A major municipal district steam network serving more than 100 buildings experienced a catastrophic expansion joint failure that resulted in more than $1.5 million in repairs, significant energy loss and months of operational disruption.

Following the event, operators needed to determine not just what failed, but why the failure occurred and whether similar conditions existed elsewhere in the network.

After InteliTrap and SteamView were installed, operators gained continuous visibility into the steam distribution system. The data provided a clear picture of the system conditions behind the expansion joint failure, revealing water accumulation, loading imbalances and other operating conditions that had previously gone undetected.

The investigation showed that the failed expansion joint wasn’t the root cause. It was the symptom of changing system conditions that had gone undetected for months. With this new level of visibility, operators could identify similar risks elsewhere in the network and proactively manage critical infrastructure to help prevent future failures.