[TowerTalk] How do bldg inspectors handle screw in earth anchors?

[Jim Lux]

On 7/10/14, 10:29 AM, Richard (Rick) Karlquist wrote:
> Has anyone had experience getting a building permit
> for a tower with screw in earth anchors?  How does
> it get "inspected".  There is no empty hole for
> the inspector to look at.  Do you show him the anchor
> before insertion?  If you have an authorized AB
> Chance installing contractor put in the anchor,
> do they issue a certificate that you can show the
> inspector?  In a sense, this contractor is also
> the engineer and building inspector all in one.
>

could it be more like a material and process inspection?
You have the paperwork showing you have the anchor and the mfr's 
paperwork showing what its properties are.
Then you have paperwork showing you did the installation appropriately 
(e.g. if you used a truck mounted drive, it gives a reading of the 
torque as it drove it)


The only time I've had an "official" inspection of a structure using 
screw in anchors it was for a temporary installation, and the guy came 
out, looked at the plans, looked at the erected contraption, verified 
that what we had built matched the plans, and said "go for it".

Granted it was in an area and application where failure would hurt 
nobody but ourselves.

What do utilities do when installing poles with these anchors?  I find 
it hard to believe that the city sends out an inspector to watch them 
plant every pole and its guys.