[TowerTalk] BASE REBAR and Lightning

[W0UN -- John Brosnahan]

>
> > Here's my question. (Im learning disabled...etc..etc.)
> >
> > What about guys that use a piece of rohn 25 as the base, stick
> > the end in the 6 inches of gravel, and then fill up the rest
> > with concrete. There is no 4 inches of insulation with the earth
> > there, because the gravel has gaps  and moisture in it
> > which connect with the earth anyway. (a chemical fact)
>
>Those guys aren't following standard concrete practice (avoiding things
>sticking through the concrete/soil interface)

But letting the tower leg condensation DRAIN is more important.   And 
technically
the tower should not be relied upon for structural reinforcing of the concrete.

Nothing is more scary than to see tower legs split open at the concrete
base due to freeze cracking.  EXCEPT for not knowing if the legs are almost
rusted through because no drainage was provided.

It is absolutely mandatory to let the legs DRAIN out the bottom of the
concrete base.

--John  W0UN