High-value computer systems and office space were protected from a water damage disaster at a mixed-use building in Irvine, California thanks to the AlertAQ™ water insights platform and cellular-connected water detection sensors.

Early water leak detection critical

The 5-story, 130,000 sf office building functions as a workspace and data facility. It houses computer servers, telecoms equipment, and other key infrastructure. Stopping water damage is essential to ensuring the safety of the people who work there, preserving asset value, and preventing business disruption.  

That’s why the facility management company, which is insured by an Alert Labs insurance partner, installed Alert Labs water leak detectors throughout the office and data center:  

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Water leak phone call

On December 28^th at 11:43 AM, the on-duty facility manager received an automated water leak phone call from the AlertAQ™ platform. Since Alert Labs water leak detectors can be custom labelled, the automated phone call told him there was a leak under the kitchen sink in suite 400B.  

Upon arriving at the suite, he discovered that a faucet spigot had been dislodged. Water was pouring under the sink, which triggered the water leak sensor placed there to send an alert. Within 23 minutes, the facility manager responded and stopped the flow of water.  

Massive potential for water damage

As the leak occurred on the fourth floor of the building, the water would have cascaded down to the floors below destroying computer servers and damaging building infrastructure. According to the facility management company’s insurer, repair costs would have totaled $250,000.