Inspired by the Grenfell fire tragedy, the British inventor behind the UK’s original Home Office Approved ANPR system for the DVLA has developed a smart socket with unique thermal monitoring technology
Henley-On-Thames, Oxfordshire, UK – March 11, 2025 – Ci Global announces the launch of its first safety smart sockets, the patented Ci One and Ci Max. These are ready for mass production, and fully certified for use in the UK, UAE, and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with other countries to follow shortly.
The groundbreaking invention is the brainchild of Founder and Chairman of Ci Global, Anthony Parfitt. Parfitt developed the original UK Home Office Approved ANPR system for the DVLA, and many other UK government-approved safety innovations for the British police and Network Rail.
After the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, Parfitt made it his personal mission to stop fatal fires caused by electrical faults: a leading cause of deadly residential and buildings fires worldwide.
Ci’s safety smart sockets are the most advanced and intelligent of their kind, setting a new benchmark for safety. In fact, they are entirely unique – featuring cutting-edge thermal monitoring technology that detects overheating electrical faults in real time, automatically cutting power before a fire can start.
“If this technology had been in place at Grenfell, the fire could have been stopped before it started,” says Parfitt. “No other socket can claim to prevent fires in this way.”
The Need for action beyond legislation
While the UK government recently committed to implementing stronger building safety reforms following the Grenfell Inquiry, Parfitt argues that these measures are reactive and don’t address the root cause of many deadly fires: electrical faults.
“The new regulations are an important step forward, but they focus on accountability after the risks have already been built into homes,” Parfitt explains. “True prevention means stopping electrical fires before they start, not just managing their aftermath.”
Electrical fires: a silent threat
While power sockets have evolved with safety improvements over the decades, their fundamental function and design principles have remained largely unchanged for over a century. As a result, overloaded sockets, faulty chargers, and counterfeit or substandard devices can still trigger devastating fires – often while people are asleep, when detection comes too late.
“To stop electrical fires, we need to prevent them at the source,” says Parfitt. “The Ci smart safety socket is designed to do just that – stop electrical fires before they can even start.”
Beyond Grenfell: A global mission
Ci Global is committed to making electrical fire prevention a standard in all buildings, starting in the UK, where it will advocate for legislative change.
Ci Global is pledging a portion of future profits toward installing life-saving smart sockets in social housing across the UK and is seeking government support to help make it happen.
“If we’re serious about preventing another Grenfell, we must move beyond detection to proactive fire prevention,” says Parfitt.
The Ci sockets: more than just fire prevention
Called the Ci One and Ci Max, Ci’s smart safety sockets go beyond preventing electrical fires. They can also detect hazards such as water leaks, mould, gas leaks, and even earthquakes. Additionally, they automatically power down standby devices, reducing risks while lowering energy consumption and costs.
Successfully demonstrated as a proof-of-concept in a technical trial at a seven-story high-rise in London, the innovative smart socket has impressed key industry figures, including representatives from global property developers and insurance companies.
These safety smart sockets represent the future of building safety, with the potential to save lives and reduce energy consumption worldwide.
The people’s socket
Fully funded by public investors, Ci’s safety smart sockets have earned the nickname ‘the people’s socket’. Parfitt credits everyday people with making the innovation possible: “Our investors have put their trust in Ci, and it’s because of them, we’re able to launch this life-saving technology – to make sure a tragedy like Grenfell never happens again.”
About Ci ONE and Ci MAX
About Ci Global
About the Author
Ci Global
We are on a mission to make the world a safer place. Our innovative electrical fire safety technology Thermal Vision™ will save thousands of lives, reduce the staggering economic cost of property damage, minimise business disruption, and enable users to reduce energy consumption.
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