Prevention and proof in one connected workflow. Most organisations still tackle damp and mould with a patchwork of sensors, spreadsheets and site...
MouldSense: The Smart Solution for Damp & Mould Management
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Real-Time Data: The Backbone of Modern Social Housing Operations
In an era where data drives decision-making, social housing providers can no longer afford to lag behind. The key to unlocking operational efficiencies, cost savings, and most importantly, ensuring resident safety lies in embracing intelligently designed remote technology solutions. At Vericon Systems, we believe that connected solutions can transform the way social housing is managed, enhancing the lives of thousands of residents across the country.
Heating System Failures: A Reactive and Costly Approach
For years, the maintenance of heating systems has followed a reactive pattern – wait for a breakdown, then scramble to repair or replace. This approach is not only costly but leads to resident dissatisfaction and even safety risks. By harnessing real-time data from Vericon’s BCM, which tracks boiler performance metrics such as flow temperature, return temperature, and system pressure, social housing providers can proactively schedule maintenance, reducing unexpected failures and keeping residents warm and safe.
BCM’s real-time monitoring capabilities send intelligent performance data to the cloud, where it can be interrogated and analysed to predict and identify common failures such as low pressure, loss of gas, and even a frozen condensate pipe. Its GSM connectivity provides a secure data stream to and from the device, reporting in real time to the cloud, removing any dependence on an occupant’s Wi-Fi network. Plus, each BCM has a complete and detailed record of its history and audit trail, allowing for the review of all actions, alerts, and notifications that have occurred throughout its entire lifetime. And with universal compatibility, BCM is designed to monitor housing stock in real time and is capable of operating with all major boiler brands, as well as being future compatible with air source heat pumps and hydrogen boilers.
The Hidden Inefficiency: Under-Pressure Boiler Callouts
Boiler breakdowns due to low pressure are a common and frustrating emergency. These avoidable callouts place a burden on maintenance resources and leave residents without heating or hot water. Vericon’s AutoFill solution autonomously monitors boiler pressure in real-time, detecting when a system is losing pressure and autonomously repressurising the system to prevent breakdowns. When the boiler pressure falls below a specific limit, the AutoFill system initiates the filling procedure. During this process, AutoFill operates for three seconds to fill and subsequently checks the pressure. This cycle continues until either the desired 1.5 bar is attained or a failure is identified within the system.
AutoFill provides real-time notifications, with every top-up recorded on the portal with a timestamp. Should another top-up be necessary within a 90-day period, an engineer will be alerted to address the issue. In the event that a third top-up is needed, the system will be identified as needing an engineer visit and preventing any further top-ups. AutoFill is seamlessly integrated within the existing fill loop of the boiler, ensuring complete compatibility with any boiler system.
Environmental Risks: The Hidden Dangers in Every Home
Mould growth and damp conditions pose serious health risks to residents, from respiratory issues to long-term conditions. Traditional methods of detection rely on visual inspections, often missing early signs of moisture issues. Vericon’s MultiDOT sensors track temperature and humidity in real-time, enabling the swift identification of potential mould and damp risks, allowing for prompt remediation and ensuring a safe living environment. MultiDOT serves as a diagnostic tool that can be reused for properties experiencing damp and mould issues. After installing the device and resolving the issue, it can be installed in the next property. Landlords and property managers can use MultiDOT to monitor temperature and humidity levels in specific areas where it is installed, ensuring tenant safety by identifying potential mould and dampness problems early. MultiDOT provides instant, real-time information, its technology enabling seamless analysis of critical data points, enhancing the decision-making processes.
“Although the Vericon system has only been live for a matter of months, we are already seeing positive results,” says Chris Roberts, Sustainability Manager at Plus Dane Housing.
“With the ability to proactively monitor, manage and evaluate humidity levels within our properties, we can prevent the build-up of damp and mould and all of the problems they bring. Vericon’s ongoing service and support has been first class.”
Fuel Poverty and Vulnerable Resident Monitoring: Data-Driven Approaches to Pressing Issues
Fuel poverty and being able to monitor vulnerable residents is a growing concern within the social housing sector. These individuals may face various physical, mental, or financial challenges that could impact their safety and well-being. Vericon will monitor properties of residents tagged by the housing provider as vulnerable for signs of activity.
Vericon can monitor energy usage in real-time, identify properties with low room temperatures, frequent energy outages, or unusual energy usage patterns, highlighting where support is needed. By targeting assistance to those most in need, social housing providers can make a real difference in tackling fuel poverty and helping vulnerable residents.
Void Management: Eliminating Inefficiencies and Damage
Vacant properties pose unique challenges, from being able to prevent damage to avoiding unnecessary energy waste. Vericon’s BCM enables the remote management of heating in void properties, ensuring pipes don’t freeze and avoiding costly repairs. It’s a simple yet effective way to increase operational efficiency and reduce costs.
