way to identify your fire extinguishers is with the correct signage. Choosing signage that displays not only the type of fire extinguisher present but also the kinds of fires that they are suitable for is an invaluable part of your fire safety procedures.

You should also use your Fire Risk Assessment to ensure that your fire extinguishers are located in the right place. If an area of your building is at risk for Class A fires, then you should have a water or water mist fire extinguisher available. On the other hand, if there are Class B fire hazards present, then a dry powder fire extinguisher is better suited. That way, you can avoid any potential confusion during an emergency.

Conclusion

The right fire extinguisher is your most important tool during a fire emergency. The differences between certain extinguishers can be complicated and somewhat confusing, so being able to identify them can help keep you, your building, and anyone else present as safe as possible.

If you are still unsure about whether water and water mist fire extinguishers are right for your business, get in touch with our fully qualified engineers online or call us on 0330 058 0631.