How to Manage Lighting Structural Assets Part 2 – Heading Down a Proactive Path
Solving Immediate Needs
Even though a commercial light asset management program is proactive in nature, there are likely still some immediate needs you must take care of with your lighting structures. Be sure to include the following steps in your program to address these issues:
Inspection:
To start, you need to know the status of your structures – what’s working and what needs to be repaired. A comprehensive inspection will give you the information you need to determine the overall quality and longevity of your structures. There are a couple of types of inspections you can pursue that can help you find manufacturing defects, aging- or fatigue-related issues, as well as corrosion and other damaging effects on aging structures.
These types of inspections include:
Ground-based Inspection:
- Using visual and non-destructive testing (NDT inspection) methodologies, inspectors take a hands-on approach to identify problem areas and deliver inspection data.
Aerial Inspection:
- Working with person lifts, cranes, and other lifting equipment that allow access to the entire shaft and structural components, inspectors apply visual and non-destructive testing methodologies on aging structures up to 250 feet.
Drone Inspection:
- Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, capture images of hard-to-reach assets from all angles. This technology generates high-res images, highlighting areas of concern that cannot be seen by the naked eye. Combined with inspector expertise, the data from a drone inspection can be used to guide a repair or replacement strategy.
Field Service & Repair:
When addressing immediate issues, you also may need to take immediate action on your commercial light poles. Professional field service crews can handle this remediation and take care of all failing assets at the same time. With this approach, you don’t have to worry about scheduling additional service appointments – it’s one and done.
Examples of field remediation services include:
- Weld defect detection and remediation
- Corrosion remediation
- Galvanizing and coatings remediation
- Anchor bolt remediation/replacement
- Grout removal
- Hardware replacement
- Temporary bracket design and installation
- Wood pole remediation
- Concrete foundation patching and remediation
- Fiberglass pole patching and remediation
- Concrete pole patching and remediation
Looking Ahead: Building a Program for the Long-Term
Once you’ve taken care of immediate issues, it will be important to set up a program that will cover the long-term needs of your assets. Without this type of program, you’ll continue to operate in a “replacement mode” rather than a “maintenance mode.” This is where you can truly set your light poles up for success, have confidence that your structures are built to last, and will not compromise human safety.
This program should include the following components:
Procurement/Quality Assurance
When you incorporate procurement or quality assurance into your long-term asset management program, you’ll be able to ensure your structures are built right the first time. As part of this process, an inspection team will verify the quality of your structures during all stages of fabrication. This means before your lighting assets are even in the ground, they’ve been examined by professionals who can confirm their reliability and integrity. This can prevent field issues down the road and gets you started on the right foot.
Some examples of quality control and assurance services include:
- Code, standards, and specification compliance
- Supplier assessment
- Supplier process controls
- In-process sampling
- Asset defect identification
- RFI/RFP consultation
- Project monitoring and expediting
- Specification development
Sustainability
Asset program management gives you the framework to ensure your structures’ sustainability. Once your structures are installed, you can use this service to track the condition of each asset and mitigate potential issues. Ongoing monitoring and asset review gives you proactive power over the longevity of your lighting assets.
By tapping the expertise of inspection professionals for asset program management, you’ll receive:
- Thorough field inspections and/or aerial inspections
- Detailed remediation guidance and repair
- Laboratory testing to detail the materials and manufacturing processes of each asset
- Arm load testing
- Expert witness/litigation support
- Pre-qualification vendor audits for new pole structures
- Design review
- Specification for and in-plant QA of needed replacement assets
- In-field construction review for correct installation
Staying Ahead
Proactive light pole maintenance is a defining characteristic of best practice asset management programs and leading inspection professionals. If you focus on proactive prevention rather than reactive response, you’ll get a lot more life out of your assets and experience peace of mind about their conditions.
Ready to Work With Us?
Our team would love to talk to you, so we can learn about your lighting company’s goals and primary areas of concern. Contact us today, and we’ll help you take the first step in creating a comprehensive lighting asset management program. Give us a call at 281-259-7000.
Get Started with Exo
Ready to Work With Us?
Our team would love to talk to you, so we can learn about your lighting company’s goals and primary areas of concern. Contact us today, and we’ll help you take the first step in creating a comprehensive lighting asset management program. Give us a call at 281-259-7000.
