Plumis was founded in 2008 off the back of a project undertaken whilst I was studying at Imperial College London.
Our brief was that we wanted to make a difference in an emergency situation, and we were inspired by talking to firefighters, who started us thinking we needed more ways to protect homes automatically beyond just fire sprinklers.
There was a clear opportunity for an alternative system for homes without adequate water supply or other conditions that meant using a traditional system was challenging.
From these initial roots we were able to develop our fire suppression technology through various iterations, from an early tap mounted version of our Automist product, which won the James Dyson Award in 2008, to our current system, which sits discreetly on the wall and uses intelligent sensors to pinpoint fires accurately and tackle them fast with targeted water mist.
To date we have systems installed in over 14,000 properties across the UK and worldwide, with our newest product launching in the US early next year.
My role is to steer our research and development pipeline and achieve our mission to reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by fire.
Our main objective has always been to make a difference when it comes to saving lives and helping to prevent avoidable injuries from fire.
We identified the need within the industry for a system that was able to detect fire earlier and activate faster so that it had the potential to deliver better outcomes for both people and their properties.
This is a growing requirement given the Western world has an ageing population and we know that those above the age of 65 are most likely to be affected by a house fire.
To achieve this objective, our approach was to utilise first principal thinking and reevaluate what would be the most efficient way to addressfire in our target market.
This led us to diverge from others within the industry.
For example, early on, from attending the first International Water Mist Conference, we understood how water mist is able to suppress fires more efficiently when it is deployed from a lower position.
So unlike many traditional systems that are placed on the ceiling, we mount our units on the wall to address the fire in the most effective way, maximising entrainment of the small droplets of water.
Automist is a domestic fire suppression system that thinks and works like a firefighter would.
It is the only home system that targets the fire at its source.
Using intelligent technology, it is able to operate early for faster suppression, using significantly less water than other systems.
The mor quickly a fire is stopped, the less dangerous it becomes—both in terms of heat and the harmful fumes it releases.
That’s why having a fire suppression system that acts fast is essential for protecting homes and families.
When it is triggered by a ceiling-mounted detector, the spray heads on the wall begin scanning and measuring the temperatures within the room using an infrared sensor.
This is looking for an exceptionally high-temperature reading, or a differential increase between scans.
Once the temperature exceeds a threshold, that head is deemed to have successfully located a fire, the pump then drives water mist through hoses hidden behind the walls to the active spray head.
From here water mist will be delivered to the location of the fire, to suppress it.
In some areas water supply is becoming much more of an issue, particularly in remote places where people tend to be much more conscious of conserving water.
In the US we have also found that not everywhere has easy access to a readily available water supply.
Southwestern states such as California have also experienced record droughts in recent years and water shortages present a real and growing concern.
Automist is able to provide an alternative in these locations as it uses 10 times less water than traditional sprinklers by targeting the fire and not flooding the room.
It operates directly from the existing domestic water line, with a maximum water demand of just 2.4 gallons per minute.
We are bringing Automist to the US in collaboration with Ferguson, the largest distributor serving fire protection contractors and engineers in North America.
Ferguson have over 35,000 associates in 1,700 locations spanning the US and we’re excited about introducing our technology to a brand-new market and reaching more people.
There is already a great deal of enthusiasm around Automist from sprinkler contractors, as it supplies them with a powerful new tool that gives homeowners and installers alternative ways to meet the building code and protect their homes.
It also offers installers differentiation in an unvaried market whilst improving installation in certain situations that can be difficult for conventional systems.
Where there are potential issues with the water supply, as mentioned, such as low pressure or infrastructure (for example.
the size of the water meter), Automist is a good option due to its lower water demand.
Using less water is also advantageous in heritage buildings as potential damage is significantly reduced.
If a home is susceptible to freezing or seismic activity, since Automist uses a ‘dry hose’ system, it won’t freeze or burst in cold weather and is far less likely to be damaged during earthquakes.
Finally, the system can also support the defence against wildfires and embers being carried by the wind.
Having active suppression installed can help reduce the risk of fire taking hold if an ember gets inside through a broken window or exposed vent.
It can also stop a fire caused by radiant heat being transferred through windows to ignite objects within the building.
Automist’s low water use also reduces the pressure on water supply during fire outbreaks.
Automist is designed to be easily retrofitted, so the installation process is quick and hassle free, with minimal impact to a building.
The system connects to the existing water supply so there is no need for a large water tank or bulky pump.
Due to the system being dry until use, the risk of leaks is also greatly reduced, which is particularly useful in locations where freezing or earthquakes can damage pipework.
Typically, the solution adopted by sprinkler contractors in colder climates is to use antifreeze in the pipes, which is not only costly but can actually make fires worse.
Installers also find that Automist is easier to install in tight spaces often found in smaller dwellings such as cabins or ADUs (Auxiliary Dwelling Units) as it uses flexible hosing which enables more manoeuvrability.
Aesthetically speaking, our more discreet system is often favoured in modern settings, and open plan homes and buildings too.
What does industry recognition, such as being included in TIME’s Best Inventions and winning the Edison Award, mean for Plumis?
Both represented significant milestones for the company and demonstrate just how far we have come over the past 15 years since our journey began.
It was an honour to receive recognition last year from TIME, which has such a big global influence, and winning an Edison Award this year was also a remarkable achievement, as it is one of the highest accolades for innovations like ours.
At Plumis our culture as a company is centred around continuous improvement and so we are always looking at how technological advancements can be embraced, as well as actively investing in our research and development to further enhance our technology.
It is also vital that we are not complacent and ensure our technology keeps up to date with the rapidly changing landscape of fire risk, from the effects of the ageing population to modern methods of construction and emerging fire risks.
