Clamp-on ultrasonic flow meters
Clamp on.
Never cut
a pipe again.
Never cut
a pipe again.
External clamp-on installation. No pipe cutting, no plumbing crew, no disruption. Ultrasonic flow measurement for live pipework across DN8–DN100. Real-time. Cloud-connected.
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47.3
L/min Flow
DN50
Pipe Size
24/7
Monitoring
Active
Trusted by leading UK organisations
Water utilities, councils, NHS estates, defence, facilities management
No plumbing crew.
No risk.
No disruption.
External clamp-on installation. The pipe is never opened, the system never stops.
The Problem
Still guessing what's flowing
through your pipes?
Most estates manage water infrastructure without real-time visibility. Reactive, manual, and vulnerable to losses that compound over time.
01
No live flow visibility
Without real-time data, decisions rely on estimates and infrequent manual readings. Anomalies go unnoticed until damage is already done, and water losses accumulate invisibly.
02
Pipe cutting means downtime
Traditional inline meters require cutting live pipework, bringing operational disruption, contamination risk, and costly reinstatement. A single installation can take days and requires full isolation.
03
Leaks go undetected for months
Without continuous overnight flow profiling, underground and within-structure leaks run unchecked — accumulating significant water loss and structural damage long before discovery.
04
Manual logs and fragmented data
Spreadsheets and site visits create an incomplete, time-lagged picture of water use, making it impossible to spot trends, prove compliance, or respond to problems with any speed.
Why Non-Invasive
Clamp-on versus traditional inline meters
Traditional Cut-In Meters
- Pipe must be cut and isolated
- Full system shutdown required
- Contamination risk at installation
- Specialist civils and reinstatement
- Days of disruption per site
- Fixed position, cannot relocate
AQUAIOT Clamp-On
- External clamp, pipe never opened
- System stays live under full pressure
- Zero contamination risk at installation
- No civils, minimal site preparation
- Single site visit to full deployment
- Portable and redeployable across sites
Capability 1 of 4
01
Clamp-on flow meters fit outside the pipe, so nothing gets cut.
External clamp-on installation means zero pipe modification, zero shutdown, and zero disruption to live operations. Fit and measure within hours, not days.
No pipe cutting. Externally clamped to existing pipework
Works on live systems under full operating pressure
Compatible with steel, HDPE, cast iron, copper, and more
Fast retrofit deployment, minimal site preparation
02
Ultrasonic
precision
Transit-time ultrasonic measurement delivers high-accuracy flow data across the full DN8–DN100 pipe range, with no contact with the medium inside the pipe.
Pipe range DN8–DN100, covers most estate pipework
Transit-time ultrasonic technology, non-contact measurement
Integrated LCD display showing flow rate in L/min
Consistent measurement regardless of flow direction
03
Real-time
cloud visibility
Flow data transmits continuously via 4G or LoRaWAN to the AQUAIOT cloud platform — live dashboards, threshold alerts, and exportable reports for your whole team.
Live cloud dashboards with role-based access
Threshold alerts via SMS, email, and app notification
4G cellular and LoRaWAN telemetry options
Encrypted payloads, over-the-air firmware updates
04
Open
integration
Built to connect, not lock you in. RS485/Modbus on-site, plus APIs for SCADA, AIMS/CAFM, and analytics platforms your team already uses.
RS485/Modbus for on-site and BMS integration
API-ready for SCADA, AIMS/CAFM, and analytics platforms
Data export for operations, compliance, and audit reporting
Interoperable with the wider AQUAIOT monitoring stack
Capabilities
Each clamp-on ultrasonic flow meter is built for operational monitoring.
Purpose-built for operational monitoring. Actionable intelligence for the teams who manage water infrastructure, not sensor data for its own sake.
Non-invasive external clamp
Zero pipe modification. The transducer clamps to the pipe exterior. No cutting, no tapping, no isolation of supply required during installation or removal.
Night-flow leakage profiling
Continuous overnight data reveals minimum night-time flow patterns, exposing hidden leakage that manual monitoring cannot detect and daytime activity masks.
DN8–DN100 full pipe range
Covers the most common pipe diameters across water supply, distribution, and building services infrastructure without changing transducer heads or kit.
Multi-zone metering
Deploy across multiple pipework zones and monitor all points from a single dashboard, supporting zone balance, district metering, and site-wide water accounting.
Threshold alerts and escalation
Set flow-rate thresholds and receive instant alerts via SMS, email, or app when readings breach limits — with configurable escalation routing to the right team.
Audit-ready data export
Continuous flow records with trendlines, anomaly logs, and exportable reports, supporting water efficiency audits, asset reviews, and operational reporting.
