THE CHALLENGE

Construction sites are inherently complex and filled with various risks, and among the most dreaded scenarios is the occurrence of floods. Floods are capable of setting off a domino effect of issues. They inflict substantial financial losses through equipment and material damage and imperil the structural soundness of the building under construction, potentially entailing safety hazards and costly repairs. Furthermore, these unwelcome events often lead to disruptions in construction schedules, entangling projects with potential legal complexities. 

EllisDon, a prominent construction firm based in Canada, recently confronted this critical challenge during one of its construction projects. A significant flood emerged from a malfunctioning recirculating line on the 28th floor, posing a severe threat to the project’s progress and the overall safety of the construction site. 

THE SOLUTION

Knowing that floods represent a nightmarish scenario due to their potential to trigger a chain reaction of problems, Ellis Don had already contracted Connected Sensors to install their Flood Prevention System. 

Connected Sensors installed its Water Sniffer, a state-of-the-art flood sensor engineered for precise water detection. These flood sensors were deployed throughout the construction site, including the base building and 20 additional moving sensors aligned with floor progression. 

The Water Sniffer dashboard empowered EllisDon to set up real-time early warning alerts and provided a visual representation of the exact location of flooding concerns, enabling swift and proactive responses to emerging threats.

THE RESULTS

Early Detection

The Connected Sensors Flood Prevention System detected the flood on the 27th floor at 6:33 pm, enabling on-site staff to respond swiftly, with a team on-site by approximately 6:50 pm.

Rapid Response

By 6:56 pm, the system detected water reaching as far down as the 2nd floor. This rapid response prevented the situation from escalating into a full-blown crisis.

Disaster Averted

Detecting the flood on the same day it occurred, just two weeks before the planned partial occupancy of the construction site, undoubtedly averted a potential catastrophe.