25th International Water Mist Returns to Prague in October 2026
The 25th International Water Mist Conference will take place in Prague, Czech Republic, on 7th and 8th October 2026.
“It is a pleasure to invite the international water mist community to one of Europe’s most historic cities for two days of technical exchange, networking and discussion on the future of fire protection”, said Max Lakkonen, president of the International Water Mist Association (IWMA), organizer of the event.
He continued: “The conference comes at an important time for our industry. The technology continues to develop strongly, supported by growing experience, new research, wider applications and an expanding framework of standards and approvals. Its role is no longer limited to selected special applications. Water mist is increasingly considered in buildings, industry, transport, energy applications and complex projects where performance, sustainability and efficient use of water are essential.”
The programme reflects this development. It opens with an industry review by Max Lakkonen and a keynote by František Kregl, President of PCFP in the Czech Republic.
A key feature will be the panel discussion on “Annex A: Risk or opportunity for the water mist industry”. This timely topic deserves open, constructive and fact-based debate.
EN 14972 and EN 17450
IWMA Director Luciano Nigro (Technical Manager at Jensen Hughes) said: “The European standard 14972 and the 17450 series on components represent an impressive regulatory project which has now reached a mature technical stage.”
EN 14972 is in fact the only document worldwide to bring together both the general regulations on the design and installation of water mist systems and a full set of test protocols of the systems.
Luciano Nigro explained: “The 14972 regulatory packages, completed last year with Annex A1, and the 17450 series constitute a complete reference for all operators in the sector. This completeness and regulatory clarity will help operators to overcome the technical divider that in the past has too often impeded the use of this exceptional firefighting tool because… too complicated. Making the legislation simple, clear and direct was the main driver of the working group and the goal is now within reach.”
SafeBESS Research Project
Kristian Hox (RISE Norway) will talk about the increasing deployment of building-integrated battery energy storage systems (BESS) which has highlighted the need for fire testing that captures the interaction between detection, suppression, ventilation, and explosion protection systems.
Existing studies largely focus on isolated suppression performance and rarely address mechanically ventilated battery rooms. This study aims to fill this knowledge gap through large-scale experiments representative of building-integrated BESS installations.
The objective is to evaluate the performance of high- and low-pressure water mist systems, as well as a dry-pipe sprinkler and IG-541 system. In addition, the work evaluates firewater run-off from different water-based suppression systems, providing a more holistic assessment of BESS fire safety and environmental impact.
Electric Vehicle Fire in Parking Garages
Patricio Valdes is an associate at MAPA Fire Engineering, a company founded together with Miguel Angel Perez dedicated to analysing fire safety in complex processes and e.g. the mining industry, tunnels, airports.
The study evaluates the feasibility of using an automatic water mist system as an alternative to conventional sprinkler protection in parking garages adapted for electric vehicles (EVs).
Patricio Valdes said: “The introduction of EVs presents new challenges for both facilities and occupants as a result of the fire behaviour and combustion products associated with lithium-ion battery packs that power the cars.”
Several fire scenarios were evaluated using CFD technique to assess the performance of a water mist system in controlling or suppressing a fire involving an EV. The results indicate the performance of the system, evaluating the probability of fire spread to adjacent vehicles, hot and toxic gases, water discharged, occupant´s visibility, etc. The study provides evidence supporting the adoption of water mist systems as a viable and environmentally advantageous solution for EV fire protection in parking garages.
Turbine-Based Water Mist: Expanding the Reach of Fire Protection
Water mist has long been recognized as an effective firefighting technology. Turbine-based water mist takes goes a step further by projecting the mist over greater distances and distributing it very effectively, even in complex or partially shielded fire scenarios.
This makes the technology particularly suitable for demanding industrial applications and areas with high fire loads. Extensive testing and demonstrations have confirmed its effectiveness against Class A, B, C and F fires, as well as in environments where electrical current may be present. Its performance has been evaluated by independent testing and certification bodies, including CNPP, MPA Dresden and TÜV SÜD, reinforcing confidence in the technology for critical fire protection challenges.
In Prague, Francesco Fritz (Deputy CEO at EmiControls) will present insights from recent full-scale fire trials.
He said: “As industries move away from fluorinated foams, turbine-based water mist is attracting growing attention as an efficient, sustainable and practical alternative, gaining acceptance among authorities, fire protection engineers and insurers alike.”
Advancing Fire Safety Through Lifecycle Maintenance
Sami Autero, Director of Service and Aftermarket at Marioff Corporation, will speak about “Preventative Maintenance with Test Programme to Secure Water Mist Performance During the Lifecycle”.
