MASTS AND TOWERS

• Mast and towers hold telecommunication

infrastructure which need to be elevated from the
ground in place. Careful thought must be given to
their construction so their operation does not bring
about any environmental or health hazard to the
people in the locality. In this chapter we look at
what the key considerations must be as far as the
construction of mast and towers are concerned and
proceed to treat the design of masts and towers.
 1. Preliminary research
• The location of the site must be
established in an early stage as site cost can
vary considerably from site to site.
2. Maps:
• 1:50000 survey maps provide sufficient
topographical information to
 Estimate the height of all antennas required
 Assess the length and slope of any access
track that are to be established.
 Show possible traffic restrictions and the
nearest main road to the site
 • Site access:
However detailed the preliminary research has
been it is important to walk the site. The access
route from the nearest main road must be
checked for bridges, weight restrictions, tight
corners, steep hills etc. The type of vehicles
requesting access to the site will depend on the
construction and operation.
• Local knowledge:
It is extremely helpful to the project if those
undertaking the survey can meet the local land
owners and tenures to ensure boundary marks or
access routes are acceptable to all.
 
• Surveys
Topographical survey: a detailed topographical survey of the
site should be undertaken either to check values or update the
existing site plan. The resulting site plan will enable the
planners and engineers not having visited the site to contribute
to the work. The plan should be drawn to scale not smaller
than 1:500 so that details such as boundaries, buildings or
structures, overhead and underground services and street
furniture can be clearly mapped. Contours, maps and spot
heights and coordinates of control points should be given.

• 6 Approvals
The local planning authority will generally require seeing the
site plan. The scale is 1:200 and an elevation of the proposed
structure showing the antenna configuration intended. It must
be clearly established what type, size, weight and bearing is
planned for each antenna.
• Structures
• It may be a simple wooden pole or a tall
guided mast but the principle in
selection remains the same. The
following must be observed as far as the
structure is concerned.
• The structure must:
1) Be strong enough to withstand
– Maximum design wind speed with
specified antenna loading
– Specified wind and icing conditions
with that of antenna loading
1) Be safe to be climbed by staff trained to do so
2) Be maintained for its lifespan
3) Not impose unacceptable physical conditions
on the locality.
 – Poles
• Cylindrical poles of wood, steel and aluminium
can support light antennas up to a maximum
height of approximately 17m in low wind
speed areas. They rely on their bases being
buried at sufficient depth to the ground to
stabilize them. Access is normally from a
removable ladder with step bolts over top
section.
 – Towers
• Self supporting towers can vary in height
from 10 to 300m. The ratio of tower height
to the base width of the section under
consideration should be 8:1 over the top
40m whiles carrying omnidirectional UHF
antennas and microwave dishes. For all
other structures the ratio should not
exceed 10:1
 – Masts
• Guided masts vary in height from 10m to
some of the world’s strongest buildings. The
mast column will be supported at various
levels by sets of tension stays. The ratio of the
height between stay level and the height of
the column should not exceed 40:1. The
normal stay arrangement are for 3 stay lanes
120o apart for triangular mast and 4 stays lines
90o apart for square mast column. These stays
will be anchored to foundations so that
vertical angle between the stay and ground
plane is about 300 and 60o respectively.
 • Roof mounted structures
These are potentially the easiest and cheapest to
utilize. However, they have the reputation of being
time consuming projects and prone to problems.
Access to the pole, mast or towers silos will either
be up the phase of the building or via the stairs.
• Existing structures
Where it is possible to utilize an existing structure:
the antenna and feeder type, their location and
method of attachment should be agreed and
approved by the owner prior to installation. This
may take additional time but can prevent
unnecessary cost due to misunderstanding
unacceptable details.
Number of lights
(N)= Y (meters)/45
Light spacing=X
=Y/N≤ 45m
Band spacing=
Z= Y/7 (9, 11, etc) ≤ 30m