TT:
FWIW - The Trylon web page (www.trylon.com ) has both Amateur and
commercial listings. On the commercial pages, one can find a similar fall
arrest system made for the Titan towers (probably at a commercial price,
whatever that may be.)
Also listed are side mounts for pipe (think stacked Yagis) and a work
platform.
The usual disclaimer (I'm not an employee, etc.)
73 de
Gene Smar AD3F
-----Original Message-----
From: Dan Levin <djl@andlev.com>
To: towertalk@contesting.com <towertalk@contesting.com>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Date: Tuesday, October 09, 2001 7:51 PM
Subject: [TowerTalk] Fall Protection Suggestion
>
>I've asked enough questions and received enough great
>advice on TT - I wanted to try to contribute
>something for a change :-)
>
>In my recent installation of a Trylon 72' tower, I
>decided to install a 'professional' fall protection
>system. I've been very happy with the results, and
>want to encourage others to think about taking a
>similar approach.
>
>Most towers that I have seen and/or climbed have no
>fall protection system installed. The climber uses a
>fall protection lanyard, either with a single clip or
>a forked lanyard with two clips. In either case, you
>either have to climb unprotected (efficient, but very
>dangerous), or clip and unclip every couple of steps
>up and down the tower. With a single lanyard, every
>unclip to move your protection is risky. With a
>double lanyard you don't have the risk, but you still
>have the hassle of moving your protection every
>couple of steps.
>
>In at least some (maybe all, I don't know)
>professional tower installations, a permanent fall
>protection system is put in place. These systems use
>a track or cable to provide 100% continuous fall
>protection to the climber.
>
>Summary:
>On my Trylon, I installed a steel cable that is
>securely attached at the top of the tower, and runs
>down one face. I used spacers at the top and bottom
>to keep the cable off the tower face. A "trailing
>rope grab", an OSHA approved device that clamps on to
>the cable in the event of a fall, clips on to my fall
>protection lanyard and follows me up and down the
>tower as I climb. I am protected all the time, and
>don't ever have to unclip my lanyard. This system
>allows me to climb quickly and securely, without
>danger and without the nuisance of managing my
>protection on my way up and down the tower.
>
>Details:
>I bought an 80' length of 5/16" galvanized steel
>cable from http://www.mcmaster.com for $.42/ft. The
>cable attaches around a leg and to my thrust bearing
>plate at the top of the tower using 3 cable clamps
>per the manufacturer's spec. It then runs through a
>12" long 1" wide 1/8" thick piece of galvanized steel
>that serves solely to space the cable off the face of
>the tower. I bought the spacer steel at a local
>Orchard Supply Hardware store, and had a local
>machine shop bend at 90 degrees at one end (to hook
>over the brace of the tower) and drill a hole at one
>end for a 1/4" bolt (to hold it to the tower brace)
>and at the other end to allow the cable to pass
>through.
>
>The cable then runs down the face of the tower to a
>second identical spacer at the bottom of the tower.
>A single clamp below the lower spacer provides enough
>tension to keep the cable straight and spaced off the
>tower face.
>
>Imagine at this point a 5/16" cable running parallel
>to and about 12 inches from one face of the tower. I
>installed my tower intending to climb the north
>facing 'nose' (to keep the sun out of my eyes), so I
>installed the cable on the face that is to my left as
>I climb.
>
>Then I bought a Miller Microloc trailing rope grab
>from www.grainger.com. The rope grab is designed for
>use with 5/16" steel cable. The grab clips on to the
>fall arrest lanyard. It runs along the cable, and at
>least in the upward direction it just slides along
>the cable behind me as I climb. Going downward it
>sometimes requires that I reach out and slide it down
>the cable, which is no hassle. I think if I had
>chosen a more expensive grab, it would trail going
>down more easily.
>
>The summary is that for around $200 ($116 for the
>Microloc, $35 for the cable, a few bucks for the
>clamps, spacers, etc.), I have a full time reliable
>fall protection system. In the context of a multi-
>thousand dollar tower system, $200 seems well worth
>it. You might consider adding such a system to your
>tower(s) if you climb them much. It sure makes me
>feel safer than climbing towers without them.
>
>All the best, and safe climbing,
>
> ***dan, K6IF
>
>List Sponsored by AN Wireless: AN Wireless handles Rohn tower systems,
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>supporting towers up to 100 feet for under $1500!!
http://www.anwireless.com
>
>-----
>FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/FAQ/towertalk
>Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
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>Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
>
List Sponsored by AN Wireless: AN Wireless handles Rohn tower systems,
Trylon Titan towers, coax, hardline and more. Also check out our self
supporting towers up to 100 feet for under $1500!! http://www.anwireless.com
-----
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