How BST safeguards Sweden's sprinkler pumps – with laser shaft alignment and condition monitoring from Acoem

When one of Sweden’s leading sprinkler installation companies faced new, stricter pump maintenance requirements, they chose to go beyond compliance – together with Acoem.

It is 03:14 on a Thursday in February. The smoke detector in a warehouse triggers the alarm. The sprinkler system has been silent for months – but now, within seconds, the pump must deliver exactly the pressure needed to save the building, the goods inside, and possibly human lives. There is no second chance.

This is the reality BST Brandskydd AB works for every day. As one of Sweden’s leading sprinkler installation companies, BST is responsible for ensuring that thousands of properties have fire protection that will not fail when it matters most. When new, stricter technical regulations for pump maintenance came into force, BST chose not just to comply – but to go further. They turned to Acoem.

The customer: BST Brandskydd – one of Sweden’s leading sprinkler specialists

BST Brandskydd AB is one of Sweden’s most established companies in the field of sprinkler installations and service agreements. With decades of industry experience and certified technicians across the country, BST is responsible for fire protection in everything from industrial facilities and warehouses to commercial properties and public premises.

For BST, fire protection is not about ticking boxes on a checklist. It is about a promise – to the property owner, to the tenants, to the fire and rescue services – that the system will work. It is an uncompromising ambition that demands tools and methods to match.

The solution: Acoem’s methodology for alignment and condition monitoring

The choice fell on Acoem – a global leader in laser shaft alignment, vibration analysis and condition monitoring. Acoem’s methodology covers the entire chain from initial installation to ongoing condition monitoring, and is built on decades of research, measurement technology and expert analysis.

Together, Acoem and BST have developed a working method in which Acoem’s instruments and services provide the measurable precision, and BST’s certified technicians provide the practical application in the field. The result is one of the industry’s most robust approaches to sprinkler pump reliability.

1. Pre-alignment with Acoem – laying the foundation before the motor is even started

Acoem’s pre-alignment methodology ensures that pipe strain and the foundation are checked before motor and pump are aligned. If the underlying conditions are wrong, even the most precise alignment will fail. This step – which many overlook – is often the difference between a pump that lasts 20 years and one that starts vibrating within the first year of operation.

2. Laser shaft alignment with Acoem – precision to the hundredth of a millimetre

Using Acoem’s laser-based shaft alignment system, motor and pump are aligned with a precision that traditional methods cannot match. Misaligned shafts are one of the most common causes of vibration, bearing failures and downtime in sprinkler pumps. By eliminating this root cause from the start, the service life of the entire system is significantly extended.

3. Vibration measurement and balancing – Acoem’s instruments catch the silent faults

Rotating components are inspected and balanced using Acoem’s measurement equipment to minimise the forces that, over time, degrade bearings, seals and couplings. It is often these slow forms of deterioration – invisible to a routine visual inspection – that cause sudden failures in critical moments.

4. Condition monitoring – expert analysis by Acoem’s certified specialists

Vibration data is collected continuously and analysed by Acoem’s certified experts (Category III and IV) – a level of competence that few companies in Europe can match. This means that hidden faults – such as dried-out seals, incipient bearing damage or bent shafts – are detected in time. Faults that a manual inspection would certainly miss. Acoem delivers expert-reviewed reports within 24 hours, giving BST an objective basis for decisions on critical repairs.

5. Digital documentation – audit-ready traceability under EN 12845 and SBF 120

All data from Acoem’s systems is collected digitally, providing the statutory logbooks and audit-ready reports required by EN 12845 and SBF 120. The property owner receives complete documentation – for inspections, for insurance claims and for any future change of ownership.

”With Acoem, we move from hoping the sprinkler will work to knowing it will. Their laser shaft alignment and condition monitoring give us measurement data to back up every decision – and their expert analysts deliver an objective report within a day. For our customers, this isn’t a luxury. It’s what allows them to sleep at night.”

– Jimmy Leonsson, Service Agreement Manager, BST Brandskydd AB, Gothenburg

As Service Agreement Manager at BST’s Gothenburg office, Jimmy has extensive experience meeting property owners who want to know exactly what they are getting for their maintenance budget. His perspective on the partnership with Acoem is centered on delivering that transparency and reliability.

Want to safeguard your facility too?

Acoem helps leading fire protection and maintenance companies meet tomorrow’s requirements – with measurement technology, expert analysis and methods that deliver objective evidence of machine condition. Whether you install sprinkler systems, manage facilities or run industrial maintenance operations, Acoem has solutions that take your operational reliability to the next level.