“A water / steam curtain system uses an array of spray nozzles to create a barrier of water to contain a fire inside a small area. The nozzles can be mounted to shoot water either upwards or downwards. The goal of a water / steam curtain is to provide exposure protection or to stop the flow of flammable vapors from migration into a hazardous area.”
Reference: Center for Chemical Process Safety, Guidelines for Engineering Design for Process Safety, 2nd Edition, 2012
A steam curtain is used as a permanent installation to contain and disperse leaks of flammable gas heavier than air.
Reference: Mannan, Sam, Lees’ Process Safety Essentials: Hazard Identification, Assessment and Control, Butterworth-Heinemann, 2014