Water Curtain & Dual-Curtain Fire Nozzles
When firefighters have to advance through high radiant heat — into a tank rim fire, a chemical vapour cloud, an LNG release, or a flashover zone — plain water attack is not enough. CA-FIRE water curtain nozzles generate a 180-degree flat water curtain up to 32 metres wide and 7 metres tall that absorbs radiant heat, blocks flame propagation, cools exposures, and creates a physical shield between the fire and the people who have to be near it.
The Shield Between Your Crew and the Heat
Radiant heat does not respect fire hose reach. A burning petroleum tank can radiate enough energy to ignite a tank 30 metres away — long before flame contact, long before a direct attack would even start working. The traditional answer is to put a second hose line on exposure cooling and accept that some of your water budget is dedicated to defence rather than offence.
Water curtain nozzles solve that problem more efficiently. By spreading the same flow into a wide flat sheet (rather than a focused stream), they create a barrier that absorbs radiant heat through evaporation, blocks burning embers from drifting, and cools any structure or person inside the protected zone — all from a single nozzle on a single line.
CA-FIRE manufactures four distinct curtain nozzle types: standalone water curtain nozzles (1300/1600 LPM, pure defence), straight stream + curtain hybrid (QZM-65, attack and defence from one body), dual-curtain nozzles (QSM-Series, independently controlled front and rear curtains for advancing crew protection), and the Assault Nozzle (dovetail wide-flow pattern for large-area cooling, dust adsorption and exposure protection). Five models total, covering everything from compartment exposure cooling to refinery tank rim defence.
Why Use a Curtain Nozzle
- 180° flat water curtain — covers up to 32 m wide, 7 m tall on a single nozzle
- Absorbs radiant heat through evaporation — orders of magnitude more efficient than a directed stream
- Blocks flame spread, burning embers and radiant ignition of exposures
- Cools personnel and equipment that must remain in the heat zone
- QZM-65 hybrid delivers attack stream AND curtain simultaneously from one nozzle
- QSM-Series dual-curtain shields both the crew and the supply line
- Assault Nozzle dovetail flow optimised for area cooling and dust suppression
- Strong anodised aluminium body with stainless steel internals
- DuPont™ nylon pistol grip on QSM-Series for one-hand operation
- 100% pressure tested before shipment
The Curtain Footprint
A water curtain is described by three numbers: width (K), height (G), and the flow that sustains it. The CA-FIRE standalone Water Curtain Nozzle delivers a 26 to 32-metre wide curtain rising 7 metres above the operator's footprint — large enough to shield an advancing two-person crew or cool the side of a 30,000-litre tank.
One Goal, Four Solutions
Curtain nozzles are not interchangeable — each type is engineered for a specific protection scenario. Match the tool to the threat.
Standalone Water Curtain
Pure defence. The whole flow becomes curtain — no attack stream. Used to put up a heat radiation shield in front of fixed equipment, exposed structures, or stationary positions that need persistent cooling. Two flow ratings give different curtain widths.
- Pressure6 bar
- Flow / Width1300 LPM / 26 m · 1600 LPM / 32 m
- Height7 m
- Best ForExposure cooling, fixed-position defence
Straight Stream + Water Curtain (Hybrid)
Hybrid attack + defence from one nozzle. Discharges a focused straight-stream attack flow toward the fire while simultaneously generating a wide water curtain that sends fresh air to firefighters and absorbs radiant heat. The crew advances on the fire without losing exposure protection.
- Pressure7 bar
- Flow Rate475 L/M
- Reach (Straight)32 m
- Weight / Coupling2.5 kg · 1.5″ / 2.5″
Dual-Curtain Nozzle
Two independent water curtains, each separately controllable by rotating a curtain control section. Front curtain shields against fire-side heat; rear curtain protects supply hose and personnel behind. Used when firefighters must step close to radiant heat to improve fire extinguishing effect.
- Pressure7 bar
- Flow Rates115–475 LPM · 350–950 LPM
- Reach34 m · 37 m
- Weight / Coupling2.3 kg / 3.0 kg · 1.5″ / 2.5″
Assault Nozzle (Dovetail)
Dovetail-shaped wide water flow, neither a typical curtain nor a typical attack stream. Optimised for large-area fire propulsion, mass cooling, heat insulation and dust adsorption. The right tool when the goal is to dump a lot of water onto a wide area fast — coal dust suppression, train derailment, mass cooling.
