FEATURE
responsible property owners and FMs have struggled with this particular dilemma and remain stuck in a ‘fix rather than maintain’ mindset.
This is where the latest techniques for infrared repairs are starting to make a real difference as infrared technology enables a cost-effective service, which makes smaller, ongoing repairs a more viable option.
Unlike traditional repairs that require bulky and noisy equipment to cut away and replace old tarmac, infrared repairs work by heating the existing surface with no need to dispose of old tarmac waste. A compact heater is placed over a crack or pothole that uses infrared waves to penetrate the surface and raise the temperature of the tarmac to a workable temperature. Additional tarmac is added, but only a small amount is needed and this is brought on site in hot boxes so there’s no waste involved. The entire area is also reconditioned with rejuvenating chemicals. It is then compacted and sealed resulting in a permanent seamless repair, which is fused with the existing material in an ‘as new’ surface that has no cold joints and no points of weakness.
Compact infrared repair equipment ensures that permanent repairs can be done quickly and efficiently, using half the manpower and half the weight of equipment and vehicles compared to conventional repair methods (we estimate a 90% lower carbon footprint when accounting for waste and equipment). It’s less disruptive too: the process used means that a smaller area around the repair needs to be cordoned off and the time to complete a pothole repair is reduced to under an hour and the surface can be back in use within 20 minutes after the work has finished (a conventional repair would typically require over an hour).
Infrared repair
equipment ensures that permanent repairs
can be done using half the manpower and half
the weight of equipment and vehicles.
The efficiency of this technique means that single pothole repairs can be offered to businesses in a far more simple and flexible manner and work can be quickly scheduled for the most convenient times. In other words, the service can be offered on a “just in time” basis that conforms to the customer’s needs and preferred procurement methods rather than dictated by the limitations of traditional approaches. By making smaller repairs more effective and affordable it also possible to start taking a more proactive, preventative approach to maintenance that prevents small issues becoming major costs at a later date. This reduces the cost of ongoing repairs - for example preventative repairs can be around 40% cheaper.
With pothole repairs becoming a more customer friendly service property managers no longer have to wait to save up enough potholes to justify the hassle of ‘small works’ orders and the ‘inconvenience and interruptions’ to the business while repairs are carried out. A modest budget will need to be allocated to ongoing repairs but, when considered against the potential costs of major resurfacing work or personal injury claims, this isn’t really a tough argument to make. Prevention really is better than cure.
www.renoo.co.uk www.tomorrowsfm.com TOMORROW’S FM | 55
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