Before: Demanding manual testing

The traditional way of testing sprinkler systems required a great deal of time, planning, and physical presence.

• “Access to the sprinkler control rooms was a challenge. It was a significant burden for the residents when inspectors had to enter once a week. The biggest benefit has been the improved quality of life for the residents.”

Repeated visits from technicians created unrest among residents and required planning from operations staff.

• “We no longer need visits from technicians. The only times we need a technician are for the annual FG inspection. It is absolutely wonderful, to put it simply.”

Significant savings for Ringerike Boligstiftelse

When we look at the figures related to the new digital solution, this applies specifically to Ringerike Boligstiftelse’s case with Firemesh and their need for weekly monitoring of sprinkler systems.

With manual testing, approximately 2 hours per week were spent per location. With an hourly rate of 750 NOK and 52 weeks per year, this results in the following calculation:
2 hours × 750 NOK × 52 weeks × 2 locations = 156 000 NOK per year.
This applies to two different locations. In total, there are four valves, with one of the buildings located at a different site than the other two.

Based on our research, a typical hourly rate for an inspector is often as high as 900 NOK. With this hourly rate, the total annual cost would have been 187 200 NOK.
With Firemesh, the annual cost is 34 000 NOK. This means that buildings in similar situations can save between 122 000 and 153 200 NOK per year on weekly testing.
This provides significant savings for Ringerike Boligstiftelse, both financially and administratively, while also eliminating the need for weekly physical inspections.
In addition, Jan-Ove points out that the use of proptech solutions has further streamlined operations:

• “We have reduced staffing by half with the help of proptech solutions such as Firemesh.”

Simple installation and close follow up
The transition to Firemesh was completed without major challenges.

• “The installation went almost too smoothly and was operational after a short time.”
• “I must honestly admit that the follow up and service have been fantastic.”
• “Firemesh was incredibly accommodating. If there was anything, the answer was always: don’t worry about it, we will take care of it.”
• “Firemesh works exactly as you promised. It is excellent.”

User friendly app and seamless FDV integration
One of the major improvements with digital control is the overview and control it provides.

• “Yes absolutely, I can just open the app and take a quick look, and I do not need to do anything more.”

The Firemesh platform provides quick status updates on sprinkler systems, sends alerts in case of deviations, and reduces the need for manual follow up. This means less administration, less coordination, and better documentation.
In addition, Firemesh allows integration with several different FDV systems without any issues. The solution is integrated with FAMAC, among others, and can be connected to additional systems as needed. This makes it easy to gather deviations, documentation, and history within existing work tools.

• “Firemesh has a very good integration with FAMAC, so if something is wrong, a deviation is registered immediately. We can more easily read these deviations and understand their severity.”

A clear recommendation
When asked whether he would recommend Firemesh to other buildings with sprinkler systems, the answer is clear.

• “I would absolutely recommend it. The product delivers what it promises. Fantastic service. Time saving and cost saving.”

For Ringerike Boligstiftelse, the transition to digital sprinkler monitoring has resulted in financial benefits, more efficient operations, and a better everyday experience for both employees and residents.