Elementric is the first to receive type approval for its connected water alarm
Water damage costs society several billion kronor every year and generates significant carbon dioxide emissions. Against this backdrop, a Swedish company has invented a product designed to prevent water damage in kitchens. Elementric has now received type approval for the Droppmatta.
Find out more about the certification
Type approval of construction products and construction systems
The kitchen is often described as the heart of the home. A less flattering description might be “the room where most water damage occurs”. It is mainly kitchen appliances that cause problems for property owners, and in fact it is usually appliances less than ten years old that cause the water damage.
“When I was chair of a housing association, I had to deal with a great many cases of water damage. I started looking for a solution, but couldn’t find one. So I decided to set up Elementric with a business partner and develop the solution myself,” says Fredrik Lindell, CEO of Elementric.
In 2021, the first wireless water leak detector for multi-occupancy properties, the Droppmattan, was launched. The mat is battery-powered, equipped with sensors, and is placed under fridges, dishwashers and inside kitchen cupboards. If a leak occurs, wireless signals are sent to the Elementrics app. Droppmattan connects via a private home Wi-Fi network or the LoRaWAN network, a wireless network for connected devices and sensors. The connection enables centralised monitoring of kitchens – either in a single home or across all kitchens in an entire property portfolio.
Complying with new industry regulations through type approval
From 1 January 2026, new industry regulations for water installations (Safe Water Installation 2026:1) will come into force. Safe Water Installation 2026:1 has been developed to help contractors and developers comply with the Planning and Building Act and the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning’s regulations, which require buildings to be protected against water damage.
One of the biggest changes to industry regulations is that all new kitchens must have active protection against water damage. In practice, this means that moisture sensors must be connected to a leak switch, a water fault circuit breaker or a water alarm. The products must also be type-approved. This directly affects companies such as Elementric.
"RISE has carried out another certification for us, SSF 1120-X1, which demonstrates that our product is penetration-resistant from a cybersecurity perspective. We have also used RISE to carry out testing in accordance with the EU’s new RED Directive, so it felt natural to turn to RISE in Borås when we needed this type approval. They know us and we know them", says Fredrik Lindell.
We now have the opportunity to help reduce water damage
Factory visits, laboratory tests and document checks.
RISE has developed certification standard CR 139, which sets out the process and requirements for the type approval of leak detectors, water shut-off valves, and water alarms. Droppmattan has been certified in accordance with CR 139. RISE visited the Krakow factory where Droppmattan is manufactured and carried out a wide range of laboratory tests on the product. One test ensured that the Droppmattan always triggers an alarm when water is detected, while another tested whether the product warns the user when the battery is low and needs replacing. RISE has also verified that the required type approval documentation is in place.
'Several of us at Elementrics have been involved in compiling all the documentation that RISE requires,' says Fredrik Lindell.
Jenny Lundmark, a certification engineer at RISE, led the type-approval process. She describes a fruitful collaboration and notes that Elementric acted swiftly to ensure compliance with the new industry regulations. This has secured the company’s competitiveness.
Increased turnover following type approval.
Since receiving its type approval, Elementric has increased its turnover by 400 per cent. The number of employees has increased to meet demand. Fredrik Lindell discusses major projects, including a collaboration with Kurbit and Länsförsäkringar Dalarna in the Sälen mountains, where 400 drip mats with central monitoring have now been installed.
“There is enormous value in preventing water damage by detecting leaks before they develop. We now have the opportunity to reduce the number of incidents of water damage,” says Fredrik Lindell.
About Elementric
Elementric’s vision is to make leak detection technology the standard for protecting homes and businesses, thereby ensuring safer, healthier and more sustainable environments.
