Top Maintenance Issues with Telecommunications Structures
Telecommunication structures are a crucial component of everyday life. With all of the different industries and individuals that rely on the connectivity offered by this technology, it is more important than ever that these structures function properly.
Similar to electric utility structures, the telecom industry relies on large steel towers (mostly poles or lattice) to support their equipment arrays.
Today on the blog we explore the top five maintenance issues that can affect these telecommunication structures. Here’s what you need to know.
Common Challenges
These structures are outdoors and therefore exposed to the elements. In this caset, the rule of entropy certainly applies: everything tends toward disorder. Over time, your assets will gradually degrade without frequent inspection and repairment.
Constant field upgrades and reconfigurations with new equipment combined with poor record keeping makes asset management difficult for owners.
Most Common Issues With Telecommunications Structures
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Corrosion
Over time, the elements like snow, rain, and other weather-related factors can contribute to the degradation of assets and their various components. Corrosion is a concern for any steel structure that is left to face mother nature day in and day out.
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Mechanical/ Vehicular Damage
Given their location and proximity to the public, particularly in urban environments, vehicular or other types of mechanical damage are a constant threat to telecom structures.
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Wind-Induced Vibration
This type of damage often shows up in the welds of your assets. As wind and pressure take their toll on your assets, welds and structural connections can be susceptible to fatigue related issues.
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Manufacturing Defects
Telecommunications structures are especially large assets. The development and construction of these structures must be precise to avoid quality issues that can prove costly down the road.. Be sure to carefully monitor the manufacturing of telecommunications structures, especially if you are using a new or unproven vendor.
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Towers Overloaded by New Equipment
When a large number of upgrades and new equipment are added, additional stress is put on the structure. While upgrades may be intended to improve the function of the asset or to remain in compliance, without accurate record keeping and frequent maintenance, this additional equipment can actually result in damage to the structure.
Solutions
The best way to avoid the costly risk of repairing or replacing a damaged telecommunications structure is to prevent it from happening in the first place.
Be proactive through inspection and maintenance from NDT and tower experts like those at Exo. All repair and remediation strategies should be developed and executed by experts who have experience with the full lifecycle of large structures like these.
When it comes to issues stemming from poor record-keeping, leverage the power of our GIS-based asset portal to solve the record-keeping and big data problems that overwhelm most companiesl. This way, you can keep close tabs on all of your assets and protect your investments, saving you money in the long run.
Contact Exo Today!
With services like Exo’s Ex-Tend asset management program, we strategize the best ways to approach lifecycle management and ensure the full lifecycle of all your assets.
Whether it is through lifecycle management, field service and repair, or plant maintenance, Exo is uniquely prepared to serve your company’s needs.
At Exo, we don’t wait for problems to arise before we take action. Stop problems before they occur by calling today to speak with the Exo experts.
Phone us at 281- 259-7000 or contact us online for a free consultation to see how Exo can protect your assets.
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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.