Compliance and Reporting: No Longer a Burden
Ensuring statutory compliance for emergency lighting is a critical yet often time-consuming task. Vericon’s Emered solution automates the testing and reporting of emergency lighting, providing full audit trails and ensuring all systems are safe and compliant. Emered can be installed and commissioned on to any luminaire in under 10 minutes and will carry out tests over the next 10 years and beyond. Importantly, Emered performs both monthly and annual tests, including the mandatory 3-hour test, and the flick test, for complete compliance. Using Vericon’s Portal, test schedules can be set per device allowing for staggered testing in a single building, ensuring compliance with BS5266. The EmeRed will automatically send all test results to Vericon Connect. The Connect system will then notify specified users to any failed lamps or those requiring preventative maintenance.
Real-World Results
Don’t just take our word for it. Our solutions are already delivering real results for social housing providers.
“Working with the Vericon team and their eco-system has been a refreshing experience,” said Paul Hutchins, Innovations Contract Manager at LiveWest.
“The Vericon trial has given LiveWest an opportunity to fully understand an option as a future service strategy and how the innovative concepts could flow into existing structures and workflows.”
Rob McFerran of Selwood Housing commends Vericon’s Surveyor Cube, stating, “The implementation of The Surveyor Cube has proved to be a valuable tool for Selwood Housing and our customers, improving resident comfort and aiding in our joint effort to eradicate damp and mould from our housing stock.”
The Surveyor Cube consists of a plug & play BCM, several MultiDOT devices, adhesive pads and full portal access with the capability to instantly view and report on a properties environmental conditions. The Surveyor Cube can be installed in minutes, with no specialist tools or knowledge. The Plug and Play BCM has a three pin plug fitted to allow for simple power-up and re-deployment. All information collected by the devices is sent via the plug and play BCM to Connect to be interrogated and analysed by our machine learning algorithms. The data can then be reviewed and downloaded for a full audit trail.
Vericon Systems: Your Partner in Connected Property Management
At Vericon Systems, we’re dedicated to improving the lives of social housing residents through innovative connected solutions. By partnering with us, housing providers can benefit from streamlined operations, significant cost savings, and improved resident satisfaction. Our mission is to enhance property management and resident living, one connected home at a time. We believe that intelligently designed remote technology solutions that provide insightful data and enable remote interventions are the key to unlocking a more efficient, effective, and resident-focused future for social housing.
The question is, are you ready to unlock the power of real-time data and start transforming your operations with intelligently designed remote technology solutions?
Would you like to find out more?
For more information about how Vericon can benefit your housing projects call 01242 582 555 or email [email protected]
Together, we can make a significant impact in combating fuel poverty and ensuring a better future for social housing.
Prioritising Resident Safety: Combating Fuel Poverty and Enhancing Energy Efficiency
The official number of people who live in a low income household with poor energy efficiency in England in 2024 is 3.17 million, according to the latest government statistics. With over 8 million adults in 2023/24 living in cold and damp homes contributing to worening pressure on the public health system.
Vericon Systems, a leader in smart building solutions, offers intelligently designed remote technology that provides powerful data to improve efficiency, reduces costs, improves compliance, and continuously improves the living conditions of people in rented accommodation.
Source:Inside Housing Survey
Current Challenges
Aging Infrastructure
Much of the UK’s social housing stock consists of older buildings with poor insulation, leading to high energy consumption. Upgrading this aging infrastructure is essential and retrofit projects are happening up and down the country.
– Poor Insulation
Inadequate insulation means more heat escapes, requiring more energy to maintain comfortable temperatures but also means that the external walls are colder increasing the risk of condensation and therefore mould.
– Drafts and Leaking Air
Traditional building techniques and building products weren’t focused on air tightness, for example drafts around doors and windows, resulting in higher greater loss of heat and therefore increased costs to maintain heat in a property.
– High Energy Consumption
Inefficient heating systems and poor building design lead to excessive energy use.
– Increased Maintenance Costs
Older infrastructure often requires more frequent and costly repairs.
How does this link to Fuel Poverty?
– Energy Bills
Poor insulation and inefficient heating systems lead to higher energy consumption, which in turn results in higher energy bills. If the heating system in a property is working harder than it needs to, to keep a property warm, the chance of a breakdown is increased. For residents who are already financially vulnerable, this can lead to significant hardship.
– Health and Safety Risks
Inadequate heating can lead to cold, damp living conditions, which can cause or exacerbate health issues such as respiratory problems and mental health conditions. These conditions can lead to mould growth which in turn can lead to legal action being taken by the resident.
– Resource Constraints and Problem Awareness
Upgrading the infrastructure is essential to address these issues, social housing providers often face limited resources. This means they must prioritise the most urgent repairs and upgrades. However, these upgrades can only be made if housing providers are aware of the problems.
It’s understandable that residents might feel hesitant to report issues due to feelings of embarrassment, such as struggling to pay a gas bill, or confusion about the root cause of a problem, like the unexpected growth of mould in their home. This hesitation can sometimes prevent the essential repairs and upgrades that are needed.
