Can Automist be approved as an alternative to a 13D sprinkler system?
Yes. Automist can be approved by the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) as an alternative to an NFPA 13D sprinkler system in one- and two-family dwellings.
Automist is a UL-certified targeted water mist fire protection system. It is certified under UL 2167A, designed and installed in accordance with NFPA 750, and supported by independent analysis comparing its requirements and fire performance with NFPA 13D.
Approval remains with the local AHJ, but there is now a substantial body of third-party evidence specifically available to support that decision.
What is Automist designed to achieve?
Automist and an NFPA 13D residential sprinkler system use different technologies, but they share the same fundamental residential life-safety objective: to aid in the detection and control of a fire, prevent flashover in the room of fire origin and improve the chance for occupants to escape or be evacuated.
This shared purpose is important because it is the basis on which UL Solutions says an AHJ can consider the life-safety purposes of NFPA 13D and the residential provisions of NFPA 750 equivalent when evaluating a targeted water mist system as an alternative.
Independent analysis by Jensen Hughes also concluded that Automist meets the intent of NFPA 750 and NFPA 13D to prevent flashover and improve occupants’ ability to escape or be evacuated.
What evidence supports approval?
UL 2167A certification
Automist is certified under UL 2167A, Outline of Investigation for Targeting Water Mist System Units for One- and Two-Family Dwellings for Fire Protection Service. This means Automist has been independently evaluated through a UL certification programme developed specifically for targeted residential water mist systems.
Download the UL 2167A Certificate of Compliance
UL has addressed the NFPA 13D equivalency question
In February 2026, UL Solutions considered the specific question of using Automist as an alternative to a residential sprinkler system designed in accordance with NFPA 13D.
UL noted that NFPA 13D sprinkler systems and targeted water mist systems have different attributes and design requirements. However, it confirmed that NFPA 13D and the residential provisions of NFPA 750 have the same overall life-safety purpose.
UL stated that an AHJ considering whether a targeted water mist system can be used as an alternative to NFPA 13D can consider their purposes for meeting the life-safety requirements of the standards as equivalent.
Download the UL NFPA 13D Equivalence Letter
Independent Jensen Hughes equivalency analysis
Plumis commissioned Jensen Hughes to independently compare NFPA 13D, NFPA 750 and Automist, including their system requirements, component requirements and UL fire-test requirements.
The analysis found that the two standards share the same life-safety intent and that their residential fire-test requirements use comparable performance criteria.
Jensen Hughes concluded that Automist meets or exceeds the other applicable NFPA 750 requirements assessed in the report and meets the intent of both NFPA 750 and NFPA 13D to prevent flashover and improve occupants’ ability to escape or be evacuated.
Download the Jensen Hughes Equivalency Report
What code provisions allow an AHJ to consider Automist?
The International Fire Code provides a route for alternative automatic fire-extinguishing systems.
IFC Section 903.1.1 permits alternative systems complying with Section 904 in place of automatic sprinkler protection where recognized by the applicable standard and approved by the fire code official.
IFC Section 904.11 specifically addresses automatic water mist systems and requires them to be used in applications consistent with their listing or approvals and designed and installed in accordance with NFPA 750 and the manufacturer’s instructions.
UL Solutions references these provisions directly in its letter addressing Automist and NFPA 13D.
The exact administrative approval route depends on the locally adopted code and the jurisdiction.
Is Automist designed to extinguish the fire?
Automist is designed and tested as a fire suppression system.
| System Type | Primary Goal | Test Protocols |
|---|---|---|
| Suppression (Automist, NFPA 13D sprinklers) | Control fire growth, contain heat and smoke, protect life | NFPA 13D performance tests, UL 2167A (for Automist), scenario-based fire tests |
| Extinguishment (clean agent, CO₂, dry chemical) | Rapid, complete extinguishment of the fire | UL 2127 (clean agent), UL 300 (kitchen), NFPA 2001 (clean agent systems) |
Like an NFPA 13D residential sprinkler system, its life-safety purpose is to control the development of a residential fire, prevent flashover in the room of fire origin and improve the chance for occupants to escape or be evacuated.