0
Pipe cuts required
External clamp installation
DN8–DN100
Full pipe range covered
Most common estate pipe sizes
24/7
Continuous monitoring
Live telemetry, zero gaps
4
Communication protocols
4G · LoRaWAN · RS485 · API
Deployment
Up and monitoring
in three steps
AQUAIOT handles the full deployment, from site assessment through to live dashboards and team training. No disruptive civils, no long lead times.
1
Site survey and pipe assessment
AQUAIOT engineers assess your pipework, confirm pipe material, size, and access requirements. We specify the right transducer configuration and confirm feasibility before mobilising — no commitment required at survey stage.
No obligation at survey stage2
Clamp-on installation, no downtime
Transducers are clamped to the external pipe surface. No isolation, no cutting, no system shutdown required. Most deployments complete within a single site visit, with the system measuring immediately on power-up.
Live pipework, zero operational disruption3
Cloud connection, dashboards live, alerts configured
Telemetry connects to the AQUAIOT cloud platform. Your team gets live dashboards, threshold alerts, and exportable data. We configure alert routing, review the first data set with you, and provide team training on the platform.
Ongoing engineering support includedReady to discuss your site?
Free site assessment. No obligation at survey stage.
Use Cases
Where operators are deploying it
Non-invasive flow monitoring is already in use across UK water infrastructure, estates, and utilities — wherever visibility matters and disruption is not an option.
District metering zones
Measure inlet and outlet flow for defined distribution zones, supporting water balance analysis and leakage quantification across networks.
Night-flow leakage profiling
Continuous overnight monitoring identifies minimum night-line flow, the primary indicator for background leakage in supply and distribution systems.
Estate water balance monitoring
Monitor consumption across multiple buildings or blocks from one dashboard, identifying high consumers, unusual draw, and unexplained losses.
Industrial process flow verification
Verify flow rates in process pipework without interruption, supporting efficiency, process validation, and water-use reporting in industrial environments.
Retrofit monitoring on existing assets
Clamp-on deployment makes it practical to add monitoring to legacy pipework across housing, NHS estates, and councils where inline meters would require disruptive civils.
SCADA and BMS integration
RS485/Modbus and API integration make clamp-on flow data available directly in existing SCADA, BMS, and AIMS/CAFM platforms, no rip-and-replace required.
The full range
Four families,
one measurement platform.
Every meter shares the same transit-time engine, the same I/O set and the same route into the AQUAIOT platform. You choose by how it installs and what it has to measure, not by learning a different system each time.
Permanent metering on a live main. Transducers strap to the outside of the pipe and the transmitter stays on the wall, so a DMA, an incomer or a plant loop can be metered without civils or a shutdown.
Models
| Model | Description | Key figures |
|---|---|---|
| D116-CP037 | Entry clamp-on | ±1% · DN25–5000 · 20x2 LCD |
| F5-CP037 | Wall-mount smart | ±1% · DN25–1200 · WiFi + RS485 |
| F5E-CP037E | Wall-mount enhanced | ±0.5% · enhanced I/O |
| D118-C011 | Standard clamp-on | ±0.5% · SD 512-day · full I/O |
| F8-C011 | Insertion | ±0.5% · DN25–5000 · WiFi |
| D118-CH020 | Standard + high-temp | ±0.5% · transducer to 150°C |
| D118i-C011 | PICOFLOW high-accuracy | ±0.2–0.5% · 4.7″ TFT · Modbus |
| D348D | Multi-channel (2-ch) | ±0.5% · 2–6 paths · 4.7″ TFT |
Specification
- Accuracy
- ±1% entry, ±0.5% standard, ±0.2–0.5% PICOFLOW
- Flow velocity
- ±0.01–12 m/s
- Pipe size
- DN25–DN5000
- Transducer temp
- −40 to 80°C; high-temp option to 150°C
- Outputs
- 4–20mA, pulse (OCT), relay
- Comms
- RS485/RS232 Modbus; WiFi on F5/F8
- Power / IP
- 90–245VAC or 10–36VDC · IP65 / IP68
A survey instrument. Walk a site, clamp on, read the flow, log it, move on. This is how most estates start: prove where the water is going before committing to permanent meters.
Models
| Model | Description | Key figures |
|---|---|---|
| P116-CP036 | Entry handheld | ±1% · DN25–800 · 2.8″ TFT |
| P117-P011 | Standard handheld | ±1% · RS485 · 16GB log |
| P117-PH020 | Standard + high-temp | ±1% · transducer to 150°C |
| P118i-P010 | PICOFLOW handheld | ±0.2–0.5% · DN25–5000 |
| P118i-PH020 | PICOFLOW + high-temp | ±0.2–0.5% · transducer to 150°C |
Specification
- Accuracy
- ±1% (P116/P117), ±0.2–0.5% (P118i)
- Flow velocity
- ±0.01–5 m/s
- Pipe size
- DN25–800 (P116), DN25–5000 (P118i)
- Transducer temp
- 0–80°C; high-temp to 150°C (PH020)
- Display
- 2.8″–3.5″ TFT
- Battery
- Rechargeable Li-ion, 8–10 h
- Logging / IP
- 16GB TF card · IP54 / IP68
Flow plus a matched PT1000 pair, so the meter reports thermal energy as well as volume. This is what verifies a chiller, a boiler or a heat network, and what makes communal heating recovery defensible.
