Water Mist Extinguisher
A water mist portable extinguisher breaks water into a fine spray under pressure, cooling and smothering the fire surface without the conductivity risk of a jet stream, making it usable on live electrical equipment up to a safe voltage limit.
What to check on a Water Mist Extinguisher.
8 models from Kidde / Badger in Water Mist Extinguisher. Below: the full model list.
What Sets Water Mist Apart
A water mist extinguisher forces water through a specially designed nozzle at high pressure, breaking it into droplets typically below 100 microns. The fine mist absorbs heat far faster than a solid jet because of its greater surface area, and it partially displaces oxygen at the seat of the fire through rapid vapor expansion. Unlike a standard water-jet extinguisher, the mist does not form a conductive column back to the operator, so manufacturers rate many units safe for use on live electrical equipment at typical shipboard voltages, and unlike CO2 or dry powder it leaves the compartment breathable and causes far less collateral mess in accommodation and control spaces.
Legend
- discharge lever
- safety pin
- pressure gauge
- pressurized gas
- hose
- misting nozzle
- fine mist spray
- siphon tube
- water fill
Main Components
Cylinder and Charge
A steel or composite cylinder holds distilled or de-ionized water, sometimes with a small additive package, pressurized with nitrogen to a working pressure in the 8-16 bar range depending on model.
Mist Nozzle
A specialized discharge head, not the plain orifice of a water-jet type, is what actually creates the mist. Swapping in a generic nozzle destroys the fire performance even if the rest of the unit looks identical.
Read the full guide
Discharge Valve and Hose
A squeeze-grip or lever valve controls discharge, usually giving 50-90 seconds of continuous use, longer than a comparable CO2 unit of similar weight.
Selection and Sizing
- Fire class coverage: rated for Class A (ordinary combustibles) and often Class F (cooking oil); check the label before assuming Class B suitability
- Electrical safety rating and the minimum safe distance stated by the manufacturer for live equipment
- Discharge time and range, which matter for galley and accommodation layouts with limited retreat space
- Cylinder test pressure and weight, since a mist unit is often heavier than an equivalent CO2 extinguisher
Regulations and Class
Portable extinguishers fall under SOLAS Ch. II-2 and the FSS Code, which set the minimum number, type and distribution of extinguishers by space. Each unit needs a valid service and hydrostatic test certificate, with servicing intervals set by the manufacturer and verified at annual survey; class surveyors check the service tag date against the cylinder itself, not just the deck log.
Typical Faults
| Fault | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Nozzle partially blocked by scale from hard water fill | Discharge reverts to a jet, losing the electrical safety rating and cooling effect |
| Slow nitrogen pressure loss through the valve seal | Reduced range and discharge time, often unnoticed until the annual gauge check |
| Wrong extinguisher grabbed under Class B fire | Ineffective or worsened fire, since a water-based unit is not rated for flammable liquid fires |
| Cylinder past hydrostatic test date left in service | Survey finding, and a real risk of cylinder failure under pressure |
What to Look for in a Supplier
- Independent test certification for the stated electrical safety distance, not just a marketing claim
- Servicing network able to reach the ship's ports of call for the recurring annual and hydrostatic tests
- Consistent nozzle and valve parts across the fleet to simplify spares holding
Check the nozzle, not just the pressure gauge, at every inspection - a mist extinguisher with full pressure but a scaled nozzle discharges a jet, and the crew will not find that out until it is too late.
Models in this type.
The best-documented model of each manufacturer first, then the next — 8 of 8 models in Water Mist Extinguisher. Every row links to full specifications, documents and service notes.
Manufacturers.
All 13 manufacturers with models of Water Mist Extinguisher. Names with a manufacturer page open it; the others open a search across the full library.
All manufacturers in the libraryAlso in Portable Fire Extinguishers.
The other equipment types in this category.
Write to us about this model — the answer comes by e-mail.
Name the make and the model and what the job is: a spare, a service call, a second opinion on a data sheet. We answer by e-mail.
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Questions that come up with this equipment.
Is Water Mist Extinguisher data free?
Yes. Every model page, every guide and every datasheet for this type is readable without an account. An account adds saved searches and requests, nothing is taken away.
My model is missing — what now?
Send us the nameplate. We identify it by hand, add it to the library, and if you need a part or a service, the request is already on our desk.
Can you source a Water Mist Extinguisher part?
Yes. Tell us the manufacturer, the model and what you need — a person reads every request and replies by e-mail.