Water and fire displays

Water and fire displays

Demonstration design, flame equipment selection, control coordination and operational requirements

The combination of water and fire creates an iconic image, especially in the night show. The movement of the water, the lighting of the flame and their reflection can be used in a calm architectural composition or in a programmed display.

This family ranges from drip cups with hearths to specialized flame-on-water jet systems. The difference between these structures is not only superficial; The type of fuel, the method of flame generation, installation conditions and their protection logic are also different.

Successful design must consider audience experience and technical performance at the same time. The choice of location and equipment, before designing the details of the display, defines the scope of the project's capabilities.

13–1. What is meant by water and fire fountain?

In these systems, water and flame are placed in a visual composition. Water is not the fuel of the flame; The flame energy is supplied from the fuel defined for the equipment.

Common arrangements can be divided into four groups:

Seemingly similar makeup can require different equipment. Installing a conventional burner next to water does not make it a suitable immersion or sprinkler system.

On the GSO website, water and fire pit packages are introduced for the open space. The fuel and control feature should be extracted for the selected model from the technical documentation of the same product. Source: GSO water and stove package ^[75]

13–2. The role of fire in the design of the show

A flame can act as a point of emphasis, framing, background or climax.

In a quiet area, a few fire pits with gentle drainage may make the ideal combination. In the big show, a short and specific use of flame can create a special moment.

Before determining the number of equipment, it should be clear:

• Where and at what distance does the audience watch?

• Is the role of the flame accompanying the architecture or part of the timed display?

• Should the fountain also have an independent visual quality during the day?

• How long and with how many daily executions is it used?

• When the fire part is not active, how is the combination of water and light seen?

It is better that the water and light program can provide a complete experience even in the permitted mode without fire. This feature creates operational flexibility in the conditions of environmental restrictions or service of the flame department.

Figure note from the source manuscript

Figure 1–13: Night shot of an actual GSO water and fire package, showing cup, water path, and flame position. Suggested caption: "The combination of water and fire must be designed from the beginning as a set." Model name, fuel type and installation location should be entered only based on the approved file.

13–3. Choosing the place and range of spectators

Placement should be based on actual flame performance and site conditions. The apparent height of the flame alone does not determine the range of the thermal effect or the appropriate distance.

Important topics include:

• distance from audiences and crossing routes;

• surrounding materials, vegetation and equipment;

• Balcony, canopy, roof and top effect components;

• Wind direction and local air currents;

• Fuel storage or supply place;

• Operator access and service forces;

• The possibility of changing the layout of the area in events.

The distances should be determined from the equipment documents, project evaluation and the requirements of the responsible authority. Providing a fixed distance is not suitable for all burners and all environments.

The equipment introduced for outdoor space does not automatically become suitable for closed space by adding ventilation. For example, Fire By Design's AWEIS guidelines limit the use of its models to open spaces. Source: AWEIS instruction ^[76]

13–4. Choosing a flame system

The purchase specification should go beyond titles such as "smart torch" or "remote control".

For example, OASE introduces the FountainFlame system, a specialized combination of torch and ignition technology, a control pump, nozzle and light that displays a flame along with a variable jet of water. Such capability belongs to the engineered product set. Source: OASE Company FountainFlame ^[77]

13–5. Fuel and infrastructure provision

The type of fuel must be determined before designing the facility. Natural gas, LPG and other fuels do not have the same storage, supply and equipment requirements.

In a product, changing the fuel type may require different parts and configurations and manufacturer approval. The ability to use a fuel cannot be concluded from the appearance of the burner.

Fuel supply design should cover simultaneous capacity, transfer route, environmental conditions, disconnection equipment and possibility of inspection. The placement of components should also be coordinated with drainage and architectural constraints.

Also, the average display consumption is different from the required current capacity. Even if the flares are only active in part of the display, the infrastructure must be responsive to the maximum number of combinations allowed at the same time.

Selection of pipe diameter, pressures and fuel regulation components should be done in specialized design and based on equipment documents.

13–6. Harmony of water and fire

In some arrangements, the two sections are largely independent. In other systems, the condition of the water directly affects the flame performance.

For each product, it must be specified:

• What water condition is required to run the flame?

• What surface or flow changes limit performance?

• How do sprinkles and rainwater get away from sensitive parts?

• After stopping, what parts should continue to work?

• What is the order of water draining and cooling?

There is no single sequence for all products. Some equipment is designed for specific installation in water and some is only weather resistant.

Fire By Design also provides separate instructions for AWEIS and Submersible SUBEIS systems; The choice should be based on the product and installation conditions. Source: Fire By Design Product Instructions ^[78]

Figure note from the source manuscript

Figure 2–13: Conceptual cross-section of a sump and fire pit, showing separately the water path, fuel equipment, drainage, and service access. Suggested subtitle: "The juxtaposition of water and fire requires the determination of independent paths and clear functional connections." The image is purely schematic and does not prescribe the operational details of the torch.

13–7. Display control and functional protection

The rendering system determines when the effect is requested. The control and protection system of the equipment must check that the execution of that request is allowed.

The presence of DMX, display software, or mobile control alone does not prove the safety of a flame system. The display command path must be aligned with the product and project protection architecture.

The general logic can be expressed as follows:

Display request → check the permitted conditions → implement the equipment sequence → monitor the performance → end or stop according to the approved logic

Effective conditions can include fuel system condition, flame detection, water condition, environmental condition, and stop command. The shortlist depends on the product and project evaluation.

A specific response must be defined for errors:

Ignition, monitoring and retry times shall be derived from the approved system; It is not suitable to change them just for the visual harmony of the show.

