National Mobilization in response to compound crises
+
Day
+
problem
In February 2020, as the world faced the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a large telecommunications carrier encountered an urgent crisis: two of its monopole telecommunication towers collapsed within three weeks.
Though Varcon Engineering had previously been a minor consultant for the carrier in Atlantic Canada, the severity of the situation prompted the carrier to urgently seek Varcon’s expertise.
The cause was identified as tower fatigue—specifically, broken bolts that had rusted and pre-cracked, triggering a chain reaction and resulting in the collapses.
Recognizing that up to 500 towers across Canada could be at risk, Varcon swiftly developed a plan to assess and repair the affected towers. This effort was further complicated by the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, which introduced travel restrictions and operational challenges.
solution
Varcon’s COO and Co-Owner, Sean Hayman, rapidly mobilized teams across Canada, ensuring compliance with varying regional COVID-19 protocols.
Their strategy prioritized triaging towers to identify those at highest risk of failure, revealing 45 towers that required immediate intervention.
Varcon’s teams performed rigorous inspections, executed emergency repairs, and provided the carrier with detailed reports to prevent further incidents. Their rapid response stabilized the crisis and reinforced Varcon’s reputation as a trusted engineering partner.
outcome
Varcon implemented comprehensive photo documentation of bolt replacements for each tower, establishing a new standard for future maintenance and safety protocols.
Over several months, they inspected, repaired, and documented more than 300 of the carrier’s monopole towers.
Having performed hundreds of monopole analyses, Varcon is now the go-to expert for similar projects and a recognized leader in the industry. The repair efforts cost millions, but they averted potentially catastrophic consequences, including service outages and reputational damage.
Varcon’s decisive and meticulous actions not only prevented further failures but also safeguarded the carrier’s service reliability. Other telecommunications providers have since sought Varcon’s expertise, recognizing their exceptional track record.
Since Varcon’s involvement, the carrier has experienced zero tower failures, with Varcon maintaining a flawless record of meeting the highest standards for service and safety.
Customer Stories
trusted Coast to coast
"Varcon’s goals align with our vision here at Rogers, providing transparency, quality, and strategic plannings."
Industry
Telecommunication
"Varcon is a versatile and reliable firm making them a great
choice for both one-off tower inspections to very complex
tender management projects."
Industry
Telecommunication
“Varcon were able to inspect over 300 monopoles within 3 weeks and provide detailed reports. They provided excellent engineering solutions and outside of the box thinking.”
Industry
Telecommunication
"Varcon's top notch engineering team has been instrumental in the design and development of our product, ensuring the highest safety standards have not only been met, but also exceeded."
Industry
Telecommunication
Speak to an engineer
Discover Varcon’s vertically integrated engineering, inspection, and construction management services by scheduling a time to speak with us.