Z-Wave Alliance Announces First Z-Wave Plus(R) Certified Product

MILPITAS, CA–(Marketwired – May 8, 2014) – The Z-Wave Alliance, an open consortium of leading global companies deploying Z-Wave, the world’s largest ecosystem for wireless control products and services, has announced the release of the first Z-Wave Plus^® certified product. The honor goes to Leak Intelligence for the Leak Gopher, an innovative smart water valve that allows remote control of water systems through Z-Wave control, and features the extended capabilities of the latest Z-Wave Plus^® technology.

Water control has traditionally been a missing link in home automation sub-systems. While smart HVAC, lighting and access controls powered by Z-Wave have become staples in the connected markets, the ability to remotely control individual or grouped water valves and systems re-defines building security. Using Z-Wave control, property owners and managers can now automatically prevent costly water damage that can occur from leaks and flooding.

“We congratulate Leak Intelligence for this outstanding addition to the Z-Wave ecosystem, and for introducing the first Z-Wave Plus^® certified product,” said Mark Walters, Chairman of the Z-Wave Alliance. “Z-Wave control provides simplified solutions to serious residential and commercial challenges, and preventing water damage is a great example. The ability for property owners and managers to stop water damage before it occurs, or immediately mitigate water damage remotely, is an important new security measure for any smart home or building. This innovative product is a worthy market introduction to the extended range, power and efficiency of Z-Wave Plus^®.”

“Water damage is a huge problem for many people,” says Leak Intelligence’s President Randy Ross. “We wanted to develop a product that would enable people to protect themselves from water damage with minimum effort and expense. Many of our team members have a background in property management. We have seen the effects of flooding and water leaks, and how in an instant, they can devastate a home and disrupt lives. Z-Wave was an ideal enabling technology for us to create Leak Gopher, because it works with so many devices and so many control systems. The interoperability and backward-compatibility means that Leak Gopher can fit into any existing Z-Wave system, now and in the future.”

Once the Leak Gopher is installed and paired to a Z-Wave control system, it takes no additional effort to use. If water is detected by any water sensors incorporated into the system, the Leak Gopher automatically turns off the water to the building. Users can program their Z-Wave controller to turn off the water whenever a security system is armed for non-occupancy, and back on upon occupancy, thus eliminating the risk of water damage when nobody is home. Leak Gopher can also be set to turn valves on at pre-determined times, such as for automatic lawn or garden irrigation.

Z-Wave Plus^®is a new certification program for devices taking advantage of the new 500 Series hardware platform. Z-Wave Plus^® certified products feature richer feature sets, 50% longer range; 67% lower power consumption; 400% larger memory footprint and a 250% higher data rate, among other advanced capabilities. All Z-Wave Plus^® products are fully backward compatible with existing versions of Z-Wave, and fully interoperable between brands, as are all certified Z-Wave products.

About Z-Wave
Z-Wave technology and is an open internationally recognized ITU standard (G.9959). It is the leading wireless home control technology in the market today, with over 1000 certified interoperable products worldwide. Represented by the Z-Wave Alliance, and supported by more than 250 companies around the world, the standard is a key enabler of smart living solutions for home safety and security, energy, hospitality, office and light commercial applications.

Z-Wave® is a registered trade mark of Sigma Designs and its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.

About the Z-Wave Alliance
Formed in January 2005, the Z-Wave Alliance is a consortium of leading companies in the home technology space dedicated to solidifying Z-Wave as the standard for wireless home control products. The principal members include; ADT Evolve Guest Controls, FAKRO, Ingersoll-Rand, Jasco Products, Linear and Sigma Designs. Alliance members lead the home controls market, providing leading edge products and systems that deliver increased comfort, convenience, energy conservation, safety and security. For more information about the Z-Wave Alliance, visit www.z-wavealliance.org