13–8. Wind and environmental conditions

Wind can change flame direction, combustion stability and thermal effect range. Conditions suitable for water display are not necessarily suitable for fire effects.

In the design, the range of operation, measurement location, behavior in strong winds and the conditions for returning to work should be specified. A sensor in a sheltered location may not represent the true conditions of the flame location.

In addition to wind, rainfall, water accumulation, ambient temperature and changes caused by surrounding structures should be considered.

"Water and light without fire" mode can be a part of the operation plan, provided that the cause of the fire limitation does not disallow the operation of those parts.

13–9. Materials, heat and drainage

Materials surrounding the flame must be selected for actual thermal and environmental conditions. The general name of a material is not enough to confirm its use.

In reviewing the details, these items are important:

• tolerance of heat and temperature changes;

• The effect of water contact on hot parts;

• expansion and displacement of components;

• compatibility of metals and joints in wet environment;

• The possibility of accumulation of water or pollution in the chamber;

• access to parts that need cleaning;

• Protection of the audience from contact with hot surfaces after shutdown.

Drainage must be compatible with equipment requirements. The empty space under the burner, without inspection, is not a suitable place for any type of pipe to pass or for equipment to accumulate.

Extinguishing the flame does not mean the immediate cooling of the set; This issue should be seen in the service and access management program.

13–10. Show schedule design

The fire can be synchronized with music, water movement and light changes, but the program must stay within the limits of the equipment's operation.

For each effect, the actual capabilities need to be specified: the type of variability, the minimum performance times, the repetition limit, and the response of the equipment.

A burner suitable for continuous flame is not necessarily suitable for quick and frequent switching on and off. The display designer must obtain the capability from the product documentation and testing.

A demonstration scenario can include the following steps:

1. Introducing the combination with water and light; 2. Limited flame entry for emphasis; 3. Expansion of the composition within the approved range; 4. The end of the fire effect according to the sequence of equipping; 5. Summing up the show with water and light.

The duration of each stage should be determined after selecting the system and technical review.

Figure note from the source manuscript

Figure 3–13: A three-line conceptual timeline for water, light, and fire. On the fire row, specify the "request permission to display" intervals. Suggested caption: "Art timing should be within the approved performance range of the equipment." The diagram does not have prescribed ignition and fuel cutoff times.

13–11. Calculation example of fuel consumption

For the initial estimate of gas consumption, if the consumption flow rate of each unit is known in working mode:

Consumption volume = the sum of consumption flow rate of each unit x the time the same unit is on

All volumes must be expressed based on the same reference temperature and pressure.

Suppose in an educational example:

• We have four flame units;

• The consumption of each unit in the selected mode is 3 reference cubic meters per hour;

• The show lasts 20 minutes;

• Cumulative lighting time of each unit in the show is 5 minutes.

Consumption per unit:

3 × 5 ÷ 60 = 0.25 cubic meters of reference

Consumption of four units:

4 x 0.25 = 1 reference cubic meter per display

But if all four units are activated at the same time, the required instantaneous flow is equal to:

4 x 3 = 12 reference cubic meters per hour

Therefore, the average consumption is not a sufficient basis for designing the supply capacity.

This example is not data from a GSO product or other manufacturer. Pilot consumption, variable modes and other consumption should be included in the actual calculation. This estimate does not replace fuel network calculations.

13–12. Project standards and responsibilities

The project should clarify the design authority, the required documents and the responsibility of each department from the beginning.

The NFPA 160 standard is one of the international references related to the use of flame effects in front of spectators. Its introduced scope covers the protection of audiences, enforcement agents, and property. Its use should be adapted to the type of project and the requirements of the authority responsible for the site. Source: Introduction to NFPA 160, 2026 edition ^[79]

This standard is not a substitute for selected model guidelines or local fuel and electrical installation requirements.

In the division of responsibilities, it should be clear who will design fuel, protection, display control, structure, water and electricity, and who will approve their final coordination.

Post-delivery changes, such as adding a canopy, moving furniture or changing the flame program, may alter the design basis conditions and should be reviewed prior to implementation.

13–13. Test and delivery

The tests must be performed by the expert team, according to the approved program and under controlled conditions. The criterion of acceptance is not simply the lighting of the flame.

Disturbance test must be done with the defined method; Creating real and uncontrolled defects is not a good way to prove protection.

The results should be recorded and the final settings, program version and execution limits should be provided to the user.

13–14. Maintenance and operation management

The maintenance plan should cover both the fire equipment and the water circuit.

Inspection of the burner, ignition system and flame detection, connections, drainage, corrosion and operation of the controls must be done according to the manufacturer's instructions. Recurring failure should not be handled by repeated reboots alone.

Before implementation, the condition of the area is also important: changing the layout, entering temporary objects, growing vegetation or blocking access can change the conditions.

For general operation, the person responsible for starting and stopping, the method of reporting errors, the conditions for taking the system out of service, and the process of returning to work must be clear. Access to technical settings should also be limited according to people's responsibilities.

Figure note from the source manuscript

Figure 4–13: Actual photograph of the complex at shutdown and during authorized inspection, emphasizing service access and site condition. Suggested subtitle: "Sustainable quality of fire and water display depends on equipment maintenance and control of site conditions."

The water and fire fountain can be an important part of the night experience of a complex. Its quality remains stable when the choice of equipment, the design of the place, the program of display and the power of operation are compatible with each other.

In chapter 14, the selection of the type of fountain suitable for the use of the project is examined; With a framework for comparing options in urban squares, parks, commercial centers and tourist complexes.