Sensor Placement Guide

Transcription

1 Placing your room temperature sensor Hartford Steam Boiler One State Street P.O. Box 5024 Hartford, CT Tel: (800) Church Mutual Insurance Company 3000 Schuster Lane P.O. Box 357 Merrill, WI Tel: (800) September 2016 Your room temperature sensor provides real-time alert notifications in the event your building has lost heat and is getting dangerously cold. Here is how to identify the appropriate place for your room temperature sensor: Place in an area that is heated and regularly occupied by people. Choose a room on the first floor of your building. Good potential locations include an office, hallway, stairwell or common gathering space. Install the sensor in an inconspicuous location to reduce the risk of tampering. A bookshelf or cabinet top are a few good examples. Place the room temperature sensor within approximately 100 feet of gateway to ensure good communication. Attach the sensor to a wall using one of the adhesive strips. Clean the area with an alcohol wipe before attaching. The strips are designed to hold the sensor without damaging painted or papered surfaces. Room temperature sensor example locations: On a room divider The top of a false wall is a good out-of-the-way place for a sensor. It is unlikely that a passerby would notice and tamper with this device.

2 Page 2/6 Next to an emergency light Room temperature sensor is placed on the side of an emergency light. The sensor blends in with other fixtures in the room. Next to a fire alarm Room temperature sensor is placed on the wall next to a fire alarm. The sensor blends in with other fixtures in the room, and tampering with this device is less likely. On top of a cabinet Room temperature sensor is placed on top of the cabinet. This location is completely out of view, but still provides proper communication. Placing your pipe temperature sensor A pipe temperature sensor provides real-time alert notifications to protect your building against the possibility of a pipe freezing. Here is how to locate a pipe temperature sensor on a pipe with the greatest potential to freeze and cause property loss: Visit all the areas of your facility where water pipes exist and are exposed to cold weather to determine the best sensor location. Consider an unheated basement, mechanical room, or other room that may contain a hot water heater. Look for pipes that are most likely to be exposed to freezing temperatures due to lack of heat or other conditions and if burst could do extensive property damage. Choose a location for the pipe temperature sensor on a section of water pipe you believe to be the most vulnerable or one that has frozen before. Ideal locations include pipes exposed to excessive cold during a power outage and/or pipes near an external vent, window or outside wall.

3 Page 3/6 Pipe temperature sensor example locations: In mechanical rooms This cold water supply line is a good candidate for freeze protection monitoring. What would happen if someone left the basement window open during a cold winter night? Pipe freezing occurs very quickly when the cold air is wind-driven across the pipes. Pipes near outside wall vents The pipes in this mechanical room run directly in front of vent to the outside. When the furnace operates, cold outside air is drawn over them, creating the potential to freeze. Hot and cold water pipes enclosed in cabinets on outside walls The hot and cold water pipes under sinks in enclosed cabinets and against outside walls are at risk of pipe freezing. The closed cabinet doors prevent the room heat from easily reaching the pipe locations. The cold outside wall and restriction of heat into the cabinet can cause a pipe to freeze. Water heaters and piping in attics with uninsulated roofs Pipes and water tanks in attics with no roof insulation can freeze and burst. An extended cold period could subject the pipes and tank to rapid freezing in the unheated space. A burst pipe will cause extensive damage to the ceilings, walls, flooring and building contents.

4 Page 4/6 Placing your water sensor Your water sensor provides real-time alert notifications in case your building experiences water intrusion in the location where your water sensor is installed. Here is how to locate the water sensor in an area with the greatest potential for property loss: Assess a location for installing a water sensor by first completely touring your facility. This is an important step. Look for areas at risk of potential water damage from leaks. Avoid areas where nuisance water collects, such as floors that are mopped. Consider areas that contain valuable, historical or other highly valuable property. Common locations for a water sensor include a basement or kitchen and/or rooms with a water heater, a sump pump, or areas with low spots in the floor. Place the sensor high enough to minimize its risk of being submerged or damaged by water. Leave enough slack in the wire to place the probe where you need it. Water sensor example locations: In a mechanical room If pump or other equipment in a mechanical room fails, water will likely leak. Near a water heater The water sensor is placed in front of a water heater. If the water heater were to fail and leak, the sensors will detect the leaking water.

5 Page 5/6 Water sensor in a bathroom Severe water leaks can occur in a bathroom. Close up view of water heater above Sensor is placed high enough to prevent damage if water leaks. Placing your Gateway The Gateway provides the communications link to your sensors in order to monitor your building, so it s important to locate the Gateway where it can communicate best with all of your sensors. Here are a few key guidelines to consider for optimal system operation. Most important is that your Gateway always remains powered up and communicating. Do not plug it into a power strip or into an outlet that is controlled by a switch. Place the Gateway in a location central to all placed sensors. The system works best when the sensor farthest from your Gateway is within 100 feet. The Gateway also has to be at least three feet away from the sensors. Consider a location that has good cell phone coverage. Main floors are better than lower levels. Avoid placing the Gateway in high-traffic areas to prevent tampering and damage. A bookshelf or cabinet top are good spots for the gateway. It can also be placed on a wall by using two adhesive strips provided with system.

6 Page 6/6 Gateway example locations: On a shelf This Gateway was placed in an office on a corner shelf. It is inconspicuous to prevent tampering, but centrally located to sensors to ensure good communication. Attached to a panel This Gateway is attached to the side of a panel in a mechanical room where it won t be disturbed. On utility room wall This Gateway was attached to a wall using adhesive strips. Attached to office wall Gateway attached to a wall in the corner of office. NOT IF, BUT HOW 2016 The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company. All rights reserved. (New 9/16)