Structure Maintenance
The reliability of a structure depends on the quality of the materials and construction, and the adequacy of maintenance provided after installation. FEC has a maintenance program, which involves planned inspections and repairs during the life of the structure. A typical inspection would cover the following:
| - loose or missing bolts | - evidence of soil creep or landslides |
| - fatigue cracking | - settlement |
| - damage from structural overload | - earthing integrity |
| - vandalism | - maintenance of safety facilities |
| - corrosion of galvanised steelwork | - site security |
| - degradation of paint systems | - structure verticality and twist |
| - lightning damage | - obstruction lighting |
| - foundation deterioration and cracking | - condition of insulators |
| - loose or damaged stays and fittings | - electrical fittings and equipment |
| - ground surface erosion | - cable connections |
The intervals needed for inspection need to be in tune with the operational environment and structural / service function needs of the structure. The interval between maintenance inspections will depend on the following factors:
corrosion potential on the environment and the degree of protection required for maintenance of design reliability
- importance of the structure to its service
- severity of local conditions
- sensitivity to structural response
- grounding conditions
FEC recommends that an interval between inspections should be between one and three years according to the relative importance of the above factors.