The session highlights how long-term system reliability and operational readiness can be ensured through structured preventative maintenance programmes and advanced testing practices.
Drawing on decades of service experience also from outside fire industry, Sami Autero explores best practices for maintaining system performance in varying operating environments and introduces evolving approaches such as integrated system and water quality testing.
According to Sami Autero, “Preventative maintenance is critical for sustaining water mist system performance and ensuring that fire safety systems operate as designed throughout their lifecycle.”
The presentation also addresses the future of digitalisation in fire safety, including connected systems and real-time monitoring, supporting enhanced maintenance efficiency and improved customer safety.
Application of Water Mist Installations outside DIOM
Peutz has conducted research regarding project-based expansion of the application of water mist installations outside DIOM with laboratory and onsite tests. Jaap Wijnia and Alicia Knijnenburg, fire safety consultants at Peutz B.V. in the Netherlands, will give a presentation of this research and results.
They will start with a description of a situation where a proposed water mist system did not comply with the DIOM for the space for which it was designed. To assess the installation, a field test was required. To obtain valid test results, an appropriate test had to be developed. The design process of this test, including the pass-fail criteria, will be presented. The design process includes calculations regarding peak heat release rate and duration of test fire.
In the laboratory tests, the calculations were verified. The results of this design process were translated into a field test, where the water mist system was activated and positively assessed.
The 2nd day includes a new Initiative
A workshop as part of the conference programme. As this has been requested by the industry, we are pleased to deliver it.
IWMA has also decided to place stronger focus on training the market and is working on a new competence scheme for the water mist sector.
Industrial fryer protection with water mist
Fire protection of industrial fryers often falls within a scope gap during the design and building process, often resulting in less robust, higher cost fire protection solutions having to be implemented.
“My presentation demonstrates how with appropriate planning during the design, procurement and construction stages, fire protection within an industrial fryer can be enhanced and seamlessly integrated into a site wide fire protection system”, said Dirk Laibach (Senior Global Product Manager Water Mist at Johnson Controls Internation).
Multiple water mist fire protection solutions are considered to determine the most practicable, robust and resilient solution. We at JCI explore both: FM approved standalone (contained) and centralized solutions (pumped), considering the fire test, project integration, and resilience. The presentation mirrors how to plan and implement water mist systems to robustly protect industrial fryers. It demonstrates further their effectiveness und optimal utilization of water mist systems in this application making an integrated water mist system – supplied from a centralized duty and standby water supply serving the premises – the preferred solution.
Fire Protection for the Centre of Islamic Civilization in Tashkent
The Centre for Islamic Civilization is a cultural, scientific and educational complex in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Housed in a monumental three-story structure of 16.700 square metres with a 65-metre central dome decorated with ancient architectural motifs, the centre serves as exhibition area for rare artifacts and 200.000 archival documents.
A high-pressure water mist system is protecting all floors within the building as well as the centre dome roof structure. Depending on the specific hazards of the protected area open and automatic nozzles have been installed. The system is combined with mobile water mist guns housed in wall cabinets for manual firefighting at strategic locations with minimized water usage.
Rüdiger Kopp (Managing Director for fixed water mist systems, FOGTEC) said: “I will outline the motivation of the client to utilize high-pressure water mist and detail the design process.”
Additionally, he will discuss the challenges encountered during the system’s implementation and the associated full-scale fire tests.
High-Pressure Water Mist Protection for Modern Timber High-Rise Buildings
As sustainable timber construction continues to shape the future of urban architecture, fire protection solutions must combine maximum safety with minimal environmental impact.
“Malley Phare” is a 60-meter-high new building which expands the existing “Malley Lumières” shopping centre with modern apartments, communal areas, and flexible co-working and home office spaces.
With this project in Switzerland, Aquasys integrated state-of-the-art fire protection technology into a future-oriented and sustainable building project. Using ultra-fine water droplets generated at high pressure, the system rapidly cools the fire area, reduces radiant heat, and limits oxygen supply around the fire source.
Compared to conventional sprinkler systems, significantly less water is required, reducing water damage and supporting the preservation of sensitive timber structures and interior finishes. For high-rise timber projects, the compact stainless-steel piping system offers major architectural and engineering advantages, including reduced installation space and lower system weight.
See you in Prague!
In addition, IWMA will offer a site visit. An exhibition will run alongside the event, supported by many sponsors. The conference is endorsed by several association partners.
“I look forward to welcoming you to Prague”, Max Lakkonen concluded.
For more information please visit IWMA website.