A fire may be extinguished during operation, but immediate extinguishment is not the performance objective against which either Automist or an NFPA 13D residential sprinkler system should be judged.
Learn more: Does Automist extinguish or suppress a fire?
Will I need an alternative means and methods application?
It depends on the jurisdiction and the code under which the project is being reviewed.
The fire code expressly recognizes automatic water mist systems. However, where Automist is being proposed in place of an NFPA 13D system required by the residential code, the AHJ determines the appropriate approval route.
Some jurisdictions may accept the system based on its listing, NFPA 750 and the applicable fire-code provisions. Others may require a formal alternative means and methods submission demonstrating equivalency.
Plumis can support either route with the UL certification, UL equivalence letter, independent Jensen Hughes analysis and project-specific technical information.
Automist is proposed to provide the required residential fire protection, not to claim unrelated sprinkler-based code trade-offs or reductions.
What should I submit to the AHJ?
Plumis has assembled an AHJ Submission Package so that a reviewer does not have to evaluate Automist from a manufacturer’s claim alone.
The supporting documents include:
- UL 2167A certification and verification
- UL’s NFPA 13D equivalence letter
- Jensen Hughes’ independent NFPA 13D / NFPA 750 equivalency analysis
- UL fire-test documentation
- The Automist Design, Installation, Operation and Maintenance Manual
- Hydraulic, water-supply and component information
- Project-specific design documentation
View all Automist AHJ resources and downloads
Has Automist been approved before?
Yes. Automist has been reviewed and approved by AHJs in multiple US jurisdictions.
Previous approvals do not replace the local AHJ’s own evaluation, but they allow reviewers to see how peer jurisdictions have assessed the system.
View approved Automist projects
How should I describe Automist to an AHJ?
A concise description is:
Automist is a UL 2167A-certified targeted residential water mist system for one- and two-family dwellings. It is designed and installed in accordance with NFPA 750 and the manufacturer’s instructions and may be considered by the AHJ as an alternative to an NFPA 13D residential sprinkler system. UL Solutions and Jensen Hughes documentation supporting the equivalency assessment is available with the submission.
Can AHJs receive training or technical support?
Yes. Plumis provides free online training for AHJs covering how Automist works, its listing and code basis, principal installation requirements and common plan-review questions.
Access free AHJ training
If you have a project under review, send us the project address and jurisdiction. We can identify the relevant documents and work with the contractor, designer or reviewing AHJ to support the submission.
Contact the Automist technical team
Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be a comprehensive guide to all of the aspects of the building/fire code but rather a useful source of background information. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the contents of this post are correct at the time of publication, it should never be used as any form of substitution for the full NFPA® codes, standards, recommended practices, and guides. It should be noted that there may be specific additional requirements dependent upon the Authority Having Jurisidiction (AHJ).
Yes, Automist can provide whole-house fire protection in compliance with NFPA 750, which governs water mist fire suppression systems for one- and two-family dwellings. It is designed to be a room-based solution, meaning multiple spray heads can be strategically installed throughout the home to ensure full coverage.
Learn moreTo ensure your Automist system is installed correctly and complies with all necessary standards, it must be fitted by a trained installer. In the US, we recommend choosing from our network of trained installers who are familiar with the system’s unique design and requirements. You can find our official list of approved installers here.
This ensures you receive a professional installation and the peace of mind that your Automist system will perform as intended.
Learn moreUL 2167A is the UL standard certifying Automist, created for electronically controlled, targeted watermist systems in a residential settings. It requires systems to demonstrate they can “control, extinguish, or suppress fire” through rigorous testing in realistic scenarios, while also verifying spray performance and reliability under real-world conditions. Applicable to wall-mounted systems in one- and two-family dwellings and installed in accordance with NFPA 750, it provides AHJs and insurers with an independent, recognised basis that the system can reduce fire risk and protect life.
Learn moreAutomist is UL-listed under UL 2167A, certifying it as a residential water mist fire suppression system in line with NFPA 750, with proven performance, safety, and reliability through rigorous independent testing. This certification is widely recognized by regulators and insurers, and can be verified under File Number EX29276 on the UL Product iQ database.
Learn more