We at Unite Security and Electrical Services are proud to have become Accredited Installers of Automist systems and other Plumis products.
Automist is the most thoroughly tested domestic water mist system in the UK. Working in response to the need to demonstrate that Automist is both sufficient and ideal for the task at hand, our system’s technology has been pushed to the limit. This includes testing the system on difficult fires, including:
- Those originating directly under the nozzle
- Chip pan fires
- Those hidden by obstructions
- Those originating in a variety of free and forced drought conditions.
We are the only Accredited Plumis installer in Scotland; the only UK water mist company to have an LABC Registered Detail (EW534) and a BSi Verification Certificate (VC 656504) for SmartScan — two independent assessments of our fire and product performance against BS 8458:2015. So contact us today, and we can discuss your requirements.
What Makes Automist Unique?
Automist is, undoubtedly, one of the most effective fire protection solutions on the market today.
Fire sprinklers and water mist systems are traditionally wall-mounted or fixed on the ceiling. As a result, the water droplets have to flow (with gravity and momentum down) against the fire and smoke to reach the upward flowing fuel. This also means when the systems activate, the pressure of the water can pull the smoke down, reducing visibility.
A water droplet should ideally evaporate inside the fire plume (instead of in the hot layer above it) to be most effective in inerting the flames. If a droplet is entrained and flows upwards together with the gases inside the plume, it will evaporate quickly whilst in contact with the hottest part.
Automist SmartScan can be installed somewhere much more central (such as a kitchen sink). This helps to extinguish and control the fire more effectively than traditional systems.
”"Automist® Smartscan has a rotating head that directly targets fires with a powerful jet of water mist. It has been proven to achieve the same fire performance as residential sprinkler systems, and typically uses 90% less water minimising consequential water damage to the living space. "
Fixed System
A standard Automist® installation requires a dedicated mains circuit in FP200 cable and a water supply with 1-10 bar pressure and a flow of at least 6 litres per minute. It can be installed seamlessly and unobtrusively to meet building regulations in a number of configurations:
Personal Protection System
Automist® PPS is a portable version of the Automist system with an integrated water tank and battery backup system. Automist® PPS provides water mist personal protection, in an easily installable and removable package that does not require a dedicated power or water supply.
SmartScan
We believe that we’re taking the next step in fire safety. We allow home design to be as beautiful as possible while delivering a solution that meets industry fire performance standards.
Get in touch to learn more about the upcoming innovation in fire protection from Plumis called Automist Smartscan.
What Is Automist?
Automist is an advanced sprinkler alternative for full room active fire protection. Automist offers you complete peace of mind and protection with a second to none fire suppression system whilst targeting and minimising damage.
Perhaps you’re a homeowner looking for protection from kitchen fires, an architect trying to enable open plan living, or a landlord looking to safeguard your tenants. Automist is changing the way people think about domestic fire protection.
Plumis FAQs
How does it work?
Rather than smoke detection, Automist is triggered by an industry-standard 57°C heat alarm. A correctly installed heat alarm will reliably trigger Automist and supplement household existing smoke alarms, providing an additional warning of fire. However, unlike conventional smoke alarms, Automist will not be activated by burning the toast, steam from cooking, or a car’s exhaust fumes.
Heat detectors can either be mains or battery-powered and must have a relay output via a wireless or wired connection. The relay should include Normally Open, Normally Closed and Common terminals (a relay without Normally Closed can be used with additional support by Plumis). Alarm panels may be used provided that they offer a suitable relay output.
When water is driven through a specialised nozzle at very high pressures (in Automist’s case, around 80 bar), the water is atomised to produce a fine mist or fog. Water mist removes heat from the fire and displaces oxygen from the fire zone, resulting in fire control, suppression or extinguishment. This reduces the oxygen concentration around the flame, lowers the temperature and lessens the heat. Combustion can no longer be maintained, thus reducing damage and maintaining survivable conditions.
Automist is programmed to run for 30 minutes or while the alarm input remains active in the event of a fire, whichever is longer. This prevents interruption of mist operation if the room temperature drops below 57°C while a fire is still present. For installations where a fire panel will be controlling Automist, it may be set to operate only while its alarm input remains active.
Automist uses the domestic water supply of the house and approximately 10% of the water of a traditional sprinkler system. This runs at around 5.5 lpm and therefore minimises consequential water damage and runoff. The system can be stopped at any time by pressing a button on the control unit.
Is Automist compatible with my project?
You can consult Plumis’s Before You Buy Guide to determine whether Automist could work for you. The guide explains how some projects are more easily approved than others and outlines some of the key options.
For building control purposes, Automist is the subject of an LABC Registered Detail (EW171) for use in open-plan layouts in loft converted houses. The Registered Details scheme should allow building control officers to approve compliant properties without a long and detailed investigation.
Automist’s suitability as a compensatory measure is ultimately determined by the authority that has jurisdiction over your project. In the case of LACoRS guide compliance, this will typically be your local authority housing officer or, in some instances, Fire and Rescue.
Automist may not be the best option for every project, and some layouts are not approvable even with a complete sprinkler system throughout the property. If it’s not clear that your project can be easily approved, it will sometimes be possible to move forward with a custom fire engineered solution. It may also benefit you to make sure that you have selected a building control service with relevant specialist expertise in fire and safety solutions.
Automist is an innovative product designed to help comply with building fire regulations, particularly in open-plan layouts. Such products are permitted under Building Regulations as long as they have been tested and shown to be fit for purpose. A similar framework of requirements exists for the Fire Safety Order and the Housing Act.
Automist’s testing was conducted by BRE and is framed around demonstrating a survivable set of conditions in the room of origin of the fire. This is achieved by minimising toxic gas, low oxygen and heat exposure.
We are the only UK water mist company to have an LABC Registered Detail (EW534) and a BSi Verification Certificate (VC 656504) for SmartScan. These are two independent assessments of our fire and product performance against BS 8458:2015. The Registered Details scheme should allow building control officers to approve compliant properties without a long and detailed investigation.
When water is driven through a specialised nozzle at very high pressures (in Automist’s case around 80 bar), the water is atomised to produce a fine mist or fog. Water mist removes heat from the fire and displaces oxygen from the fire zone, resulting in fire control, suppression or extinguishment. The intention is to reduce the oxygen concentration around the flame, lower the temperature and lessen the radiative heat to such an extent that combustion can be longer be maintained, thus reducing damage and maintaining survivable conditions.
* Prices are guidelines per home (retrofit) and depend on the specific products used, economies of scale, and project complexity.
Can Automist be used with existing systems?
Automist can be interconnected with many existing alarm systems, including the use of manual call points, however, some caution is required.
Where an existing system includes smoke alarms, it is essential that Automist not be triggered when these alarms are activated. Ei/Aico alarms provide sufficient flexibility to allow Automist to be activated only by the relay base of an interconnected heat alarm, and not when the other alarms sound. Other manufacturers may not offer this level of flexibility.
Where a fire alarm panel is used, Automist can be driven from a volt-free relay output provided that the panel provides suitable zoning / cause-and-effect options.
