BCHA housing association has launched a project to use internet of things (IoT) sensors for monitoring water temperatures and mitigating the risk of legionella in some of its properties.
It is taking the step as part of a wider roll out of IoT technology around its housing in a partnership with data platform provider Daizy Tech.
BCHA has so far installed 94 devices over 26 sites and plans to install another 215 before the end of the year.
The sensors are attached to hot and cold water outlet pipes to measure ambient temperature and any changes, which indicates when they are being used. Legionella bacteria can form in water above 20 and below 45 degrees so achieving the right temperatures will help eliminate the risk, and provide information on when an intervention could be needed.
The Daizy Tech platform makes the data available to BCHA’s asset management team through an API. It provides dashboards to show the status of all outlets, identifies those that are not within the compliance levels and triggers workflows.
Using the sensors, provides for daily readings and contrasts with the traditional approach of a contractor manually taking a monthly reading.
BCHA has also identified the scope to use IoT sensors to measure air temperature and humidity to identify the risk of damp, along with smart smoke detectors, smart locks, water leak detection, vulnerable person monitoring, fuel poverty detection and heating failure.
Improving safety
Martin Hancock, BCHA’s chief executive, said: “We are always looking for new initiatives to improve our customer and team health and safety, and it is no surprise that the advances in technology over the past decade have a big part to play in making a difference.
“The introduction of IoT technology has enabled businesses to be more proactive in their approach, creating revenue streams and saving on costs. The real time data improves monitoring and reduces the need for physical presence, something that has become all the more relevant in present times.”
He added: “We are committed to making our homes smart, so much so that we have this written into our five-year business plan as a leading goal. We are now keen to explore what the IoT market has to offer that ticks all of our boxes, keeping the customer at the heart of what we do.”
The organisation said it is actively seeking IoT device manufacturers and suppliers that could work with its existing infrastructure.
“BCHA manages around 1,300 units and we are keen to see each and every customer benefit from one or more smart devices in their home,” a spokesperson for the organisation said.
Image from iStock, Fisher Photostudio
