When a wild storm sent a tree smashing into an exchange wall, it damaged power systems for one of Australia’s premier telecommunications and media companies. The Century Yuasa team had to act fast.
QUICK OVERVIEW
When a wild storm sent a tree smashing into an exchange wall, it damaged power systems for one of Australia’s premier telecommunications and media companies. The Century Yuasa team had to act fast. During a storm, more people than ever need their phones to contact emergency services, but the telephone system for the entire area simply couldn’t work without power.
Following a major weather event, hidden damage like water ingress or micro-fissures in switchgear can lead to catastrophic failures months down the track. Committing to a comprehensive Electrical Assets Audit is a 100% vital step for infrastructure managers seeking to verify the absolute safety of their remaining hardware. This thorough forensic analysis isolates latent faults, ensuring your power distribution network is completely secure and fully compliant with Australian standards.
Severe weather events pose a significant risk to critical site infrastructure, often overwhelming legacy protection measures. In the wake of the storm, it became clear that several UPS systems Australia wide had suffered surge damage, leaving the facility vulnerable to further grid instability during the recovery phase.
When severe weather events compromise critical infrastructure, restoring power requires a delivery model that bypasses traditional bureaucratic delays. Our integrated design and construct approach was central to the rapid remediation of this storm-damaged site. By uniting the surveying, procurement, and deployment teams under one framework, we ensured that the replacement DC systems were 100% operational within days, reducing standard lead times by a substantial 10% to 15%.
Century has been providing services to telecommunications systems in Australia for 30 years. Our team is known for fast, responsive and safe work, even in the most challenging situations and environments. Due to the extent of the damages, a lot of equipment needed to be removed and replaced with new components. There were dangerous hazards and safety considerations to manage too. We also needed to coordinate efforts with the client’s building team to ensure timely completion of the project.
Despite the challenges of the project, once appropriate approvals had been received, the Century Yuasa team was able to complete our on-site work in two days.
SUMMARY OF WORK
- Supply and install temporary switchboard
- Supply and connect batteries 12V
- Supply and fit blanking panel kit
- DC power system replacement
- Meter panel supply and connection
- Supply and connect lights
- Supply and install air conditioner
- Connect circuit breakers
- Connect main switchboard
THE PROJECT
As soon as damage to the exchange was reported, Century Yuasa set to work. The first step was to have maintenance operation protocols and hazards reviewed. After a week, approvals were complete and we were on site. The team’s imperative was to work safely and quickly as possible.
The next stage was to install a temporary 12-way AC switchboard in the equipment room. Then we supplied and installed the SP18, air conditioner, lights and a new double GPO in the equipment room. The team had to disconnect the existing main switchboard from the meter panel and connect a 12-way board to the meter panel. We cut-over the existing DC power system onto the new SP18 and removed the existing DC power systems, DC distribution panel and associated DC circuits.
Disaster recovery isn’t just about a quick fix; it is about ensuring the system is more resilient than it was before the event. Our team focused on a Quality Power Installation process, replacing damaged switchgear and cabling with industrial-grade components designed to withstand the harsh environmental conditions of the region.
Simply replacing damaged components with identical hardware often leaves a facility vulnerable to the next environmental event. We applied a strict engineering design and construct methodology to reinforce this facility’s backup backbone, upgrading enclosure ratings and optimizing outdoor battery layouts. This tailored engineering solution ensures the site operates with 100% structural and electrical stability, transforming a critical failure into a long-term opportunity for growth in network resilience.
The client’s builder made repairs to the building and existing main switchboard along with any damage made to the existing electrical circuits. Finally, the Century team was able to reconnect the existing main switchboard to the meter panel and recover temporary services including 12-way AC switchboard. Then we connected the SP18 supply to the existing main switchboard. The last step was to reconnected the lights and air conditioner in the equipment room back onto the existing main switchboard circuits. The on-site works were complete within two days.
The final stage of the project involved a complete DC Power System Installation to replace the compromised battery banks. By commissioning this new redundant system, we restored full autonomy to the site’s control systems, ensuring operational continuity throughout 2026 and providing a robust defence against future weather-related disruptions.
Century Yuasa operates efficiently and effectively. Our organised teams have the knowledge to deal with difficult situations and solve problems quickly. We’re committed to developing new products and setting new standards in design and performance to offer the best product and service available for our customers.