“The International Water Mist Association (IWMA) Conference in Manchester has broken all previous records, underlining the growing global interest in water mist technology”, said IWMA President Max Lakkonen.
The event, which took place on 24th and 25th September, attracted almost 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 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. The event was opened by Sir Ken Knight, who offered a valuable perspective from the fire services 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 launched several documents to guide the market:
- The Water Mist Guide, an introductory resource explaining how water mist works and how it should be applied, supporting all stakeholders.
- The updated Standard Matrix, clarifying applicable fire test protocols for the approval of water mist systems.
- “Mistconceptions”, a new IWMA initiative addressing common misconceptions about water mist, providing evidence-based responses.
Max Lakkonen, IWMA President, commented: “We have been positively surprised by the number of attendees and sponsors, which clearly demonstrates the strong momentum of our industry.”
