Automist domestic fire protection case studies

Automist offers automatic fire suppression, neat and economical installation with the need for significantly less pipework and disruption than a traditional sprinkler system, plus greatly reduced water damage to the fabric of the property in the event of a discharge. An increasing number of organisations and house builders are installing Automist in their developments.

Here is a small selection of our past achievements:

- Macbryde Homes use Automist as an alternative to enclosing stairwells or residential sprinklers

When Macbryde Homes embarked on designing a terrace of 2 1/2 storey homes with open plan kitchen/dining and living room in Llandudno Junction, they were faced with the problem of providing a cost effective and appropriate fire protection solution, which would be acceptable to potential customers. For their contemporary open space design the Building Regulations demand that a protected enclosed stairwell is provided or they require the use of alternative compensatory measures such as sprinklers.

Macbryde Homes believed that Automist would be a more cost-effective solution than sprinklers for the contemporary open plan design of the project and at the same time comply with building regulations. This proposal to use the Automist solution plus a further fire precaution of providing escape windows at first floor level was submitted to Building Control and they were approved as alternative compensatory measures.

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- Westminster Almshouses delighted with trial of new Automist

Almshouses are particularly vulnerable to outbreaks of fire because of the nature of their residents, who are often forgetful and may consequently leave a high risk kitchen appliance unattended. Or they may be physically impaired and unable to reach a nascent fire quickly enough. This kind of residential accommodation is also very often located in old buildings which are difficult to adapt. These are problems experienced by the Westminster Almshouses Foundation, home to 39 people housed in Victorian cottages, which were originally built in 1879. Each is equipped with an alarm system to summon help in an emergency and a smoke alarm. But there remains the problem of a delay after the onset of a fire during which time vulnerable residents could be seriously affected by smoke and/or flames, damage to the fabric of the building and water damage caused by sprinklers or the fire brigade’s hosepipes. When they were asked to trial Automist, which would overcome these serious drawbacks, they were delighted to agree.

“People still die in fires in properties like our Almshouses which are well maintained, have working smoke detection, comply with fire building regulations and are reached promptly by the fire service. Automist provides that much needed added level of protection. We have recommended the product to other almshouses who are also interested in fitting Automist, as they are conscious of the same problems of existing fire detection and suppression arrangements.” commented Trevor Hargreaves, Westminster Almshouses’ Deputy Director.

Watch Automist extinguishing a small kitchen fire

- Miscellaneous examples of Automist fire protection:

Wall mounted installation for ground floor flash-over avoidance after a loft conversion

Automist wall mounted

Stand alone installation for elective safety add on in a laundry room

Automist wall mounted

Under sink installation on a kitchen island for an open plan kitchen diner

Automist wall mounted

Plumis are registered members of The Federation Of Master Builders. FMB members work to a strict code of practice which they commit to every year when they renew their membership. The code of practice covers their relationship with customers throughout the building process. The FMB is a trade association established over 60 years ago to protect the interests of small and medium-sized building firms – today it is the largest trade association in the UK building industry.

Click below for more information:

The Federation of Master Builders

The Federation Of Master Builders code of conduct