Preventing Escape of Water During Construction and Renovation
Major water leaks are one of the highest contributors of insurance loss on construction sites and premises undergoing refurbishment. By installing a water leak detection system that monitors flow rates and automatically shuts off water supplies, contractors can avoid costly delays and claims. CIREG guidelines specifically highlight the importance of such systems and it’s also a core component of the credits required to achieve BREEAM certification for your premises.
Diamond Controls are specialists in this area, offering a supply, install and commissioning service for reliable, compliant major leak detection systems.
What is CIREG?
The Construction Insurance Risk Engineers Group (CIREG) is a collective of risk professionals from leading UK insurers, formed to improve risk mitigation practices in construction.
A free guide from CIREG supports construction and project managers in mitigating water leak risks. It highlights the importance of integrating automatic flow monitoring and shut-off technologies, while also providing detailed advice on risk assessments and the creation of Project Water Management Plans.
Why Does CIREG matter to the industry?
The number and severity of water escape incidents during building works have increased significantly in recent years. Insurers now consider water leaks to be one of the most common causes of loss on construction sites, sometimes even more so than fire. The resulting damage can lead to serious delays, increased costs, and reputation harm for contractors and developers.
To combat this, CIREG guidance outlines key risk mitigation strategies. While it doesn’t specify individual products, it sets out clear performance expectations, including:
- Monitoring for abnormal or unexpected water flow
- Automatic shut-off of systems outside working hours
- Development of emergency response plans and improved quality control over plumbing installations
These measures are increasingly seen as minimum expectations by insurers, developers, and sustainability frameworks like BREEAM, particularly under Wat 03. Failure to meet them may result in higher premiums, larger excesses, or even difficulty securing cover at all. The best way to prevent such losses is by installing a dedicated water leak detection system that can act automatically and immediately. Diamond Controls offers a range of both temporary and permanent solutions tailored to construction environments, helping sites stay compliant and protected.
Our Solution: The CIREG & BREEAM Compliant Leak Detection Kit
To help meet the demands of both CIREG guidance and BREEAM Wat 03 requirements, we offer a CIREG & BREEAM Compliant Major Water Leak Detection Kit, designed specifically for construction and refurbishment projects.
This kit includes:
- AT-WFM Controller – Records and monitors water flow with programmable alarm thresholds.
- Water Meter – Measures flow rates for both site boundary and internal systems.
- Motorised Ball Valve – Automatically isolates the water supply in the event of abnormal flow.
Key Features:
- Fully programmable to adjust flow thresholds for both occupied and unoccupied periods
- Dual monitoring levels for enhanced flexibility and protection
- Automatic shut-off based on flow limits, helping prevent extensive damage
- Built-in pulse output for BMS integration and remote monitoring
- Supports BREEAM Wat 03 compliance and can also contribute to Wat 02 credit
- CIGER compliant
- Compatible with pipe sizes from 15mm to 200mm
This solution enables contractors, developers, and building owners to meet the increasing expectations of insurers while supporting sustainability goals and avoiding costly project delays.
With You Every Step of the Way
We understand that every project is different. That’s why our team, full of experienced professionals, offers full support from system design and product supply to commissioning, installation. We ensure your leak detection system meets project-specific needs and aligns with both CIREG and BREEAM requirements.
Get in touch with our team today and request a free quote.
