[TowerTalk] Fire damage to 100' tower with Phillystran guys - help ne

W0MU Mike Fatchett w0mu at w0mu.com
Mon Jul 30 19:47:30 PDT 2012


Grass fires depending on fuel  type can burn in excess of 1800 degrees 
F.    What types of fuels were burning around your guy wires?

Mike W0MU

W0MU-1 CC Cluster w0mu.net

On 7/30/2012 12:44 PM, K7LXC at aol.com wrote:
>>   
> A recent fire in my neighborhood burned a few houses  and most of my 5
> acres, but mostly spared my buildings (now brightly decorated  with fire
> retardant and melted vinyl).  The tower is 100' with two levels  of guys:  the Rohn
> catalog configuration except for the use of Phillystran  HPTG6700I for the
> guys.  The lower portion of the guys (up to about 15 feet  above ground) is
> ? EHS.  The tower base is fine, as the area around the  base was well
> cleared; no damage to coax and equipment at  base.
>
>>   We are, however, concerned about one guy wire that  passes over a stand
> of scrub oak.   There might be damage to the PVC  coating on the
> Phillystran, but we can't see clearly from the ground even with  binoculars, and will
> probably be bringing in a lift to get a closer  look.
>
>>   My questions are:
> 1.       Is  there a point at which I need to worry about the steel EHS
> losing strength due  to heat from the fire?
>   
>              I  don't think so. A grass fire probably doesn't get hot enough
> to have much  influence on the steel guys.
>
>>   2.       If the PVC coating on the  Phillystran is intact, do I need to
> worry about the underlying aramid (Kevlar)  cable?
>   
>              No.  The jacket is for abrasion resistance and doesn't do
> anything for the strength.  If it would've gotten hot enough to catch fire, then
> the whole guy would have  burned up.
>
>>   And then the big question... any referrals to  someone that would be
> able to (1) inspect, and (2) replace/repair as  necessary?  The tower is
> located 20 miles southwest of Salt Lake City,  UT.
>   
>          Can you drop the guy and  inspect it? The best way to inspect
> Phillystran or any other type of jacketed  wire is to run it thru your hands. Any
> imperfections will be spotted easily. But  if it didn't catch fire, I'd say
> you're good to go.
>   
> Cheers & GL,
> Steve    K7LXC
> TOWER  TECH
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