[TowerTalk] DROPPING A TOWER

[jz73 at verizon.net]

Hi Bill,

We've dropped a number of towers. Some are easy, some are not.

First things first. Have a helper designated as the "safety officer" to keep unwanted visitors well away from the fall zone. Consider the fall zone 360-degrees around the tower and twice the height. Yellow construction tape might be advisable depending on typical foot traffic in the area. More than one safety officer may be needed.

Easiest are the ones where a face of the tower is in the direction of desired fall. Those two legs will be notched near the base to weaken the legs so they act as a hinge. The remaining (rear) leg will be cut entirely to allow the tower to hinge down on the other two legs.  A sawzall or cutoff wheel may be used to make the cuts.

We drop the top set of guys first. The two of these toward the direction of fall may be used to pull the tower in that direction. A heavy vehicle will work for the pull or even a come-a-long or capstan winch with heavy rope attached to the two pull guys. A turning pulley may be needed depending on space available.

You want light tension on the pull line before you cut the rear leg, and more once the rear leg guys are cut.

The guys attached to the rear leg of the tower should be released simultaneously if you want the tower to hinge at the base. In other words just cut the guy anchor, not the individual guys. Simultaneously pull on those forward upper guys to help the tower begin its descent. Good communication between the persons cutting the guys and handling the pull lines is essential.

I would never remove or loosen tower section bolts as this may weaken the tower and create an unintended hinge point.

It gets more complicated – and unpredictable – if you are trying to drop the tower in a direction other than toward a face.

You might find a local scrapper to do this for you.

Any tower toppled should be sent to the scrap yard, not re-used.

73/Jon AA1K

Jon P. Zaimes, AA1K
Tower climber for hire
Felton, DE 19943
jz73 at verizon.net
Cell: 302-632-2353

www.aa1k.us<http://www.aa1k.us/>
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From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces at contesting.com> on behalf of cqtestk4xs--- via TowerTalk <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2024 7:19 AM
To: towertalk at contesting.com <towertalk at contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] DROPPING A TOWER

In a few weeks I will be taking down a 136 ft Rohn 55 tower with its base set in concrete.  I won't be taking it down section by section, but rather dropping the whole thing.
I have some pre-conceived ides as to how to do it, but have never done it beiore.  No issues with power lines or neighbor's property...noner are an issue.  Lots of cleared space folr the tower to be dropped.
Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Bill K4XS/V31XX
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