Fire suppression without sprinklers
Automist is the water-mist alternative to a traditional sprinkler system — discreet to install, no tank, and a fraction of the water if it ever activates.
Send us your plans
Upload your drawings — even a photo of them is fine — and we’ll come back with a full design proposal and quote, usually before we ever need to visit site.
What Automist is
Automist is a discreet water-mist fire suppression system — no bulky tank, no ceiling full of sprinkler heads. A SmartScan head detects a fire and targets the mist directly at it, fed straight from the mains, using a fraction of the water of a conventional sprinkler: about 5.6 litres a minute, less than a power shower. In the time a traditional sprinkler fills three bathtubs, Automist uses half a bathtub. The wall unit is only 50mm deep and its faceplate is available in finishes to blend into your decor.
Why water mist, not sprinklers?
Won’t this flood my house?
No — and it’s not quick to trigger, either. There’s a two-stage check before any water is released: a ceiling detector first picks up heat or smoke and wakes the wall-mounted mist head covering that zone; that head then scans to locate the actual heat source and points directly at it. If the heat isn’t increasing — in other words, it’s not a growing fire — the system holds off and doesn’t discharge. Automist also runs as a pressurised, dry-pipe system — there’s no standing water sitting in it between uses, so legionella isn’t a risk the way it can be with tanked systems. And activation isn’t an unstoppable flood: there’s a controller stop button that halts the mist manually while fire detection stays live. Left alone, it runs for up to 30 minutes and then needs recommissioning. Every system carries a standard 2-year warranty, extendable if you’d like longer cover.
Standards & sign-off
The old British standard for residential water mist, BS 8458, has been withdrawn — not because anything was found wrong with it, but because the industry is transitioning to the new BS EN 14972-17:2025. Plumis has confirmed BS 8458:2015 remains a valid, recognised basis for system use and specification on new projects as well as existing ones, backed by the British Standards Institution’s own statement that withdrawal doesn’t mean products or certifications built to it can no longer be used or recognised. Automist has also passed the suite of BS EN 14972-17 fire tests, verified by an independent report from Baltic Fire Laboratories. Most installations go ahead on the strength of that testing and Plumis’s own guidelines, but on occasion a fire engineer will need to write a report to get building control’s approval. We already work alongside fire engineers who know the system, which helps keep that process straightforward.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a water tank?
No — Automist runs straight off your home’s mains water supply. No tank, no pump room, nothing extra to find space for.
Can it be retrofitted into an existing home?
Yes — that’s one of the main reasons homeowners choose it. There’s no tank and no bulky pipework, so it fits into most homes, including listed buildings, without major disruption.
What maintenance does it need day-to-day?
None. Between annual services there’s nothing for you to do — it’s serviced once a year to keep it working and certified, and you’re welcome to use us or another provider for that.
Will it hold up my building work?
No — first fix (the pipework) goes in before your walls are closed up, usually about a day’s work. Second fix and commissioning happens once decorating’s nearly finished, another day’s work — timed to fit your programme, not disrupt it.
Does it work with my home’s existing smoke alarms, and what about power cuts?
Automist’s detection works alongside your home’s smoke and heat alarms — it’s that alarm system waking the mist head. If your alarm system has battery backup, that covers this too.
Does this affect my home insurance?
Automist uses far less water than a sprinkler and is much less likely to cause serious water damage if it ever discharges, so some insurers view it favourably — though it’s worth checking with your own insurer, since policies vary.
What’s covered by the warranty?
Every system comes with a 2-year warranty as standard, extendable if you’d like longer cover.
Will I get a certificate?
Yes — once the system’s commissioned, you’ll get a certificate confirming it’s installed and compliant.
Ready to look into it?
Tell us who you are and we’ll show you exactly what’s involved.
Getting started is simple: send your plans → get a design proposal → we guide you through building control and the rest.
I’m a homeowner
What Automist means for your home, where it’s used, and how the process works.
I’m in the trade
Design, spec and delivery for architects, builders and developers.
See how we work with your team from design to commissioning →