Water protection guide · Compare the options
Different tools. Different parts of water protection.
Corrosion control, sensors and shutoff equipment are often grouped together as leak prevention. They address different events. Understanding the purpose of each helps a building team ask for a suitable scope and avoid assuming that one system performs every job.
Corrosion control works within the domestic piping.
LEaC Shield is a managed corrosion-control program for domestic hot and cold water piping. The equipment meters sodium silicate into the water as part of a treatment intended to form a protective barrier inside the piping. Its suitability is assessed for the building.
This is a program of equipment and ongoing servicing. It is not a sensor that detects a puddle, and it does not remove the need to respond to an existing leak or complete a required repair.
Sensors detect a monitored condition.
A leak sensor can alert the building team when water reaches its detection area. A useful plan considers likely sources, the path water could take, connectivity, power and who can act on the notification. Placement and response ownership are as important as having a device.
A sensor does not address corrosion inside the pipe. Its scope should explain what is monitored, which areas are outside that coverage and how alerts reach a responsible contact.
Shutoff controls the continued supply.
An automatic or remotely initiated shutoff can be considered where controlling flow is appropriate for the water system. The decision includes the valve arrangement, access, consequences of interruption and responsibility for responding and restoring service.
An alert does not necessarily mean a valve should close. Some locations need notification only. The reviewed design should identify which event triggers which action and any limits of the arrangement.
Choose the starting point from the problem.
Start with the condition the building needs to address, then define the system review. More than one approach can be considered when the risks are different, but each needs a clear purpose and operating plan.
- Recurring domestic water pinholes: review leak history and corrosion-control suitability
- Unnoticed water in vulnerable areas: review sensor placement and notification
- Continued flow after a detected event: review whether shutoff is appropriate
- Unknown or intermittent source: investigate before choosing a prevention system
Compare the operating responsibilities as well as equipment.
For LEaC Shield, review installation separately from ongoing program servicing, treatment supply and owner responsibilities. For sensors and shutoff, name who receives alerts, how the contact is backed up and how testing and maintenance are handled.
A useful proposal states the included system, expected action, limitations and responsible provider. ProShield can help the building start with either a LEaC Shield assessment or a Leak Defense planning conversation.
Questions people ask
Can leak sensors prevent pipe corrosion?
No. Sensors detect a monitored condition such as escaped water. LEaC Shield addresses corrosion control within suitable domestic hot and cold water piping through a managed program.
Does LEaC Shield automatically shut off water when a leak occurs?
LEaC Shield’s corrosion-control role is separate from sensor and automatic shutoff planning. Any shutoff function must be identified in the proposed equipment and control scope.
Can a building consider both approaches?
Yes. A building can review corrosion control and sensor or shutoff planning for different risks. Each requires its own suitability review, defined scope and ongoing responsibilities.