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Is fire suppression required for a compliant four-storey house?

New or converted four-storey houses after a loft conversion must have two separate escape routes between the upper floors. A house with a ground floor, first floor, second floor, and third floor needs two different staircases to get from the third floor to the second floor. If you install Automist, you won't need the extra stairs. The cost of installing an additional staircase in terms of installation and also in terms of space, make Automist a desirable alternative.
 


Four storey house with fire sprinkler throughout (two floors over 4.5m)


Why choose Automist over traditional fire sprinklers?

Swipe the table to scroll >>

 Product Type

Automist

Traditional Sprinklers

 Nozzle location

Wall-mounted
Automist wall mounted electronic nozzle
 

Ceiling Mounted
Automist wall mounted electronic nozzle
 

 Water supply cost*
 (Often not included in quote)

no cost
Automist connects to the existing water main

CashCash
Tank, water main upgrade, or priority water value

 Key installation process

Routing the hose behind the plasterboard wall
Automist wall mounted electronic nozzle

Bringing down the ceiling to route the sprinkler pipe
Automist wall mounted electronic nozzle

 Speed of activation

Operates quicker on slow-growing fires
Medium sized fire

Requires significant heat build-up to activate
Large sized fire

 Fire detection method

Reliable electronic trigger
Automist spraying watermist

Frangible glass bulb
Fire sprinkler flowing

 Water discharged
 (in ten minutes)

0.3 bathtubs
1/3rd of a bathtub

3.3 bathtubs
1/3rd of a bathtub 1 bathtub 1 bathtub 1 bathtub

N.B. Approximate costs are for a three-storey house with an available flow of 11lpm at peak demand*

 

Case study - Four-storey home in Birmingham


Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be a comprehensive guide to all aspects of the building regulations but rather a useful source of background information. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the contents of this FAQ are correct at the time of publication, it should never be used as any form of substitution for the guidance documents. It should be noted that there may be specific additional requirements dependent upon local authority building regulations and/or fire authority.