TOWERS
Free standing, self supporting structures designed for mounting antennas and dishes at various heights.
Towers require a smaller footprint than a guyed mast but the trade off is much larger concrete bases.
These towers are engineered for the location and proposed loads.
MASTS
Guyed structures that rely on the guy ropes to keep them upright and stable. Guyed Masts are generally lower cost than free standing towers but require a far greater footprint for installation.
Each mast is engineered for the proposed load of antennas or dishes.
MONOPOLES
Generally made of spun concrete, monopoles are the mobile phone carrier structure of choice and are visible everywhere these days.
Most monopoles have a large headframe where all the antennas are mounted. Each monopole is engineered for the proposed loads.
GALVANISED POLES
Like monopoles, metal galvanised poles are designed for antenna loads up to 35m.
They are considered a lighter duty alternative to concrete monopoles.
Each pole is engineered for the proposed load to ensure there is minimal deflection during weather events and that it is structurally sound.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Obstruction Lighting: Structures located near, or in flight paths will require obstruction lighting and, in some cases, the structure may need to be painted red and white.
Mounting Types and Engineering: How you mount your equipment to the structure is very important and will required structural engineering to make sure it is safe. When using 3rd party structure this step is mandatory and you won’t get approval till an engineering certificate is provided.
Council Approvals: All structures over certain heights will need to have local council approval prior to construction. Each council has their own rules and lodgement procedures. These will required site plans, engineering reports, soil reports and impact statements.
Site Earthing: Earthing is a large consideration for any structure and it includes any compound fencing and enclosures at that site. Site location, soil type and earthing standards for carriers and nearby infrastructure (e.g. rail or electrical facilities) are to be taken into account during the earthing design.
