2009 Winner

Yusuf Muhammad and Paul Thomas - Automist. UK

Problem:

Independent research concluded that fire extinguishers in residential blocks can be fire risks, delaying evacuation and proving ineffective when used by untrained people. Despite public and private sector fire safety campaigns, little real impact has been made in reducing domestic fire property losses, and each year more than 60,000 fires occur in UK dwellings, resulting in approximately 450 deaths and more than 11,000 injuries.

Development:

Paul and Yusuf began by conducting informal interviews and assessing people's domestic fire protection. They then consulted fire fighters in South Kensington, London, to learn more about fire safety. Yusuf and Paul also spoke with professionals in the field of water mist, evaluating methods of extinguishing domestic fires.

Solution:

Automist utilises "water-mist" technology found in ships and factories, adapting it to easily retrofit to kitchen taps. If a kitchen fire starts, a wireless heat detector triggers an under-sink pump which drives mains water through the unique nozzle unit, quickly filling the kitchen with dense fog, suppressing the blaze.