Step Exhibitions
Automist Anti-Ligature: A Breakthrough in Fire Safety for Mental Health Facilities – Plumis
Nominee Information
Addressing a Critical Safety Gap
Fire protection in psychiatric wards and mental health facilities presents a unique challenge: while fire sprinklers are essential for life safety, their ceiling-mounted design introduces a severe ligature risk, making them unsuitable for high-risk environments. The tragic reality is that hanging accounts for over 50% of suicides in psychiatric hospitals (NCISH, 2021), and standard fire sprinklers have been implicated in numerous self-harm incidents. As a result, many mental health units have had to forgo ceiling-based suppression systems entirely, leaving staff and patients vulnerable to fire-related risks.
Automist Anti-Ligature is an innovative alternative that rethinks fire suppression for these high-risk environments. It provides robust fire protection while eliminating the ligature risks associated with traditional ceiling-mounted sprinklers.
Why Automist Anti-Ligature is a Game-Changer
Unlike traditional sprinkler heads, Automist is wall-mounted, compact, and concealed, making it virtually impossible to be used as a ligature point. Its low-profile design ensures that it meets reduced-ligature safety requirements while maintaining exceptional fire suppression capabilities.
Key Benefits:
* Wall-mounted for safety – Eliminates overhead ligature risks.
* Proven fire performance – Meets standardised testing
* Targeted suppression – Uses 90% less water than sprinklers, reducing flood damage and patient displacement.
* Early activation – Reacts up to 14x faster than bulb-based sprinklers, minimizing fire spread.
* Dry-pipe system – No standing water in pipes, preventing legionella risks and accidental discharges.
* Discreet and anti-tamper design – Maintains a calm and therapeutic environment without visible, intrusive nozzles.
Designed with Mental Health Experts
Automist Anti-Ligature has been developed through collaboration with David Falkingham from Point 5 Plus is an Independent Anti-ligature Service and Consultancy provider to ensure that it meets the rigorous demands of mental health environments. It is set to undergo compliance with NHS and BRE ‘Informed Choices’ guidance ensuring suitability for psychiatric care settings.
Supporting Data & Real-World Impact
* Fire risk is heightened in mental health units due to the potential for self-harm-related ignition sources.
* Water damage from traditional sprinklers can displace vulnerable patients, causing additional distress.
The Future of Safe Fire Protection in Mental Health
With Automist Anti-Ligature, mental health facilities no longer need to choose between fire safety and patient well-being. By eliminating ligature risks while providing best-in-class fire suppression, this innovation redefines safety for psychiatric hospitals, offering peace of mind to clinicians, facilities managers, and patients alike.
As the first fire suppression system designed specifically for mental health environments, Automist Anti-Ligature represents a major step forward in safer, smarter, and more compassionate patient care.
