Fully automated monitoring and leak detection system for flat-roofed buildings with just-in-time notification

6 augustus 2018

4 augustus 2020

An Austrian start-up developed a novel surveillance- and early-warning-system to detect water leakages in flat-roofed buildings to avoid damages caused by water intrusion.
Advantages are (among others):
- Easy planning & installation
- Low installation costs
- No maintenance costs
- Fully automated, uninterrupted monitoring
-Just-in-time notification
-Extending the lifespan of the flat-roof
The company is seeking for license agreements and commercial agreements with technical assistan

1) Statement of the problem:
Water intrusion in flat roofed buildings is causing in Austria alone annualy about 110 Mio € damages (1,500 € / 100 m² flat-roof per year). Properly built flat roofs are waterproof for about 20-40 years, but even those can become water-permeable due to UV-radiation, mechanical injuries, shearing forces, roof planting, birds and further reasons.

Once the sealing is broken at one position the water is intruding into the thermal insulation and builds a pool on top of the water proof vapour barrier -> the thermal isolation is getting wet (sometimes over years), thereby losing its isolating function -> which leads to the replacement of the whole thermal isolation & the whole sealing (~25.000 € / 100 m²).
In those cases where the water penetration remains unknown, the water level can rise up to a height at which the water is entering the building via chimneys, curbs, vertical connections, or laterally at the roofs edges leading to water in walls, electrical control boxes, floors, fitted wardrobes -> restoration of substantial parts of the building necessary.

2) Description of the innovative solution
The described financial costs and adverse effects caused by restoration measures can be easily avoided with monitoring systems.

Currently two alternative systems are available on the market. One of these systems is causing similiar installation costs without measuring water intrusion directly but combining parameters such as humidity, °C, shade, season of the year. Consequently maintenance contracts have to be signed with specialists to ensure proper monitoring. The other system also works fully automated but causes higher costs by the factor six, excluding monthly fees for GSM.

The novel technology developed by the Austrian company consists of a cable (40, 60 or 100 m) with integrated sensors. This cable is flexible and is simply laid on top of the vapour barrier according to a pre- defined plan. The thermal isolation, the sealing and the gravel/plantings are put on top of the sensor cable. The sensor cable is connected to a communication unit in the electronic control box via a 50 m cable. Each communication unit can be connected with up to 4 sensor cables (450 m²). The monitoring system runs plug&play, since the communication unit only has to be connected to a lan cabel and an energy supply. In case of a water leakage, an e-mail is sent out containing information about the wet section in a groundplan. Subsequently the thermal isolation can be opened locally (4-5m²), the water can be removed with a towel and the old thermal isolation can be put again on top of the sensor cable. Sealing of the 4-5 m² is the last step of the process.

3) Awards:
2017 Upper Austrian Award for technology-orientated ideas
2018 International SmartHome Award Germany

4) Partner sought:
- Wholesalers with an exisiting network in the construction business. With these partners a license agreement is sought.
- Any kind of company with skilled workers willing to implement the proposed surveillance system (tinsmith, flat roof construction company, prefabricated house manufacturer, electrician, building enterprise, general contractor). With these partners a commercial agreement with technical assistance is sought.

License agreement, Commercial agreement with technical assistance

Already on the market

Patents granted

Construction companies
Manufacture of construction materials, components and systems
Distribution of building products and systems

Installations related to construction (energy, lighting, …)
Construction maintenance and monitoring methods & equipment
Electronic measurement systems
Water in Buildings

Development of building projects
Construction of residential and non-residential buildings

1) Advantages for a potential cooperation partner:
- Additional revenues: Gross margin 360 € / 100 m² 100 min working time
- Minimizing risks: Minimizing financial consequences (indemnity claims) in case of construction defects
- Documentary evidence: Documentation in case of subsequent damaging of the sealing by other companies (e.g. during construction works on the facade).
- Easy planning & installation (plug&play)

2) Advantages for the owner of a flat-roof:
- Easy planning & installation (plug&play)
- Low installation costs: 2,500 € / 100 m²
- No maintenance costs
- Minimizing medium-term costs: Restoration costs of 500 € instead of > 25,000 € / 100m²
- Minimizing adverse effects caused by restoration measures
- Fully automated, uninterrupted monitoring
- Just-in-time notification in case of a leakage
- Precise localisation of a leakage (4-5 m²)
- Universally applicable: Independent of physical roof structure, sealing type and shape of the building
- Easy combinability with smart home applications

3) Environmentally friendly:
- Resource-saving: Near to zero resources needed for restoration measures

Industry SME <= 10

0

Austria

• English
• German