A top 10 retail bank in North America faced increasing water damage repair costs from leaks. To mitigate the risk of water damage, the bank’s integrated facility management (IFM) service provider installed Alert Labs water leak detection systems across bank branches and various office towers owned by the bank. One of the properties is a large retail center and office tower located in Toronto, Canada. In March, the AlertAQ™ water insights platform detected several leak events.

Potential damages were estimated to be over $100,000.

Key areas protected against water damage

The 30 story, 650,000 sq. ft. shopping center and office building houses multiple stores and features luxurious amenities. The integrated facility management team placed over 175 water leak detectors in key areas throughout the commercial property in places such as washrooms, mechanical closets, and office kitchens.

Water leak alert during meeting

On March 6 at 1:30 PM, bank executives were meeting with their facility management team when one of them received an automated leak phone call. It was from Alert Labs. The facility manager put the phone on speaker and as the meeting attendees listened they learned that a leak had occurred on the 8th floor of the building in the mechanical room where the water heater was located. The facility team members rushed to the area where they discovered water pouring out of the hot water tank pressure relief valve (PRV) and onto the floor. They immediately shut off the water supply to the water heater and dried off the leak sensor to end the alert. The water on the floor was quickly cleaned up with a mop and bucket.

The cause of the PRV failure turned out to be wear and tear on the spring loaded diaphragm. If the facility team had not received the alert, the water heater would have continued to pour water onto the floor causing more than $100,000 in estimated damage. To date, the bank has installed sensors at over 70% of their locations with plans to add more locations in the coming months.

Over 1,500 bank branches installed

Alert Labs water leak detection systems are installed at more than 1,500 bank branches across North America, with new locations continuing to roll out.