An overview of water leak detection and suppression devices
09/26/2021
Escape of water claims are on the rise
According to research by the Association of British Insurers (ABI), nearly one in five claims made on buildings and contents insurance is for damage caused by Escape of Water (EoW), costing £2.1m every day. In 2020, there were approximately 238,000 EoW claims at an average cost of £3,170 per claim – a 50% increase in cost from 2014. With an inexhaustible supply of water, approximately 7,500 litres of water can flow from a leaking cold-water pipe in one day.
Burst pipes, unchecked leaks and faulty parts can cause big problems for accommodation stock - the impact is very distressing to tenants, as sentimental items are often destroyed along with belongings, it can also be a cause of massive disruption and cost to owners and property managers. The longer the water continues to flow following a leak, the greater the potential is for harm to residents, home goods and furnishings and the higher the cost of repairs will be. Occupants regularly need to be placed in temporary accommodation whilst managers deal with the aftermath of the water damage.
Unfortunately, in Zurich’s claims experience, a significantly high proportion of these claims relate to issues surrounding the installation of the original plumbing. Furthermore, through Zurich’s expert analysis, we found that the majority could have been avoided, so it’s essential that property owners and managers commissioning plumbing works, make certain that their contractors have the right qualifications, experience and supervision.
Benefits of inspections and detection
Fortunately, regular inspection regimes, maintenance programs and early leak detection can mean the difference between small-scale damage that’s simple to fix and damage that costs several hundreds of thousands of pounds to rectify - while causing inconvenience to occupants and impacting business as usual for months.
Technological advances mean that water leak detection and suppression devices are now available for around the clock protection from leaks. These devices are cheaper and simpler to install at new build stage, but are also cost effective when installed in established buildings at high risk of water damage, or those suffering from significant and regular Escape of Water incidents.
Preventing the amount of water escaping following a water leak, also has the following benefits:
- Damaged sustained is reduced and can be remediated more quickly
- Reduces business interruption and loss of rent claims
- Better insurance terms due to improved claims history
- Use of water leak detection devices indicates a commitment to risk management - which can lead to a reduction in premiums for organisations and owners
- Reduced costs if the water supply is metered
- Positive environmental benefits of reduced water consumption - in terms of reduced water, wastewater treatment costs and the amount of energy used
- Helps mitigate any reputational issues associated with the impact of an event
Leak detection devices made simple
In order to help our customers choose a leak detection and suppression solution, we have prepared a summary of the different types of component that can be used to build a bespoke solution. Solutions can comprise of various components used together in several configurations, therefore, we recommend customers work with Zurich at new build and retrofit stage to decide on which combination of components are best suited to their building and situation. Device components include:
- Leak cable or point sensor – fitted in high risk areas to detect burst pipes or drips
- Ultrasonic sensor – fitted onto soil stack or drainage pipework to sense blockages
- Multi point sensor – can include heat, humidity and water sensors in a single unit
- Water flow monitor – fitted on or in the incoming mains supply pipe to measure flow rate, flow volume or water temperature
- Water shut-off valve – fitted in the incoming mains pipe to manually or automatically shut off the water supply following a leak or burst pipe
- Control Panel – interface between the component
- Signalling and communication technology – signalling technology is used to send an alarm and system data to computers and mobile devices
- Power supply – leak devices are powered via a combination of mains and battery supply
- Smart platform – web-based applications allow remote control of valves and water consumption monitoring
Further help and assistance
Using leak detection and suppression solutions can not only save you money and provide a better service to your tenants - the less water diverted from our rivers, bays, and estuaries, is also better for the planet. To further support our customers, Zurich Municipal has published a guide for property owners and managers to raise awareness and understanding on water damage risk and mitigation. This is a guidance document that covers all aspects of Escape of Water, including what you need to ask of your contractors before they start work on a building. It also covers information about what types of construction are more vulnerable to Escape of Water incidents.
If you would like to know more about escape of water or any of the risk management services we can deliver, please speak to your Zurich representative or contact us on the below details.:
Website: www.zurich.com/riskengineering
Telephone: +44 (0) 121 456 1999
