TECHNICALLY SPEAKING

Constructing Telecommunications Sites: A Proper Planning Process

Wireless communications is now a mainstay in our everyday lives. Mergers, acquisitions, and technological advances in the telecommunications industry drive the need for new telecommunications sites and/or updates to existing
telecommunications towers and antennas. Installations and upgrades of telecommunications sites, from the planning phase to activation, can extend over multiple years creating an unpredictable construction season.

Many telecommunications carriers install their antennas on top of city-owned water towers. When designing an antenna installation for a water storage facility, the style of the tank plays a major role in determining the method of antenna attachment and the routing of coaxial cable. In addition, weather-sensitive issues, such as touch-up painting around coaxial cable penetrations and other weldments; painting of coaxial cables and antennas; and general site restoration, can cause problems and project delays during the winter months.

With a properly planned approach, telecommunications companies can avoid the interruptions of inclement weather during antenna installation. The best antenna installations are ones that are kept simple. With that in mind, telecommunications installations should be designed according to these parameters:

• Minimizing damage to the water tank during construction
• Minimizing the effect on daily tank operation and maintenance
• Minimizing negative aesthetic effects
• Protecting the functionality of the site

Design plans should incorporate installation materials that are corrosion-free and do not require protective painting, such as plastics and galvanized materials. For installation components that require painting, specifications should be written around completion in a shop environment. Shop painting ensures a controlled environment for surface preparation and painting in accordance with the paint manufacturer’s recommendations, and will simplify the city inspection process.

Antenna attachment and coaxial cable penetrations are the major contributors for paint touchup, due to welding. When possible, plans should consider alternative methods of antenna attachment, such as bolted or capacitor stud welded connections, to reduce or eliminate damage to the water tank. If the ratio of coaxial cables to antennas is one-to-one, or as the structural integrity of the tank allows, then drill holes and insert rubber firewall grommets (to seal jumper cables) instead of using welded pipe coupling penetrations.

On legged and ground storage reservoirs, routing black coaxial cable can be extremely obtrusive. In lieu of painting coax, considerations should include requesting manufactured-colored coax. White coaxial cables blend well with most tank colors and will eliminate the need for touch-up painting.

By minimizing potential maintenance items upfront, designers can reduce the number of steps required to complete the installation—in all seasons. A well-planned telecommunications design will pay dividends in its successful and on-time completion.

For information, contact Dan Zienty, SEH Senior Specialist, at 651.490.2160.

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