Can Automist Be Approved as an Alternative to a 13D Sprinkler System?
Yes — Automist can be used as an alternative to an NFPA 13D fire sprinkler system in domestic occupancies, where permitted by the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). Automist is not an extinguishing system; it is a fire suppression system that is specifically designed and Listed for domestic use, meeting the intent of NFPA 13D sprinkler protection.
What is Automist designed to do?
Automist is a fire suppression system, not an extinguishing system. Like a sprinkler system, Automist is designed to:
Suppress and control fire growth
Limit heat release and smoke production
Enable safe occupant escape
Support fire service intervention
Unlike extinguishing systems, Automist does not aim for immediate, total flame knockdown using a fixed agent quantity. Its function is aligned with the intent of NFPA 13D systems: protecting life by controlling fires in domestic settings.
What’s the difference between suppression and extinguishing systems?
Understanding the distinction is key when explaining Automist to AHJs:
| System Type | Primary Goal | Test Protocols |
|---|---|---|
| Suppression (Automist, NFPA 13D sprinklers) | Control fire growth, contain heat and smoke, protect life | NFPA 13D performance tests, UL 2167A (for Automist), scenario-based fire tests |
| Extinguishment (clean agent, CO₂, dry chemical) | Rapid, complete extinguishment of the fire | UL 2127 (clean agent), UL 300 (kitchen), NFPA 2001 (clean agent systems) |
What code path allows Automist to be used?
Automist is Listed under UL 2167A, a test protocol developed specifically for domestic water mist systems. The International Fire Code (IFC) and the California Fire Code (CFC) Section 904.11 allow water mist systems to be installed as alternatives to sprinklers in domestic applications, provided they are:
Listed for the purpose
Download the UL Certification: UL System Certificates for Automist (PDF)Installed in accordance with their Listing and the manufacturer’s instructions
Automist is not proposed as an alternative for code exceptions, area increases, or egress leniencies tied to sprinkler systems under Section 904.2.1. It is also not used to replace sprinklers in commercial or multifamily residential buildings.
Does Automist require a 104.11 performance-based submission?
No. When Automist is used as intended — as a Listed water mist suppression system for domestic occupancies (an NFPA 13D alternative) — it does not, in principle, require an alternative materials and methods submission under IFC/CBC 104.11.
The system is installed in accordance with a prescriptive code path: IFC/CFC 904.11, which allows the use of Listed water mist systems in domestic settings.
How can contractors present Automist to AHJs?
Here’s a clear and compliant way to describe Automist to an AHJ:
“Automist is a Listed domestic water mist suppression system, tested under UL 2167A, and intended as an alternative to NFPA 13D sprinklers in one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses. It is installed in accordance with IFC/CFC 904.11 and the manufacturer’s instructions. It is not proposed as an alternative for code exceptions or sprinkler trade-offs under IFC/CFC 904.2.1.”
How is Automist maintained?
Automist is maintained in accordance with NFPA 25 (2011 edition), as required by IFC/CFC 904.11.3 for water mist systems:
Nozzles must be inspected annually
The system must be operated annually in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions
Summary
Automist is a fire suppression system, not an extinguishing system.
It is Listed for domestic use as an alternative to NFPA 13D sprinkler systems, where approved by the AHJ.
It is installed under CFC 904.11 and not as an alternative for code exceptions under CFC 904.2.1.
It does not require 104.11 alternative materials approval when used within this scope.
Learn more - Can Automist cover an entire house?
Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be a comprehensive guide to all of the aspects of the building/fire code but rather a useful source of background information. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the contents of this post are correct at the time of publication, it should never be used as any form of substitution for the full NFPA® codes, standards, recommended practices, and guides. It should be noted that there may be specific additional requirements dependent upon the Authority Having Jurisidiction (AHJ).