Automist is helping to keep holidaymakers safe while securing the future of an iconic listed building in the heart of an East Midlands market town.
The challenge
Money’s Mill is a historic windmill in the centre of Sleaford, Lincolnshire. The former corn mill, built around 1810, had served as the town’s tourist information centre and then a café for many years.
Developers Trumpton Properties acquired the 70ft tall Grade II listed building to refurbish and convert into a rented holiday home.
To meet building regulations and help fulfil new fire safety guidelines for such holiday properties, the building needed to have a fire safety strategy drawn up and a fire suppression system installed.
Approach
The newly renovated five-storey building has a spiral staircase connecting the open-plan ground floor to a first-floor living area and three ensuite bedrooms above.
Electronically activated watermist system Automist was chosen as the most effective form of suppression to protect occupants and safeguard their escape route if a fire broke out.
Approved Automist installer Fire Mist carried out all aspects of the installation, routing the hoses and electric cables within the building and fitting sprayheads on every floor.
In addition, a communicator has been integrated into the system so that the mill’s owner will be notified by text message on their mobile phone if Automist scans or activates in the event of a fire or if there are any power supply failures.
Outcome
The Automist system has provided an effective, discreet and minimally invasive solution to protect this historic building and its holidaymakers.
Its additional communicator capability gives extra peace of mind that relevant parties will be informed of any fire and enable a speedy response from firefighters. Coincidentally, following the project’s completion, the building insurer made it a requirement that there should be such a feature within the system.
On the installation, Fire Mist gave a first-class service from start to finish, the installation and design was carried out in a highly professional manner. Trumpton Properties, said: “We would recommend Fire Mist for its first-rate service and commitment to the project.”
This installation won Fire Mist the 'Specialist Project of the Year' category at the Plumis Installer Best Practice Awards 2023.