- PatternWide dovetail water flow
- Best UseLarge-area fire propulsion, cooling, heat insulation
- Secondary UseDust adsorption
Five Curtain Nozzle Models at a Glance
Pick by the protection scenario: pure exposure cooling, attack + shield, advancing crew protection, or large-area mass cooling.
| Model | Curtain Type | Pressure | Flow Rate | Curtain / Reach | Weight | Coupling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water Curtain NozzlePure Defence | Standalone Curtain | 6 KG | 1300 LPM | W = 26 m · H = 7 m | — | — |
| Water Curtain NozzlePure Defence | Standalone Curtain | 6 KG | 1600 LPM | W = 32 m · H = 7 m | — | — |
| QZM-65 | Straight Stream + Curtain | 7 BAR | 475 L/M | 32 m reach | 2.5 kg | 1.5″ · 2.5″ |
| QSM118-475 | Dual-Curtain | 7 BAR | 115–230–360–475 L/M | 34 m reach | 2.3 kg | 1.5″ · 2.5″ |
| QSM350-950Flagship | Dual-Curtain (Large Flow) | 7 BAR | 350–450–580–780–950 L/M | 37 m reach | 3.0 kg | 1.5″ · 2.5″ |
| Assault Nozzle | Dovetail Wide-Flow | — | Project-specific | Wide-area pattern | — | 1.5″ · 2.5″ |
When You Need a Curtain Between You and the Heat
Petroleum Tank Rim Fires
A burning tank radiates enough heat to ignite adjacent tanks long before flame contact. While fixed deluge systems cool the burning tank, mobile crews use the QSM350-950 dual-curtain to advance close enough for foam application — the front curtain shields the crew from radiant heat, the rear curtain shields the supply line and rotating teams.
Refinery & Chemical Plant Process Units
High-pressure flange leaks and pump fires in refineries throw radiant heat in all directions. The QZM-65 hybrid nozzle lets a single firefighter advance with both an attack stream AND a curtain that sends fresh air toward the operator — eliminating the need for a separate dedicated cooling line.
Train Derailments & Tank Car Fires
Chemical tank car incidents with multiple cars at risk need both attack-side flow and exposure-side cooling. The standalone Water Curtain Nozzle (1600 LPM, 32-metre curtain) sets up between the burning car and adjacent cars as a fixed defensive line while attack crews work directly on the burning car.
LNG & Chemical Vapour Cloud Events
Vapour cloud fires and gas releases need an immediate vapour-suppression curtain to prevent flame propagation back to the leak source. The Assault Nozzle's wide dovetail pattern lays down a broad sheet of water that knocks down vapours over a large footprint — combined with a QSM dual-curtain for crew protection during isolation valve operations.
Building Exposure Protection
When a structure fire threatens adjacent buildings, the standalone Water Curtain Nozzle (1300 LPM, 26-metre curtain) deploys between the burning structure and the exposure. One nozzle, one line, one firefighter — protecting 26 metres of exposure that would otherwise require multiple defensive lines.
Mine, Quarry & Coal Dust Suppression
Coal dust, grain dust and other combustible-dust environments need rapid, wide-area dust adsorption before ignition becomes a fire. The Assault Nozzle dovetail pattern is engineered for exactly this — a wide flat sheet of water that knocks down airborne dust over a large floor area, also usable for heat insulation around hot equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions — Curtain Fire Nozzles
What is a water curtain fire nozzle?
What is the difference between a water curtain nozzle and a dual-curtain nozzle?
When do I need a water curtain nozzle?
What flow rate and reach do CA-FIRE curtain nozzles deliver?
What is the QZM-65 straight stream + water curtain nozzle?
How does the dual-curtain mechanism work on the QSM-Series nozzle?
Can a curtain nozzle be used for fire attack?
What standards do CA-FIRE curtain nozzles meet?
Are CA-FIRE curtain nozzles suitable for marine and offshore use?
Request a Quote on the Curtain Nozzle Range
24-hour quote turnaround. Free CAD drawings, curtain geometry test reports and product samples for confirmed projects. OEM laser engraving and brass-body variants for marine and offshore applications available.