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Traditional sprinkler systems use a brute force approach to putting out house fires, dousing everything. Talking with local firefighters, Yusuf Muhammad, the chief design officer of Automists’ parent company, Plumis, discovered that this method causes more damage than necessary, and often isn’t very effective. Automist uses data and infrared sensors to put out fires two to 14 times faster, while using 90% less water. When activated via a ceiling-mounted smoke detector, the light switch-sized, wall-mounted spray head scans the room for flames and blankets them with a concentrated blade of mist, shielding properties from excessive water damage. Catching the flames faster also reduces the amount of smoke that residents might inhale.

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