Fw: [TowerTalk] Re: Tower base hole?

[Robert Shauger]

I have noticed many of tower bases designs are being redesigned for larger
and deeper bases for the exact same tower model.

Is there a reason for this, other than manufacturing liability issues?  Just
curious.

73, Bob - AI7M


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <K7LXC at aol.com>
To: <ve4xt at mts.net>; <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, September 07, 2003 6:17 AM
Subject: Re: Fw: [TowerTalk] Re: Tower base hole?


> In a message dated 9/6/03 9:12:07 PM Pacific Daylight Time, ve4xt at mts.net
> writes:
>
> > My bigger concern with an 8-foot deep hole isn't with how to dig it,
but,
> >  depending on the soil, how to keep it from collapsing in on me as I do.
> >
> >  For that reason, anything that allows you to dig the hole without being
in
> >  the hole is a good thing.
>
>     Good point. US OSHA rules say that any hole deeper than 4-feet needs
to
> be shored up to prevent cave-in injury. Any time you're in over your head,
it's
> dangerous.
>
>     I have a big problem with difficult and/or dangerous hole designs. US
> Tower and Trylon have some stupid designs. Trylon wants you to bell out
the
> bottom of their bases which means you have to be in a 5-1/2 to 6-foot-plus
hole and
> dig the bell portion out by hand. In some soil conditions this is almost
> impossible. In all cases it's potentially dangerous. UST wants you to dig
a
> 4x4x7-feet deep (or even 3x3x-6-feet deep) hole. These bases were designed
by
> engineers sitting in air-conditioned offices who never have tried to build
one of
> these things. I much prefer having a shallower but wider base - easier to
> excavate and not dangerous at all. Don't get me started!!!!
>
>     You can have your PE design the base to your particular configuration
and
> requirements so you don't have to put up with a stupid factory design.
>
> Cheers,
> Steve     K7LXC
> TOWER TECH --
> Professional tower services for commercial and amateur
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