A shopping center operator required a reliable system for detecting water leaks in the underground parking garage of a shopping center. Due to severe weather and heavy rain, the garage had flooded several times in the past, causing significant damage to cars and vans parked there. According to the operator, the building's drainage systems were unable to handle the sometimes massive amounts of rainwater.

The flooding of the underground garage initially went undetected, and the fire department was alerted too late.

The solution:

To ensure timely notification of water ingress—even on Sundays and holidays—water sensors and cables were installed at critical points in the garage. These precise sensors from Didactum can detect even small traces of water or moisture at an early stage. Water sensors were also installed in the adjacent boiler room to provide early warning of any water damage.

The water detectors and leak sensor cables were connected to the corresponding monitoring devices. The integrated switching contacts also connected the IP-based monitoring devices to the shopping center's building surveillance system, ensuring that the responsible security company is immediately notified of any alarm. The monitoring device's internal GSM/GPRS modem sends an SMS message to the shopping center's facility management about the water intrusion.

Using the web browser on their tablet, mobile phone, or smartphone, the facility manager can remotely access the monitoring system from virtually anywhere. The monitoring device's tactical overview displays all events and status changes, including the date and time. The alarm map integrated into the monitoring system allows the water damage to be located.

In addition, the onset of water damage is also reported to the building monitoring software of the shopping center's operating company.