The project
OFIS,Veolia’s engineering and consulting subsidiary, which has specialized for over 25 years in indoor water systems and water quality in buildings,has sought since 2016 to incorporate continuous monitoring as an additional value-added service into its portfolio.
“We wanted to offer our customers contracted maintenance services to enable them to ensure ongoing preventive maintenance of their hot water systems. This approach is essential to us as part of our strategy to build customer loyalty,” explains Benjamin Midena, Head of OFIS Expertise.
Following a benchmark analysis of existing distributed remote meter reading systems in France, OFIS decided to entrust this monitoring component to Enless Wireless, which has over a decade of expertise in developing low-power, ultra-long-range transmitters that are simple and quick to install.Testing was conducted on the products, which were then deployed starting in 2018.
Supported by a supportive legislative framework, the goal of these installations was toenable enhanced monitoring of domestic hot water systems in order to prevent Legionella-type bacteria from contaminating the water supplied to users.*
The first solutions were deployed using 169 MHz Wireless M-Bus. SeveralEnless Wireless temperature transmitters with external contact probes wereinstalled at four different sites, including a nursing home and three clinics located in the Gard, Var, and Alsace regions, with 12 to 25 sensors per facility.The transmitters, positioned at various points in the domestic hot water systems, transmit their data to an Enless Wireless receiver, which is connected to a PLC. Data visualization and analysis are performed via the dedicated “Temp’eau” interface, developed by OFIS for Legionella risk prevention.
“We upgraded ourTemp’eaubusiness application in late 2018 to provide our teams and customers with a new, more powerful version that includes email and SMS alert services as well as periodic reports. This upgrade was also, and above all, designed to support other deployments that took place subsequently withEnless Wireless temperature transmitters , this time using a network-based communication mode operated Sigfox. “The integration of Sigfox transmitters allows us to gain greater flexibility and to also serve smaller players,” explains Benjamin Midena of OFIS.
What are the results?
The systems installed to date have, in particular, enabled the detection of a temperature malfunction within the DHW system of a healthcare facility located in the Gard department. The implementation of a general energy-saving policy within the facility had led the operator to significantly lower the temperature thresholds in its DHW system, which were incompatible with current legislation on Legionella risk prevention. The monitoring system put in place, coupled with the alert system deployed via theTemp’eauAPI, enabled the facility to respond quickly to raise its temperature level and thus avoid any risk of contamination for its occupants.
The solutions implemented also enabled a post-acute care and rehabilitation facility in the Var region—which had previously been ordered by the Regional Health Agency (ARS) to provide temperature data from its internal network to demonstrate that it had implemented a balancing strategy—to comply with this requirement.
OFIS plans to continue rolling out continuous monitoring solutions for its customers. The Veolia subsidiary is also consideringthe future implementation of Pulse transmitters for water pulse metersto complement the installations already in place.
* >About the risk of Legionnaires' disease:
Legionella risk management is strictly regulated by French authorities. Indeed, the risk is very real, given that the bacteria thrive in hot water systems when the water temperature ranges between 30°C and 45°C.
Infection with the bacterium, which occurs through the inhalation of contaminated water droplets, can lead to serious lung infections—known as legionellosis—that are similar to pneumonia and can have significant consequences for the health and survival of those who contract it.
In this regard, the law requires that the temperature in domestic hot water systems be maintained above 50°C, with inspection frequencies varying depending on the type of facility. Nursing homes and hospitals/healthcare facilities are subject to particularly strict requirements due to the vulnerability of the residents they care for.
>About OFIS:
OFIS is the Veolia Group’s engineering consulting firm specializing in health risks; Veolia is a global leader in optimized resource management.
For over 25 years, OFIS has been working to improve the environmental and health performance of buildings as a partner to commercial and healthcare facilities, as well as managers and operators of multi-unit residential buildings and industrial facilities.
Recognized in particular for its expertise in Legionella risk management, OFIS supports all projects aimed at improving health and environmental performance for the comfort of users. The quality of OFIS’s services is recognized by the certification bodies COFRAC, CSTB, and OPQIBI.
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