Leaks in Wet Services in Horizontal Run

Dunno...but your colour change tape sounds like a great idea...if no-one makes it already maybe you should look at trying to get some made!

Del

In the petroleum industry there is a paste that is used to detect water in underground fuel tanks. The paste, called Color Kut which is tan in color, is put on the tank dipstick. If the paste turns bright pink there is water present.

What about wrapping the length of the pipe with a thin bare wire inside a paper sleeve. With a low voltage current running through the wire searching for a ground in order to turn on a warning relay. If the paper became wet, it would complete the circuit and trip the warning relay. This would eliminate having to wait for someone to notice the color change, and then call it in.

You can configure several things to detect moisture, however most require power and result in some sort of alarm signal being sent. Your "litmus test" seems quite fun, although it will take a bit of thinking to provide a non-powered indication one level below.

If you have a small amount of power, you can use an optical fiber or the electro-chemical equivalent of your tape to detect moisture. Signal detection then alarm is straight forward. Circuitry must be isolated, current limited. But this is not as cheap as bits from the bottom drawer.

Once again as a reminder, electricity and water plus uncontrolled circuitry is a bad deal, especially if you leave the job and the next poor sucker inherits something in the false ceiling that is plugged into Hoover Dam.

doug

What about periodic treatment with a fluorescent dye?

Is there a method like a sticker/paper thing run along the pipes which changes colour and be visible below the ceiling where the user can call the maintenance team?! Is this possible?

REPLY

That's quite the trick making false ceilings transparent or invisible.

Actually I like the litmus test concept with flourescent dye. Make a tape that you can attach/hang below the pipe, then use for example a high intensity flashlight which has the appropriate wavelength to see the flourescence. Sounds a bit complicated but its not so bad. So if you have access from one end of the ceiling you can peer down with the flashlight and look for florescence. Or heck just paint the pipe. No power, "always on". Aside from installation, all you need is a step ladder and a flashlight.

doug

thank you all for the comments. When I said visible I meant only a small bit at a corner below the false ceiling! But the idea of fluorescent dye can make the test successful provided the dye can hold on to its properties for a long time. Thanks again although regular verification would still be required. The electric system can give false alarm...I am in a tropical island with regularly having relative humidity above 80% during the summer and again this system will require maintenance and can indeed cause electric problem to a new maintenance team. Ideally I was looking for a system that will not require regular maintenance and thus making the cost of maintenance interesting...