Unexpected shutdowns, operational failures, financial losses… none of these happen by chance. In most cases, they are the direct result of lacking preventive actions, especially in environments where a single failure can jeopardize the entire operation.
In 2023, a fire at Con Edison’s substation in New York caused a major explosion and led to a temporary blackout in parts of the Queens borough. The incident, triggered by overheating equipment, sent flames visible for miles into the sky. Thousands of people were left without power, affecting public transportation, emergency services, and resulting in significant financial losses. And this is far from an isolated case.
Events like these demonstrate that failures rarely happen without warning. That’s exactly where preventive maintenance becomes essential: a strategic tool to ensure safety, continuity, and efficiency in critical infrastructure.
What is Preventive Maintenance?
So, what exactly do we mean by “preventive maintenance”?
It refers to a set of technical and planned actions designed to prevent failures before they happen. These actions are based on regular routines of checking, inspecting, and monitoring physical variables such as temperature, vibration, or noise.
Unlike corrective maintenance, which responds after a problem occurs, preventive maintenance anticipates the issue before it impacts day-to-day operations.
And why is so important?
Without preventive maintenance, risks are left to evolve quietly, until they turn into disasters. Some of the most common examples include:
- Damage to sensitive equipment caused by overheating;
- Leaks of gas or flammable liquids;
- Power supply failures;
- Fires caused by short circuits or thermal overload;
- Workplace accidents due to lack of PPE or unauthorized access.
Preventive maintenance helps ensure your operation continues running safely, efficiently, and predictably. It protects people, prevents losses, and provides your company with the stability it needs to grow without interruptions.
How does Aeon Security support operational prevention?
We provide predictive maintenance solutions to keep your operation stable, safe, and free from unexpected failures.
DTS – Distributed Temperature Sensor
One of the technologies we offer is DTS – Distributed Temperature Sensor, a sensitive fiber optic system installed on assets such as solar panels, batteries, electrical cables, and more.
This fiber optic cable can precisely detect any abnormal heat point. If temperatures exceed acceptable thresholds, the system pinpoints the exact location of the anomaly and sends a real-time alert, allowing for quick intervention before the issue escalates.
Thermography cameras
In addition to DTS, we also use thermal cameras, which play a similar role but with a key advantage: the ability to visually display areas of elevated temperature. The images help your team clearly identify heat sources and the outlines of the affected equipment.
DAS – Distributed Acoustic Sensor
Another common risk in critical facilities is leaks, whether from gas, flammable liquids, or toxic substances. For these cases, we offer DAS (Distributed Acoustic Sensor), which also uses fiber optics but detects vibrations and noises caused by pressure changes along the fiber, like those generated by a leak.
AI-Powered cameras
Of course, not all risks come from physical components. Abnormal behavior, human error, or unauthorized access can also pose serious threats to your operation. That’s why we also provide AI-powered cameras.
These cameras analyze footage in real-time and can detect situations such as:
- Workers without proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE);
- People entering restricted areas;
- Visible smoke or early signs of fire;
- Suspicious or unsafe behavior.
When an incident is detected, the system can trigger an IP audio device, playing pre-recorded voice messages to warn the individual, stopping the error from turning into an accident.
Preventive maintenance: a long-term investment
Many companies still view preventive maintenance as an expense. But this outdated mindset can become far more costly in the long run.
Neglecting proper maintenance can lead to major consequences, such as:
- Fines or shutdowns due to regulatory non-compliance;
- Legal expenses and compensation from workplace accidents;
- Material losses from electrical failures, fires, or leaks;
- Unplanned downtime, hurting productivity and revenue;
- Reputational damage with clients, investors, and partners.
A study found that proper PPE usage can reduce workplace injury-related absences by up to 29%. Meanwhile, the average cost of a workplace accident in the U.S. is around $42,000 (National Safety Council, 2023), enough to cover the cost of three preventive maintenance systems.
And according to Aberdeen Research, unplanned downtime in industrial assets in the U.S. costs an average of $260,000 per hour. Companies that implement a preventive maintenance strategy can reduce their total maintenance costs by 12% to 18% (U.S. Department of Energy).
Conclusion
Don’t wait for something to go wrong before protecting your business. With Aeon Security’s smart maintenance technologies, your critical infrastructure gains extra and intelligent protection.
Reach out to the Aeon Security team and explore our complete portfolio of preventive maintenance solutions: sales@aeon-security.com