Engineer Training Series – SST Towers

Part 2

Objective: Understand, Confirm, and Explore ... Past and Most Unique Practices

The following information is presented in a 3 part series that

cover the Parts, Foundations, Erection, and Maintenance

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efforts for each of the following structure types:

(1) Monopole
(2) Self Supporter
(3) Guyed Tower

Fred Teichman 03/2014

Part 2 – SST Typical Use

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Increased Height, Requires more Ground space,
Good loading Capacity & Mainly in Suburban areas
Part Two – Why use a Self Supporting Tower (SST) ?

Self Supporting
Self-supporting towers, sometimes referred to as “free standing antenna
towers” or “wireless communication towers” are the most popular and
versatile type of structure used today in the wireless industry.

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Self Support towers have a larger footprint than monopoles, but a much
smaller one than Guyeded towers.

3 legged triangular base pattern are the most common. Angle or Pipe
(tubular and solid) for the legs, assembled in sections with a lattice work of
cross braces bolted and designed for medium to heavy loads. The wider the
base, the larger the acceptable antenna load.

As the industry matures - 4 legged structures are becoming more obsolete

due to the additional capital and construction costs and the ongoing change
in technology.
Part Two – What & How ... SST

Self Supporting
• Typical Parts & Pieces

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(Structure & Accessories)
• Manufactures
• Foundations
• Assembly and Erection
• Installation & Maintenance
65% of the photos used in this material are from actual projects and referenced by customer & site.
Project drawings and costs information is available upon request. FredTeichmanHTH@gmail.com
 www. f u l l e r t o n e n g i n e e r i n g . co m
The Tower Section
SST - Typical Parts
 SST two basic Types – Bolted

Bolted sections – before Hot dip Galv

Bolt-together Structures
X-brace designs are available in face sizes
up to 27'. K-brace designs are available up
to 40', and truss leg designs are available
for larger face sizes. The designs
accommodate a wide range of tower

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requirements up to 900' in height.

Based on the manufacture, it could be an All Bolted construction, All Welded or a

combination of the two.
SST Types – Welded – less common

All Welded sections Weld-together Structures

Designed in face widths from 12" to 72".
Straight and tapered sections, with designs
ranging up to 220'.

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PiRod Sleeved flange

Based on the manufacture, it could be an All Bolted construction, All Welded or a

combination of the two.
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The Tower Legs
SST - Typical Parts
SST - Typical Parts – Legs
Tubular /Pipe/ Round - Solid and Hollow Leg

Or

Angle Leg

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Or

Small Towers sections as legs

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Bracing Designs
Z
X
SST - Typical Parts

K
SST - Typical Designs

“K” Bracing “X” Bracing “Z” Bracing

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The Connection
SST - Typical Parts
SST #1 Common Connection – Flange

Circular Flange on Solid Leg

Square Flange
there is also
Triangle shape

SST types continued

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PiRod’s Sleeved &
special 2 bolt
flange (old school)

Hexagon Flange on Hollow Leg

SST 2nd Most Common Connections – Plate

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Plate Flange used on
on 3 and 4 angle leg
towers
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Manufacture
SST - By Who
SST – Manufactures: Who and Where

Is now
Plymouth IN Valley NE

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Sioux City IA
Ft Worth TX
Fremont IN

Peoria IL

South Bend IN
Newburg IN
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Accessories

Mounts
&
SST Typical Parts
SST Basic Parts & Accessories – How to climb?
Safety climb A. Ladder (inside, outside or leg) Tower leg is the ladder
system or
B. Step Bolts (leg)

Step bolts - angle

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or round tower
leg

Interior climbing

This tower has both – step bolts and ladder

SST Typical Parts

1. Mounts
A. Three-sectored mounting frame
B. Side Arm mounts
C. Pipe mounts

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2. Cable Support System
A. waveguide ladder
B. T or Cluster Brackets

3. Lighting system (structures 200’ or more)

A. Red Flash
B. White Strobe
 SST – #1 Mounts
Mounts are single leg , or across the face leg
to leg mounted Stand off
Arms for
Omni
antennas

M/W pipe

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mounts

Face mount
Universal Sector Frame
(capable of additional vertical
pipes)

Universal Adjustable Slope

Pipe Mount

Source: Comscope & SitePro Stand-Off bracket

 SST – #2 Cable Support Systems
Cable Ladder (most common)
Tee Brackets

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Cluster Bracket

Or combination of everything ...

