Barrier technology offers a way forward to control consequences of potential gas explosions. The potential of this technology was discussed in a previous paper. Here we describe the test to explore the potential application of the Micromist device as a soft suppressive barrier. The Micromist device is based on a proprietary hot-water technology, which allows the production and distribution of a very fine mist suitable for damping down the propagating flame. Towards the end of 1999, BP and the UK Health and Safety Executive jointly funded a test programme to investigate the performance of the Micromist device using the medium-scale test rig at the Christian Michelsen Research. Results of this test are described, and ways forward to be identified. A total of 20 tests were carried out and they showed the Micromist device to be able to arrest a developing gas explosion. In cases where the water droplet loading was not sufficient to arrest the flame, the severity of the gas explosions was much reduced. These tests represent an initial assessment of the technology but there are other elements of the system that still need to be addressed, for example, control and detection strategy. These tests specifically exclude the impact of detection and control on the performance of the Micromist device. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.