Innovative Water Damage Prevention for Insurers

Water damage is a common challenge for public buildings like schools, kindergartens, and sports centers. These damages disrupt daily operations, create safety hazards, and lead to costly repairs. For insurance companies, such damages represent significant claims and customer dissatisfaction. To address this issue, Oslo Forsikring, the insurer of all publicly owned buildings in Oslo, partnered with Polygon Norway to explore how sensor technology could revolutionize water damage prevention and risk management.

Partnering for Proactive Risk Management

“Oslo Forsikring is a returning customer with whom we've worked on multiple occasions, primarily focusing on damage restoration,” said Sigurd Austin, Country President of Polygon Norway. “Our latest collaboration involves an exciting project centered around sensor technology, Polygon’s Digital Solutions.”

The initiative was designed to detect water leaks and other incidents at the earliest possible stage. Sensors were strategically placed in public buildings across Oslo. These devices connect to Polygon’s Intelligent Data platform, which sends out alerts when a potential leak is detected. This allows technicians to respond swiftly, minimizing damage and disruption.

Early Warning Systems: A Game Changer for Insurers

Early detection is crucial in minimizing the extent of water damage, especially in buildings such as schools that house hundreds of students. “The implementation of such technology, equipped with early warning systems, can significantly reduce the extent of damage,” said Öystein Danielsen, Adviser on damage prevention work & risk management at Oslo Forsikring. “Particularly in scenarios involving schools, where water damage could force long-term relocations.”

Redefining Risk Management Through Innovation

Sigurd Austin emphasized that sensors are revolutionizing water damage management. “They introduce a completely new approach to reducing damage. Sensors offer insights that complement and enhance Polygon’s expertise, enhancing the customer’s understanding of water damage and what proactive measures can achieve.”

For insurers, this represents a valuable opportunity to reduce claims costs and improve customer satisfaction. By partnering with technology providers, insurance companies can play a proactive role in preventing damage rather than simply responding to it.

Unlocking Hidden Benefits with Smart Technology

Beyond water damage prevention, the project revealed additional benefits. “One surprising finding was identifying inefficiencies in cleaning practices,” noted Danielsen. “Sensors showed that the cleaning company was overusing water. While this might seem minor, over time, excessive water use can lead to damage and mold problems.”

This discovery underscores the broader value of data-driven insights, which can reveal operational inefficiencies and drive improvements beyond the initial project scope. For insurers, these insights can help refine risk assessments and support policyholder education initiatives.

Creating Resilient Insurance Solutions with Digital Tools

This ongoing initiative highlights the role of technology in protecting public infrastructure. By addressing water damage proactively, Oslo Forsikring and Polygon Norway are setting a benchmark for how digital innovation can safeguard buildings and create safer environments for their occupants.

For insurance companies, the lessons from this collaboration offer a blueprint for adopting smart solutions to enhance risk management, reduce claims, and deliver greater value to policyholders. Investing in prevention not only protects properties but also strengthens trust and long-term relationships with customers.

Contact Us

Interested in learning more about how Polygon Digital Solutions can benefit your insurance business? Learn more at https://digital.polygongroup.com/ to explore how we can help you proactively manage risks and protect your policyholders, or contact us directly at digitalsolutions@polygongroup.com.