Artigiana Costruzioni is a company which operates in the field of soil defence systems since mid-80s, through the  design and manufacture of innovative, reliable and fitting systems.  After their installation, however, unexpected natural events – such as rock slides, tree falls, scree falls, snow drifts etc. – may curtail or even counteract their capability.  For each structure a design “maximum life period” is calculated,  which is defined at “the time lapse beyond which the said structure does no longer guarantee the efficiency standard for which it was designed”.

Artigiana Costruzioni’s design department, thanks to its valuable experience gained through many years of operating in the field of soil protection, has drawn up a management plan called “Inspection, Monitoring and Maintenance Plan”.  The Plan is to assess the working order, the condition of the work and to draw up suitable intervention schedules.

The Inspection, Monitoring and Maintenance Plan comprises three different stages:

• STAGE 1: Inspection and monitoring

• STAGE 2: Planning of remedial action

• STAGE 3: Structural restoration and maintenance interventions.

STAGE 1: Inspection and monitoring

This is an investigation and fact-finding exercise on the existing condition, which will be crucial to the subsequent drafting of the most suitable remedial actions on the structures.  The “Inspection and monitoring” stage mainly comprises the following:

• Site investigation on the structures;
• Inspection and monitoring of access routes, in anticipation of any need to enter the area, against the presence or rocks, timber, bushes etc.;
• Assessment of rate of growth of vegetation and of invasive plants, within the site and encroaching the very structures; depending on the plant species an option could be a preventive deforestation so as to allow, in full freedom, access for inspection and maintenance duties;
• Visual check on the presence of any large quantities of rocks, build-up of scree and/or timber behind the defence barriers;
• Visual check on the deterioration (rusting) of the barrier components;
• Inspection of the correct assembly and positioning of ther barrier;
• Assessment of any damage sustained by the barrier – with special reference to the foundation – which would demand a more complex and expensive maintenance;
• Check for tears, gaps and breaks to the capture and/or containment barriers capable of causing egress of material;
• Drawing up of technical report detailing on-site inspection and checks, supported by the necessary photographs clearly showing the site conditions and the upkeep of the barriers.

STAGE 2: Planning of remedial action

This is the assessment and planning stage of maintenance interventions in order to restore full working working condition to the barrier.  This stage mainly comprises the following:

• A study of the data gathered with “Inspection and monitoring”;
• Decision on the repair, replacement, restoration actions in accordance with the instructions included in the barrier’s User manual;
• Assessment of the investment necessary to carry out the maintenance interventions which have been decided.

STAGE 3: Structual restoration and maintenance interventions

The actual interventions determined and planned for in the ‘Planning of remedial action” stage.  This stage mainly comprises:

• Removal of any obstacles obstructing access to barriers;
• Removal of any timber, rock deposits etc. behind barrier;
• Removal of damaged or destroyed sections;
• Laying of any new foundation which was reported necessary in Stage 2;
• Fitting of new sections;
• Commissioning the barrier after tensioning the cables, tightening the clamps and any other action necessary to restore the barrier layout.