June 09, 2021 | Feature Article

Newly Approved IoT-Enabled Valve Monitoring System Can Ease Valve Inspection Burden

Available for new and retrofit applications

A new wireless sprinkler valve monitoring system, which recently earned the FM Approvals certification, promises to help organizations lower the cost of monitoring critical sprinkler control (and isolation) valves and make it easier to receive alerts and other information from anywhere, anytime via the Internet of Things (IoT). 

The new system combines a wireless mesh network module and application software from Marchwood Integrated Ltd. of Verwood, England, with an anti-tamper valve monitoring device (VMD) from Amtron Valve Monitoring Device Pty Ltd., of Melbourne, Australia (fig 1).The system is available for new and retrofit applications and offers easy ‘plug-and-play’ installation thanks to its compact, battery-powered design. 

Amtron and Marchwood Chart

Fig 1 -- A perfect match—the wireless node from the UK’s Marchwood and the tamper-resistant Amtron valve monitoring system were integrated to create a wireless valve monitoring system that can reduce the cost of valve monitoring and increase the reliability of plant-wide fire protection systems.

The human challenge
Human error is the leading cause of automatic fire protection system failure in the United States, according to a report by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) entitled U.S. Experience with Sprinklers. The NFPA found that from 2010 to 2014, 59% of failed sprinkler systems were due to the water supply being shut off (fig 2). 

Sprinkler Failure Chart

Fig 2 -- The human element is to blame in most sprinkler system failures, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

It is not surprising that FM Global field engineers find more than 1,200 improperly closed valves (ICVs) annually during on-site risk assessment visits. The company also makes more than 30,000 recommendations each year to help clients improve fire system valve inspection, testing and maintenance. FM Global client locations around the world manage more than 1.8 million fire protection valves of all types at a cost of about US$450 million annually in inspection labor alone. 

There are valid reasons for a fire prevention system control valve to be closed—such as the need to replace a sprinkler or construction. Sometimes valves get closed by mistake or the wrong valve is closed and forgotten. 

Supervisory alarm systems do not prevent malicious tampering of control valves but do detect and notify when a valve has been tampered with. In order for a supervisory alarm to defend against malicious tampering during an arson or other fire event, the supervisory alarm system itself must be tamper resistant. Tamper alarm signals also must be monitored and responded to by onsite personnel. 

Tech opportunity
FM Approvals has encouraged the development of new technologies across the loss prevention landscape. “Our early vision was for a technology for monitoring fire protection systems that could be installed without running wires and provide easy access to device status,” notes David Waite,  operations vice president and approvals group manager for FM Approvals electrical group. 

In 2017, FM Approvals updated Approval Standard 3135 to include “enhanced security”, renaming it Sprinkler Valve Supervisory Devices—Standard Security and Enhanced Security. The revision encompasses wireless valve monitoring systems that provided greater tamper resistance and status reporting. 

“We began working with Amtron and Marchwood, independently of each other and soon realized there was a synergy between the two,” Waite explains. “The Amtron system had the space for the Marchwood module, which provides a wireless mesh network for fault-tolerant communications to any FM Approved fire alarm panel. They are experts in wireless communications, and we provide the expertise in codes and regulations for fire alarm signaling.” 

IoT comes to fire protection
The Amtron VMD with the Marchwood IoT-enabled, wireless mesh network operating system is capable of monitoring one or hundreds of valves across an enterprise installation. The system requires three components for a complete network: 

• Amtron VMD unit with Marchwood wireless mesh module uses magnetic proximity sensing to detect valve movement and status. These battery-powered units provide line-of-site range of more than 3,200ft/975m and an obstructed range of 300ft/91m. Each device is ‘plug and play’, automatically synching with the network once powered. 

• Marchwood Site Controller is a 24-volt DC IoT-enabled, wireless mesh network module that collects and manages supervisory and trouble information from multiple VMD units and transmit that information to a Fire Panel Interface. The Site Controller receives and forwards VMD node identification, state change and signal type. It also provides the gateway to IoT applications. 

• Marchwood Fire Panel Interface provides the communication link between the wireless mesh network and any compatible FM Approved fire alarm control panel. 


“For large facilities, certain fire protection valves may be located a significant distance—hundreds of yards sometimes—from the plant,” explains Marchwood sales engineer Alastair Snell.  “Rather than have to spend $500 to $700 per yard to install cable in the ground to support a hard-wired valve monitoring system, organizations can now install a wireless system at a fraction of the cost and time.”

Snell notes that his firm partnered with Amtron several years ago because they offered a truly tamper-resistant valve monitoring system that could easily accept the Marchwood wireless mesh module. ”When FM Approvals introduced its valve monitoring standard, FM 3135, in 2017, that began a process for us that ultimately resulted in certification for our combined system, the first on the market to do so.” 

He adds, “The market acceptance and acknowledgement of the FM Approved mark combined with the recognition by FM Global of the potential for wireless fire valve monitoring systems to reduce losses is helping to drive this market. Third-party certification is vital in establishing market credibility. We believe we have that thanks to the FM Approved mark.”  

IoT and cloud combined 
The Marchwood IoT-enabled mesh network allows the user to take full advantage of valve status and other data via internet cloud connectivity. Supplemental applications, including the Marchwood Webserver and Marchwood in Motion (MIM) provide a customizable and scalable solution for managing large installations and/or multiple sites from a central location.

It’s interesting to note that the wireless IoT technology at the root of the new FM Approved sprinkler valve monitoring system from Marchwood and Amron has an interesting history dating back to WWII. Hedy Lamarr, actress and inventor, is considered by many as the “mother of Wi-Fi” for her pioneering work during WWII with composer George Antheil in developing a radio guidance system for torpedoes using frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology. This idea serves as the basis for modern spread-spectrum communication technology used in Wi-Fi networking and CDMA used by some cordless and mobile phones.   

The application of IoT-enabled sensors for facility management, including fire protection systems, is a rapidly growing trend with enormous benefits. In this pandemic-tempered world, remote monitoring is a critical benefit. 

“We believe the level of integration, IoT connectivity and control, and valve monitoring focus makes this newly Approved system unique in the market,” notes Waite. “The goal is to reduce valve inspection and testing frequency to annually in accordance with U.S. code or a frequency stipulated by other regional codes or AHJs. The fact that this new system has the potential to reduce the labor required to manage a large installation and reduce the impact of human error on fire protection systems is a distinct advantage.”