Lack of Real-Time Data
Without access to real-time energy usage and environmental data, it is challenging for social housing providers to identify inefficiencies and areas for improvement. Implementing data-driven solutions is crucial for effective energy management and resident safety.
This lack of data leads to several issues
– Delayed Detection of Problems
Without real-time monitoring, inefficiencies such as excessive energy usage or poor heating performance may go unnoticed until they are escalate into significant issues.
– Reactive Maintenance
Housing providers are often forced to rely on reactive maintenance, addressing problems only after they are reported by residents or forced to take action, rather than proactively preventing them at a fraction of the cost.
– Inaccurate Assessments
In the absence of accurate data, it becomes difficult to assess the true performance of properties and identify which buildings need urgent upgrades. These assessments may include interviews with residents which doesnt give the full picture about how the property is being used.
How does this link to Fuel Poverty?
– Energy Bills
Without the ability to monitor energy usage in real-time, it is difficult to identify and rectify inefficiencies. This results in higher energy consumption and, consequently, higher energy bills for residents.
– Missed Opportunities for Improvement
Real-time data can pinpoint areas where minor adjustments, such as addressing an ineffective or switched-off extractor fan, could drastically lower energy consumption. By identifying these issues early, costs can be limited to £100 instead of thousands, breaking the cycle of inefficiency and high expenses.
– Health and Safety Risks
Environmental factors such as humidity and temperature can impact the health and safety of residents. Without real-time data, issues like mould growth or inadequate heating may not be addressed promptly, leading to adverse health effects.
everaging Vericon Systems to Enhance Resident Safety
Smart Building Technologies for Safety
Installing Vericon technology gives social housing providers the data needed to take proactive steps forward in caring for their vulnerable residents.
This technology provides real-time data on various aspects of the property, such as boiler activity, room level temperature & humidity and energy usage.
By identifying issues early, housing providers can take proactive measures to address them, ensuring that properties are maintained to a good standard while highlighting fuel poverty risks. This not only helps in maintaining the aging infrastructure but also improves the living conditions for residents.
By installing these technologies, social housing providers can:
– Ensure Safe Living Conditions
Maintain consistent and adequate heating levels, while preventing dangerous temperature fluctuations that may compromise resident health.
– Reduce Energy Costs
Optimise energy use and reduce waste, leading to lower energy bills for residents and the housing provider.
– Proactively Address Maintenance Issues
Detect and address potential issues before they escalate, ensuring the safety and well-being of residents.
– Validate work packages
Where work has been carried out to address a specific issue real time monitoring can confirm he validity of the work but also highlight any additional issues created by the works.
– Enhance Asset Management
Extend the lifespan of heating systems, while reducing downtime in the colder months. Learn more about the Vericon Summer Boiler Health Check.
Real-Time Data and Analytics
Vericon’s remote monitoring capabilities allow social housing providers to detect and address maintenance issues proactively, preventing potential safety hazards caused by faulty equipment or infrastructure. Regular maintenance and timely repairs can extend the lifespan of heating systems and other energy-related infrastructure, reducing the risk of safety incidents.
– Boiler Monitoring
Ensure the safety of residents by continuously monitoring the boiler’s performance and detecting any malfunctions or potential hazards. It also enables efficient energy usage and allows housing providers to have a better understanding of their assets. This data can also highlight fuel poverty related risks such as:
- Flow temperature
- Target room temperature
- Is there an active gas supply
– Temperature & Humidity
Vericon technology enables remote monitoring giving housing providers real-time visibility into property environmental conditions.
Vericon’s advance algorithms will analyse the data collected from sensors placed within the property to determine the risk level and the severity, allowing the most serious cases to be addressed first. The data, available online will give an insight to the changes throughout the day, and additional in sight to the cause before planned works or interventions are defined. This data can also highlight fuel poverty related risks such as:
- Single room occupancy
- A vulnerable resident
- A void property
– Power Usage
By monitoring power usage, housing providers can identify areas with high energy consumption and implement energy-saving measures for significant cost savings on utility bills. This data can also highlight fuel poverty related risks such as:
– Inconsistent Appliance Usage
Erratic patterns of appliance usage might show that residents are only using certain appliances at specific times or days.
– Underheating
Residents maybe using significantly less electricity than expected, it may indicate that they are underheating their homes to save money.
The integration of Vericon Systems’ smart building technologies presents a viable solution to enhancing resident safety, improving energy efficiency, and reducing fuel poverty in social housing. By leveraging real-time data, remote monitoring, and proactive maintenance capabilities, social housing providers can ensure safe living conditions, optimise energy use, reduce costs, and stay compliant.
These advancements are crucial in creating a more sustainable, safe, and fair future for social housing residents.
Would you like to find out more?
Contact Vericon Systems today to book a demo and see firsthand how intelligently designed remote technology solutions can transform your housing operations and support your residents.
Tel: 01242 582 555 or email [email protected]
Together, we can make a significant impact in combating fuel poverty and ensuring a better future for social housing.