[TowerTalk] Foundation for new tower

[W0UN -- John Brosnahan]

At 11:45 AM 12/9/2004, you wrote:
>if you don't have the manufacturer's specifications that cover your
>situation then the best thing to do is to have a qualified engineer study
>the tower and installation site and make proper plans.

I agree -- with the emphasis on QUALIFIED.

I have seen WAY TOO MANY times where the COUNTY engineer
insisted that HIS design was the way to go.  He may be a good
engineer but often they are way out of their league when it comes
to towers.  (And may be afraid to admit it.)

In one case the county engineer insisted that Rohn anchor rods were
not the way to go and he insisted that the anchor rods be made from
flexible winch cable.    Something that INVITES moisture within the
cable below the surface and will greatly expedite an anchor failure.
But then maybe that was what he wanted.  The county was not very
keen on towers -- even this particular commercial one.

It is worth the effort to find a PE who knows about towers.  That way
you are not paying him to learn on the job and you have a much better
chance of getting something will not only meet the specs now, but
for decades to come.

There are a LOT of issues that a non-tower PE may not know about--
such as a foundation that allows the condensation to drain out the
bottoms of the tower legs, rather than freeze at the surface and split open,
inviting a tower disaster.

--John   W0UN