Water risk in modern buildings is rarely a single problem. A burst pipe on a riser is an escape-of-water event. Moisture trapped inside a CLT panel during construction, or water collecting beneath a flat-roof membrane, may never register on a flow meter at all. Both can cause serious damage, delay handover, and undermine insurer confidence.
That is why Quensus is working in partnership with Tector. Together we help project teams address pipe leaks and hidden moisture with a coordinated approach—from fabrication and site works through to occupation. For the full technical scope, see our CLT & flat roofs solution.
Why insurers and project teams care about both signals
Escape of water remains one of the most expensive property risks in the UK. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) describes water damage as a leading cause of home insurance claims, with burst pipes and leaks driving significant payouts every year. For commercial and residential portfolios, the FPA Joint Code of Practice (JCOP) for Escape of Water increasingly expects prevention measures—not just alarms after damage is visible.
On mass timber and flat-roof programmes, pipe monitoring alone cannot prove that panels are drying safely or that a membrane is still intact. That is the gap the Quensus and Tector partnership is designed to close. Our Handover Vulnerability Gap article explains why exposure peaks when buildings are complete but still vacant—exactly when both flow and moisture data matter most.
Two risks, one programme
Most teams already understand mains-level leak detection: monitor flow, alert on abnormal use, and shut off supply where configured. That is the core of Quensus LeakNet—intelligent flow monitoring with automated isolation to limit escape-of-water damage, aligned with prevention-first strategies rather than reactive detection alone.
Mass timber and flat-roof buildings add a second layer. CLT panels can carry moisture from fabrication, transport, and wet trades long before anyone turns on a tap. Flat roofs can fail at the membrane while rooms below still look dry. In both cases, the critical question is not “how much water flowed through the meter?” but “where is moisture building up, and is it drying?”
Tector’s embedded sensors answer that question. Screw-in probes read wood moisture at depth inside CLT lamella—not just at the surface—so drying decisions are based on what matters before encapsulation. Sensors in the roof build-up can detect ingress under the waterproofing layer before insulation, deck, or ceilings are compromised.
Quensus scopes LeakNet for pipework, site supplies, and occupied-phase protection. In partnership with Tector, we help you define embedded moisture coverage for CLT and flat-roof programmes so both risks are covered in one plan.
Why the partnership matters on site
On a typical CLT or hybrid project, several stakeholders need aligned evidence:
- Design and timber engineers need drying trends before walls and floors are closed in.
- Main contractors need to protect programme and avoid decay, mould, or rework—see also water management on construction sites and Considerate Constructors expectations.
- Clients and insurers increasingly expect documented moisture performance—not assumptions—at handover. Programmes aligned with BREEAM WAT03 leak detection benefit from auditable flow data as well.
- Facilities teams need escape-of-water protection once the building is live, with alerts via FlowReporter where required.
A split approach—flow detection specified by M&E and moisture left to ad-hoc spot checks—often leaves gaps. Coordinating LeakNet and Tector monitoring through Quensus means sensor placement, alert thresholds, and reporting can be planned early, when routes, panel layouts, and roof build-ups are still open for discussion.
From construction to occupation
Monitoring should start in planning, not after the first wet week on site. For CLT, drying is tracked from fabrication through encapsulation. LeakNet can protect temporary standpipes and site supplies during construction, then monitor occupied pipework once the building is operational—similar to the lifecycle described on our CLT & flat roofs page.
For flat-roof buildings—offices, apartments, schools, and other typologies beyond timber—the same principle applies: membrane-level moisture monitoring complements flow-based protection for plant rooms, risers, and tenant areas.
What you get when you work with Quensus and Tector
- Escape-of-water protection via LeakNet—learning-mode flow analytics, alerts, and shut-off where configured.
- Embedded moisture insight for CLT panels and flat-roof build-ups via Tector sensors.
- Single point of scoping through Quensus so coverage matches project size, layout, and insurer requirements—including schemes referenced in our Aviva Risk Management Solutions partnership.
- Evidence for handover—drying records, threshold alerts, and reports stakeholders can rely on.
Further reading & sources
- Quensus: CLT buildings and flat roofs
- Handover Vulnerability Gap (vacant new-build risk)
- Winter escapes & frozen pipes
- ABI — water damage and insurance
- FPA Joint Code of Practice — Escape of Water (PDF)
- Considerate Constructors Scheme — Code of Considerate Practice
Discuss your project
If you are delivering mass timber, flat-roof, or mixed-structure programmes and need both flow protection and embedded moisture monitoring, we can help you scope the right mix.
Speak to the Quensus team today or explore the CLT & flat roofs solution to see how Quensus and Tector work together.
