Will Automist stop automatically if the fire is extinguished?
Automist operates based on a life safety algorithm designed for its UL Listing, assuming that firefighters will arrive within 10 minutes to take over suppression efforts. This aligns with NFPA 13D, which requires a 10-minute water supply for residential sprinkler systems.
Because Automist consumes only 2.4 GPM, it can connect directly to the domestic water supply and, in principle, has no discharge time limitation. However, as part of its UL Listing, Automist is required to operate for 30 minutes before automatically shutting off, regardless of whether the fire has been extinguished. This standard assumes that by then, firefighters will be on-site to assess and manage the situation.
Unlike other fire suppression systems, Automist has the ability to monitor room temperatures after discharge. Data shows that within six minutes, Automist’s fine water mist can cool a room to below its pre-fire temperature, providing a reliable indicator of fire suppression. However, current UL requirements do not allow an automatic shutdown based on fire extinction—this is not yet an accepted fire suppression strategy under NFPA 750 and the International Fire Code (IFC).
Can Automist’s Run Time Be Optimized?
For insurers, unnecessary water discharge increases costs without added value. In principle, an insurer-optimized algorithm could be developed to minimize run time by stopping mist discharge when the system is confident the fire is extinguished. Conversely, it could extend beyond 30 minutes in cases where the fire is still active—potentially up to two hours in remote areas where firefighter response times are longer.
Such an algorithm could be implemented in non-code-mandated installations (e.g., high-value homes where Automist is specified for asset protection rather than compliance). However, for homes where fire suppression is required by code, any deviation from the UL Listing would require AHJ approval. By default, Automist will follow its UL Listing standard of 30 minutes before automatic shutdown unless alternative programming is explicitly accepted by the local fire marshal or insurer.
Learn more - Will every Automist nozzle spray water during a fire?