SST – #3 Lighting Systems – Reference
FAA Marking for structures over 200’ or near Airport zone.
Red light flashing requires FAA Orange White paint bands
Strobe requires lights only (day night operations)

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 SST – #3 Lighting Systems

Old style - 2 bulb Red flashing beacon

Dual System
Old style - single Red flashing
side lights and White
Strobe

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Medium Intensity
White Strobe

*New LED Red beacon and side light

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Foundations
Monopole Foundations
 SST FND Types – Pad & Pier and Drilled Caisson
Pad & Pier Drilled Caisson

X3

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State of WI Genoa WI
 SST Foundations – Pad and Pier

The Pad & Pier requires more area & schedule

but clearly is a more costs effective approach.
34’ x 34’ x 2’3”pad with 7.5’ pier

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Anchor Bolts and template plate

State - Genoa WI
 SST Foundations – Pad and Pier

The pad is poured continuous and vibrated

to remove air pockets and allow proper flow
in, around and thru rebar.

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State - Genoa WI
SST Foundations – Pad and Pier

Once the pad is poured out and cured for

12 to 18 hours , the piers are formed using
Sonotube and poured with the anchor
bolts in place and secured by the template
plate and angles

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The pad is then backfilled to
proper site grade
 SST Foundations – Drilled Caisson

Drilled Caissons can be installed year round

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Typical sizes 4-6’ diameter with depths ranging
from 18 – 28’ +

Rebar cages are

tied prior to
drilling
 SST Foundations – Drilled Caisson

Rebar cage is
lifted into hole
and secured
prior to
pouring
concrete.

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One of the Three caissons

Note: the Drill

Rig is used for,
drilling removing
spoils, and lifting
the required
material used in
the foundation
MNDOT – Blue Earth MN
 SST Foundations – Drilled Caisson finished

Template angles and plates

position the anchor bolts for
proper fit with the bottom
tower section

Leveling jacks, C-Clamps and

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proper forming material result in
quality caisson installation

Finished grade and

removed steel caisson
casing on two of the 3
piers

MNDOT – Blue Earth MN

 SST Foundation – upside down P&P? – No

Drilled caisson shortened in length to

reduce costs, then added an
engineered pad ! This approach
allowed us to be low bidder on 5
additional site

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One of three tower legs – the costs to drill
the extra 13’ per twr leg was more
expensive than installing this pad on each
of the three tower legs

MNDOT – Wykoff MN
 SST New Caisson Foundation that is modified
Engineered approach in turning a costly
Drilled caisson into a semi inverted pad
and pier construction. This approach
was presented and state approved on 5
tower sites – MNDOT

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Once the shortened Caisson was
drilled & cured the excavation,
rebar doweling and pad was
poured added only 5 days to the
schedule.
MNDOT – Wykoff MN
SST – Offload, Assembly & Erection

Offload

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Assembly & Erection
 SST Tower Assembly and Erection
What a 330’ SST solid leg heavily loaded tower looks like before it goes vertical

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Everything that can be assembled on the ground is completed prior and during erection

MNDOT – Bicay & Baxter MN

SST Tower Assembly and Erection

Boom truck or
small crane is
used to set
lower sections
and assist in
assembly

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K&X
sections
are pre
assembled

Antenna
mounts
SST Tower - Erection with Large Crane 90 - 270 ton
Sections being set prior to jib
needed

