[TowerTalk] Rohn 25G tower permitting...

[Lizeth Norman]

I'm in the process of permitting (and doing 2/3 of the work) an 11KW
ground mounted solar array (3 columns each supporting a 13'x21' 14
panel array) here in FL. Live in Marion county. The permitting is
pretty strict, think 125 MPH wind requirement. Based on the chat I had
with an electrician (solar) today, he says that my requirement is low.
Other areas have MUCH higher (150 MPH) requirements.

Be  aware that some county code departments are openly hostile to
do-it-yourselfers. Marion County is included in that list. Not even
mentioning the kilobuck that the attorney required to write a letter
to the HOA, nor the fact that 2/3 of the supply houses in this one
horse town won't deal with Joe Average. (Hence my trip to Murderlando
today.)

Four pieces of advice:
1: Call the county code department. Tell them what you want to do and
ask what the permitting process is. Be nice BUT firm and don't take no
for an answer. Look on the net regarding homeowner's working on their
own property in FL. FOLLOW THE RULES!!!!!!! These people can and will
make your life miserable.

2: Get a PE that can do work here in FL, preferably one that does not
treat you like an idiot (Mine did. He got a schooling.). The PE for
the mechanical part of the project cost $700. Bear in mind that some
of the work MAY be done for you and your engineer (by the
manufacturer).

3: Don't think that you know what you're doing when you don't. Titanic
mistake. This is where fools tarry and angels fear to tread.

4: Do your homework and don't take no for an answer.



On Thu, Jan 29, 2015 at 11:55 AM,  <bcarling at cfl.rr.com> wrote:
> UPDATE and QUESTIONS
>
> Thank you for the guidance and help you guys provided so far.
>
> I have decided to switch to using some tower materials of known specifications rather than
> the three 8 foot aluminum sections I had. (of unknown brand and characteristics.)
>
> So this will now be a 29 foot Rohn 25G tower with the bottom 3 feet buried in a reinforced
> concrete base.
>
> I noticed that the Rohn specifications (PDF) only include calculations for 40 foot (or taller)
> towers  using 25G sections. It's good that Rohn has something though.  They seem to meet
> the 139 mph / 3 second gust requirement too. Perhaps we can adapt their calculations?
>
> I plan to have a steel mast that extends about 4 feet out the top and has a WARC bands
> Cushcraft 3 elemet 17m/12m yagi and a 3 element 6 meter yagi (Cushcraft)( all of which
> have specifications.)
>
> Is there anyone who can help me come up with engineering calculations and drawings that
> will satisfy my local city permitting people?
>
> I presume the task will be easaier  now that we have some known factors and characteristics
> of the materials. My son is an architect and can do the drawings, and he knows a structiural
> engineer who might possibly be willing to help with the calculations. Am I heading in the right
> direction here?
>
>
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