Models
| Model | Description | Key figures |
|---|---|---|
| D116-RTD-PT1000 | Entry energy / BTU | flow ±1% · energy ±2% · PT1000 |
| E5-CP037 | Energy / BTU · POE | flow ±1% · POE · MQTT |
| E5E-CP037E | Energy / BTU enhanced | enhanced I/O · PT1000 pair |
| D118-C011-RTD-PT1000 | Energy / BTU · D118 | flow ±0.5% · PT1000 pair |
| E8-C011 | Energy / BTU · full I/O | flow ±0.5% · 4–20mA + relay + WiFi |
| D118-CH020-RTD-PT1000 | Energy / BTU + high-temp | flow ±0.5% · transducer to 150°C |
Specification
- Flow accuracy
- ±1% (E5) to ±0.5% (E8)
- Energy accuracy
- ±2%
- Temp sensors
- 2 × PT1000, 3-wire · 0–100°C
- Pipe size
- DN25–1200 (E5), DN25–5000 (E8)
- Comms
- E5: POE + MQTT · E8: 4–20mA, relay, RS485, WiFi
- Specified for
- monitoring and sub-metering, not fiscal billing
- IP
- IP65 / IP68
The commissioning and thermal-audit tool. Take PICOFLOW accuracy and a PT1000 pair round a plant room to verify performance, then leave the permanent meters to hold the trend.
Models
| Model | Description | Key figures |
|---|---|---|
| P118i-P010-RTD-PT1000 | Portable energy / BTU | PICOFLOW · PT1000 pair |
| P118i-PH020-RTD-PT1000 | Portable BTU + high-temp | PICOFLOW · transducer to 150°C |
Specification
- Flow accuracy
- ±0.2–0.5% (PICOFLOW)
- Energy accuracy
- ±2%
- Temp sensors
- 2 × PT1000; high-temp to 150°C
- Pipe size
- DN25–DN5000
- Battery / logging
- Rechargeable Li-ion · 16GB TF card
- Typical use
- Commissioning, thermal audits, verification
Specified for monitoring and sub-metering. These meters are selected for operational visibility, leakage work, recharge and energy verification. Where a reading has to support fiscal billing or custody transfer, tell us at survey stage and we will scope the instrumentation to the standard that applies.
FN-V-E Series
Clamp-On Ultrasonic
Flow Meter
Full technical specification for the AQUAIOT non-invasive flow monitoring system.
| Pipe size range | DN8 – DN100 |
| Measurement method | Ultrasonic transit-time |
| Installation type | External clamp, zero pipe cutting |
| Display | Integrated LCD, flow rate in L/min |
| Communication | RS485/Modbus · 4G cellular · LoRaWAN |
| Platform | Cloud dashboard, threshold alerts, data export |
| Integration | SCADA · AIMS/CAFM · API-ready |
| Deployment | Site survey, installation, training included |
Choosing a flow meter
When is a clamp-on ultrasonic flow meter the right choice?
A clamp-on ultrasonic flow meter is the right choice when a pipe cannot be cut or shut down and the reading is for operational monitoring rather than billing. Entry models are quoted at 1% of reading and PICOFLOW models at 0.2 to 0.5%, given a straight run of about ten pipe diameters upstream and five downstream.
| Clamp-on ultrasonic | Inline meter | |
|---|---|---|
| Fitting | Transducers strap to the outside of the pipe. The pipe stays live and is never opened. | The pipe is cut and the supply isolated so the meter body can be fitted. |
| Accuracy | Quoted as a share of reading: 1% on entry models, 0.5% on standard models and 0.2 to 0.5% on PICOFLOW models. | Set by the meter type and class. The meter body is calibrated as one unit. |
| Setup | Pipe material, outside diameter and wall thickness are entered at commissioning, with good contact between transducer and pipe. | The meter is sized to the pipe bore and the expected flow range. |
| Straight pipe | About ten diameters upstream and five downstream is a common requirement. | Also needs a straight run. The maker’s figure for that meter applies. |
| Moving it later | Can be moved to another pipe, and portable models are built for surveys. | Stays where it is fitted. |
| Best suited to | Monitoring, leakage work, sub-metering and surveys on live pipework. | Billing and custody transfer, where the reading settles money. |
If a reading has to settle a bill or support a permitted effluent return, tell us at the survey. For effluent flow under an environmental permit, the Environment Agency’s MCERTS scheme assesses the whole monitoring system and asks for daily volume to be measured within 8%, and we specify to the standard that applies.