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Jib extension added to boom
2 – 3 tower
workers
are on the
tower to
receive, pin
and bolts
sections
SST Tower Erection
With
sections pre
assembled
and material
properly
staged, the
time

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required for
the crane to
be on site
can be
controlled $$
Topping out !
Weight
is less of
an issue
than
height
 SST Tower Assembly and Erection
Gin Pole and Skid Winch – note the pivot action of the pole to center the load
Crane costs,
availability,
capability,
contractor skill,
weather, and

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schedule all play a
role in the decision
to use of a gin pole
vs crane to stack
the tower.
Tower Erection – Winch & Gin Pole process
Double drum Gin pole basic use for SST
winch allows and Guyeded structures
dual function
required with
using a gin
pole – raising
the tower

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section then
jumping the
pole higher for
the next
section Double block
to lift the load
and jump the
pole
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Installing Equipment
SST – What goes on
 Installing Equipment on SST Towers

Once the tower is stack , next is to

Install the equipment. Since the
hourly rate for crane is expensive, the Crew
breaks down the crane (removes jib),
and gets the crane off the project to
stop the billable clock.

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Then a block is used at the top or mid point of
Capstan winch the structure and the tower is now part of
with foot switch the lifting equipment - here shown is a mini
gin pole used to set the m/w antenna

Single drum
winch with
Rope capstone on
the side
Most Common Equipment – Support Hardware
Here are a few of the most common equipment accessories (support hardware)
used to secure the equipment to tower, on the mounts and into the equipment
enclosure:
Round Member Adapter
Angle Adapter (with standoff)
Hoisting Grip

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Snap-in and Standard hanger
 SST Tower for Multiple use – M/W, Cellular, etc

Here shown top view for raising 10’ m/w HP dish.

Note a tag line is used to keep the dish safely away
from the tower as it is raised

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WSDOT – Sumas Mtn
 Installing & Alignment on SST
Tools used to Align LTE, PCS, Cellular, M/W
Important point – 99% of the
the antennas antennas jumpers, etc all need
antennas are mounted to the
tapered legs of the SST to be secured and protected
resulting in consistent effort to from high winds & extreme
make sure the vertical pipe on weather conditions
the antenna mount are plumb

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Pendulum
M/W path
gear

Digital Level

Sample mount that adjusts to

the slope of the tower leg AAT – Antenna
Alignment Tool
 www. f u l l e r t o n e n g i n e e r i n g . co m
Up and Down
Maintenance
SST Typical Service
SST Tower Maintenance – 3 areas

Basic maintenance covers 3 areas: Most towers are marked

with an identity tag/plate
1. Tower Surface condition (Galvanizing) that references ownership,
2. FAA marking (Paint and lights) if required manufacture and drawings
3. Confirm no lose bolts (tight)

#1 product used in the

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Sample
field for repairing
tower
damaged galvanizing
plates
 SST Tower Maintenance – FAA Marking (Painting)
The FAA has strict guidelines for marking structures over
200’. When specific zoning requirements prevent a tower
owners from using strobe lights, painting the Orange & White
bands on the tower become required. Repainting is a natural
occurrence every 5 – 7 years .

Fade chart is used to determine

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if paint condition is compliant

Most Common
SST – Summary & Key Points

• Most Common for Telecom

• Requires More Area
• Taller Heights

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• Low Maintenance
• FAA Marking over 200’
• Construct with Crane under 300’(+-)
then gin pole for more !
• Drilled Caisson & Spread footing both
common – costs, customer and skill
Specialized Suppliers & Resources

www.engend.com

www.primuselectronics.com
www.wirelessestimator.com

www. f u l l e r t o n e n g i n e e r i n g . co m
www.sabretowersandpoles.com

www.valmont.com/valmont-
structures/products/wireless-communication

www.wirelesscomponents.com
Specialty Manufacturing LLC

www.us-instrument.com

www.ep-ind.com Fred Teichman

www.linkedin.com/in/fredteichman