24th IWMA Conference reflects growing interest in water mist

The event, which ran on 24 and 25 September, attracted circa 180 delegates from more than 25 countries, including a record number of first-time participants. Attendance from Asia and the Americas was also significantly higher than has been the case in previous years.

The 2025 programme focused on fundamental knowledge, training and a broad range of Case Studies from around the world, showcasing different fields of water mist applications.

Proceedings were opened by Sir Ken Knight, who offered a valuable perspective from the Fire and Rescue Service on the role of water mist in firefighting. Presentations covered topics ranging from the protection of Notre Dame Cathedral to the recently enforced EN 14972 standard in the UK.

IWMA took the opportunity to launch several documents aimed at guiding the market:

*the Water Mist Guide: an introductory resource explaining how water mist works and how it should be applied in order to support all stakeholders

*the updated Standard Matrix, clarifying applicable fire test protocols for the approval of water mist systems

*‘Misconceptions’: a new IWMA initiative addressing common misconceptions about water mist and providing evidence-based responses

Max Lakkonen, president of the IWMA, commented: “We have been positively surprised by the number of attendees and sponsors, which clearly demonstrates the strong momentum of our industry.”

*Further information is available online at www.iwma.org