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PLUMIS SELECTED AS FINALISTS FOR ACTIVE FIRE PROJECT OF THE YEAR

NOVEMBER 9th, 2021

Plumis and authorised Automist installer MC Fire Protection (MCFP) are delighted to have been shortlisted in this year’s Security and Fire Excellence Awards for ‘Active Fire Project of the Year.’

Plumis selected as Security and Fire Excellence Awards 2021 Finalists

The nomination was received to recognise their work on two projects which both involved improving fire protection at developments housing vulnerable individuals - one for Swindon Borough Council and the other for ethical housing developer, Walls & Futures.

Both required a modern fire safety solution that provided the best care for residents with a wide range of complex needs. In the event of a fire, a person’s chance of survival can depend significantly on how quickly and safely they are able to escape. For those less able to get out, having the right fire safety measures in place is vital to prevent fire-related fatality or injury.

Plumis’ intelligent fire suppression system, Automist was installed by MCFP at Les Gowing House and one of its bungalows as part of Swindon Borough Council’s ‘pathway homes’ project. The initiative enables older residents to live independently in homes specially adapted for those with limited mobility.

Automist is different to traditional fire suppression methods in that it is triggered electronically, which can provide faster detection and activation times. The sprayheads feature infrared sensors which when triggered scan the room to identify and locate a fire, before targeting it with a dense fog of watermist.

With nearly a third of fire-related fatalities in 2019/20 reported as due to people being ‘overcome by gas or smoke, activating at the earliest opportunity is essential to maximise survivable conditions and give occupants as much time as possible to be rescued.

John Black, senior projects surveyor at Swindon Borough Council, explained why Automist was ideal for the residents at Les Gowing: “We selected Automist because we were confident with what the system offered in terms of increased protection for our residents – particularly those with more complex needs. But in addition to this we were pleased with how simply the system could be retrofitted without jeopardising the system’s effectiveness.

He added: “Automist connects to the existing domestic water supply enabling us to avoid any communal works, the need for a large tank or a water supply upgrade. This meant that the system could be installed more easily than many other existing automatic fire suppression systems and whilst other alteration works were being carried out.”

Walls & Futures were working with specialist charity providing support and accommodation for individuals with autism, learning disabilities, physical disabilities and early onset dementia. Many residents were deemed at greater risk from fire, so they wanted to explore innovative solutions that could further improve support for the residents, whilst being discreet.

Joe McTaggart, managing director at Walls & Future, said: “We wanted a smart system that would target the origin of a fire efficiently and effectively. When we discovered that Automist uses heat and smoke detectors in tandem to achieve exactly that, as well as providing increased protection to those considered vulnerable, we knew this would be the perfect system for this housing development.”

Winners of the Security and Fire Excellence Awards will be announced during a live ceremony on 23rd November hosted at London Hilton on Park Lane.