[TowerTalk] Tower info--"Duty to inform"

[K7LXC@aol.com]

In a message dated 98-02-04 07:29:04 EST, you write:

>Have you
>  really ever paid a professional engineer to design a ham antenna/tower
>  installation?  

    Yes, I have purchased PE services for amateur customers numerous times. Or
I refer them to a PE. If you want to put your tower up legally, you need PE
stamped drawings in order to get the buiding permit (in most cases). If you
just use the Rohn specs, all he has to do is include those drawings in the
package and put his stamp on the cover page. I've got a guy up here who'll do
it for about $250.00 - a reasonable sum.

     Also if you deviate from the Rohn examples like the examples you pointed
out (elevated guys, different anchor heights, distances, etc.), the PE needs
to do the calcs to be able to stamp it anyway. 

> And even if the answer is yes, what
>  percentage of the times do you hire such engineering help?

    If you get a permit, about 80% of the time.

>  I would be
>  amazed if it is over 1 percent even for a professional installer like
>  yourself.  Now, I said "ham antennas/towers" not commercial ones.
>  Businesses always have more money to spend on this kind of service than
hams
>  do.  So I can count the examples  that I know about of professional
>  engineering involvement in ham antenna support installations on one hand.
I
>  know of hundreds and hundreds that did NOT use engineering support.  So,
>  Steve, I submit that while that advice (getting an engineer involved) looks
>  GREAT on paper, in practice it is done so seldom as to be insignificant and
>  virtually ineffective . . .

     Stan, this is the 90's. With the proliferation of cell towers, NIMBY, EPA
EIS's, perceived RF radiation exposure problems, etc., ANY tower or antenna
installation is going to get CLOSE scrutiny from neighbors. We've even had
long, drawn-out battles over tree installations (BTW they're not covered by
building codes - HA!).

     In the old days (when you put your towers up for example), if you wanted
to put a tower up - you just went ahead and did it. Nobody got real excited
and you went on your merry way. Nowadays there are too many other issues and
factors involved and ANY of them can get you shut down. What about AI7B's
battle when the neighbor's complained that the towers were in their view?
That's all it takes. 

      Bottom line? If you want to put up a tower, you probably want to get a
building permit. If you want to get a building permit, you probably have to
get a PE involved. 

73,  Steve  K7LXC

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