The Environmental Targets (Water) (England) Regulations 2023 require the public water supplied per person in England to be at least 20% lower by 31 March 2038 than in 2019 to 2020, counting businesses as well as homes. Metering each incoming main and major branch shows an estate where its water goes, which is where any reduction starts.
Accuracy figures are the published specifications of the meter families listed above. Sources: Environment Agency, Monitoring emissions to air, land and water (MCERTS); legislation.gov.uk, The Environmental Targets (Water) (England) Regulations 2023.
Read more: Flow meter types for pipes you cannot cut · How accurate is a clamp-on flow meter? · How much straight pipe does a flow meter need? · Can you add a data logger to an existing water meter? · MCERTS flowmeter changes for 2026 · Clamp-On Ultrasonic Flow Meter DN8 to DN100
Why AQUAIOT
Engineering-led.
End-to-end.
Built for operations.
AQUAIOT is not a box-and-leave supplier. We deliver from site survey through to live dashboards, with ongoing engineering support at every stage, and open systems that connect to what you already have.
Retrofit-friendly from day one
Clamp-on deployment works on existing infrastructure with no civils, no downtime, and no specialist preparation, making monitoring accessible across legacy assets.
End-to-end delivery
Site surveys, installation, cloud configuration, dashboard setup, alert routing, team training. All delivered by AQUAIOT engineers, not subcontracted out.
Open, interoperable systems
No lock-in. AQUAIOT systems connect to your existing SCADA, BMS, and CAFM platforms via RS485/Modbus and API, designed to complement your current stack.
Alerts that reach the right people
Configurable threshold alerts with role-based routing and escalation logic, so the right engineer, manager, or team gets notified the moment something needs attention.
Non-Invasive Install
Real-Time Data
Cloud Dashboard
Threshold Alerts
Open Integration
Audit-Ready Reports
Flow monitoring enquiry
Tell us about your site.
Share your site and monitoring needs. A UK engineer will follow up to scope the right approach.
Your details go straight to our UK team at info@aquaiot.co.uk.
- Response
- One working day
- Engineering
- Survey, install, dashboards, training
- Phone
- 023 9223 3611
Common Questions
Answers for your engineering and procurement team
Transit-time ultrasonic measurement delivers accuracy suitable for operational monitoring, water balance analysis, and leakage detection. It is not a custody transfer meter, but for network monitoring and consumption tracking it provides reliable, continuous data that manual methods cannot match. Our engineers assess suitability at the site survey stage.
The FN-V-E Series covers DN8 to DN100 and is compatible with steel, stainless steel, HDPE, cast iron, copper, and most common pipe materials found in UK estates and water infrastructure. Heavily corroded or severely scaled pipe interiors can affect signal quality, which is confirmed at survey stage.
No. The transducer clamps to the outside of the pipe. The pipe is never cut, tapped, or opened. Installation proceeds with the system live and under full operating pressure. This is the fundamental advantage of clamp-on technology and the reason there is zero contamination risk at installation.
Yes. The FN-V-E Series supports RS485/Modbus for direct on-site integration with BMS and SCADA systems. For cloud-connected deployments, the AQUAIOT platform provides an open API for integration with AIMS/CAFM, analytics platforms, and third-party systems your team already uses.
Most single-point installations are complete within one site visit. Multi-zone deployments across an estate are planned and phased to suit operational requirements. The full journey from first contact to live dashboards typically runs two to four weeks, depending on site access and survey scheduling.
Yes. Strap-on and clamp-on describe the same thing: ultrasonic transducers held against the outside of the pipe by straps or a clamp rail. The meter times sound pulses sent with and against the flow, so nothing touches the water and the pipe stays live.
It can show one. Logged through the night, the meter shows the minimum flow when legitimate use is close to zero. Flow that never drops to its expected floor points to a leak or a running fitting in that zone, which narrows the search before anyone lifts a floor.
A common requirement is ten pipe diameters of straight run upstream of the transducers and five downstream, clear of bends, valves and pumps. On a DN50 pipe that is about half a metre upstream. Where space is short, the survey picks the straightest run available and records the compromise.
Get Started
Ready to monitor your pipework
without disruption?
Talk to an AQUAIOT engineer about your site, pipe sizes, and monitoring requirements. No commitment. Just a clear picture of what's possible and how quickly we can deploy.
Clamp-On Ultrasonic Flow Monitoring. Non-invasive. Retrofit-ready. Real-time.
Speak to an Expert