Protecting small retail shops packed with combustible goods by sprinkler system might not be too satisfactory. Any delay in system activation will lead to a flashover fire. Also, there might be serious water damage which is not good for shops selling expensive items. Alternative fire protection systems should be searched for. Water mist might be effective for suppressing postflashover fires if the system is designed properly. Whether water mist fire suppression systems can be used in the small shops is discussed in this paper. Key factors affecting the system performance will be discussed. Potential application strategies are outlined. An example was used to illustrate the design of the system.
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