Frequently Asked Questions

We can help any business – from a small bakery to a large data center. We handle monitoring in storage units, laboratories, libraries/archives, mission-critical facilities and more!

Most equipment has some form of remote communications. Most times, it is a simple relay/contact that indicates an issue is present to smart communications with discrete data for more precise monitoring. For equipment with no remote monitoring capabilities, we can retrofit the equipment with third-party hardware to give you visibility.

The hardware we work with has different options to fit the solution of a building/environment. Our dedicated team analyzes the request to create the application and takes a custom approach to ensure the local facilities have a solution that integrates seamlessly with their current BAS/BMS platform.

Yes, FMS can integrate with almost any BAS/BMS platform used by customers. If a BAS/BMS does not have the capability and/or ease of access to use an open protocol, Our team will use a simple contact/relay status for an active alarm. Our team will implement gateway and/or protocol converts to get the critical data in a format that can be used by the building monitoring system.

1. Identify the pain points your facility is currently dealing with, what motivated the conversation, or potentially implementing a remote monitoring system. It is not always required though it does provide us the best information so you don’t have costly surprises – or maybe we can offer a less expensive option!

2. Identify the must-have and nice-to-have features.

3. Identify the hardware needed and the communication options available (relays, protocols, etc.).

4. Use the drawings of your facility to decide cabling requirements and placement of monitoring hardware.

5. FMS highly recommends a site survey.

There are two typical systems deployed for leak detection used in buildings being resistive-based (Short Circuit), and Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR). The resistive-based system is the most common and cost-effective. In the case of water or acids, the fluid is conductive. When conductive fluids make contact across the sense leads on a leak cable, an alarm is triggered. Some systems are a simple “Go/NoGo” where the system is normal, or a leak is present. Other systems determine the distance to the leak along the length of the cable. The Go/NoGo (Zone System) style is great for small areas, where a leak can be identified visualy with minimal effort. The Distance Read or Direct-Read system are ideal for raised floor, dropped ceilings, along piping and other areas were it is not easy to see to point of origin.

We provide sensors and systems that can detect water leaks (conductive based fluids), acid leaks (Corrosive Fluids), fuel leaks (Hydrocarbon) or dielectric fluids. Depending on the application, FMS offers single-point sensors (Spot Sensors) for small/isolated areas and cable/rope system sensors for large areas.

Yes, we can provide wireless sensors that are designed for Leak Detection. The dedicated sensor is the WiNG-LD. You can connect spot detectors or even 100-feet of sensing cable. For more unique applications, FMS uses 900 MHz radios that can connect to more advanced style controllers and relay the data to the monitoring system deployed.

Leak Detection Cables: Continuous sensors that detect moisture or liquid along the entire length of the cable—ideal for monitoring long runs of piping, racks, or floor areas.

Spot Sensors: Point-based sensors that detect leaks only at a specific location—best for localized monitoring under equipment, near tanks, or other mission-critical points.

Learn more about our leak detection solutions: Leak Detection

Leak detection cables cover a large area or along long runs with the ability to give a distance marker to were the leak is occurring. A spot sensor is used in a small confined/isolated area to where if a leak is to occur, there is a small area that the water/fluid will collect.

This is dependent on the environment and the system that is deployed. It is recommended that at least once every three years your a system should be inspected, cleaned and tested. However, a yearly test of the system is best practice to ensure everything is working as designed. Depending on the type of system deployed, you may even get alerts if the system is detecting a contamination buildup.

An array of options are available, depending on the sensor/system you currently have. Typically, we look at Dry-Contact (relay) to the monitoring system. Protocol level data may be required if detailed information is needed, we can also provide email notification. If you do not have a current sensor/system in place, we will review and provide the most cost-effective and accurate option for your business.