Engineer Training Series – Monopole Towers

Part 1

Objective: Understand, Confirm, and Explore ... Past and Most Common

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 One – Monopole Typical Use

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Purpose, Space, Capacity & Location
Great for Urban areas and Most Aesthetically pleasing
Part One – Why use a Monopole?

Monopoles
Strength, reliability and adaptability. The tapered, slip-fitted design is the
most common and the least offensive visually for today's strict zoning and
permit requirements.

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With a footprint of less than 50 square feet, monopoles are perfect for
small sites.

Other distinguishing advantages include:

• Easy assembly
• Less expensive installation
• Interior routing of cables which reduces wind loading
• Can be designed for multiple carriers plus microwave capability
• Platforms and antenna arrays can be rotated to any azimuth
Part One – What & How ... Monopoles

Monopoles
• 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
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Vertical Shaft
Monopole Typical Parts
Monopole – 2 typical designs - Tapered or Stepped
Stepped Pipe - where
The Shaft - Continuous Tapered and Stepped pipe
the sections reduce in
monopoles in a variety of sizes and configurations
size

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Tapered monopoles are designed as
12, 16, or 18-sided and to various
heights
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The Connection
Monopole Typical Parts
Monopole 2 Types Connections – Sleeved or Flanged

Flanged Pipe Poles

Slip Sleeve Tapered

Pole with Low

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Profile platform

Tapered monopoles are designed as

12, 16, or 18-sided and to various Flanged pipe poles can be Internally or
heights externally flanged.
 Monopole – Slip Joint is the favorite and easiest

Slip Joint is the most common

Typical 150 pole will
come in 3 sections

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Sections weight various depending on design – typical
Bottom section: 10K – 13K lbs
Mid section : 7K – 9K lbs
Top Section : 3K – 6K lbs
Monopole – Base Plates – Lots of Varity

Base Plates come in many shapes and sizes

Unfortunately the type of base plate does
not lead insight to the manufacture

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Manufacture
Monopole – By Who
Monopole – Manufactures: Who and Where

Is now
Plymouth IN Valley NE

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Sioux City IA
Ft Worth TX

Newbury OH
Peoria IL Pensacola FL

Ontario NY South Bend IN

Monopole – Manufactures: Who does what

These Companies manufacture both continuous-taper slip jointed and step taper
with internal and external flange monopoles

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These Companies manufacture primarily continuous-taper slip jointed monopoles
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Accessories

Mounts
&
Monopole Typical Parts
Monopole Basic Parts & Accessories
Platforms & Mounts

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• Bolt on typical for
multiple and large
mount structures • Chain
A. Safety climb systems mounts used
B. Exit and Entry ports – Hand holes ? for lighter
C. Step Bolts application
 Monopole – Specific Parts: Mounts
Most Carrier Networks are designed using 3 sectors with at least 1 antenna / sector

Triple T – Arm for 6 antennas Full Platform with Hand rail

Safe access

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Difficult access
for technician

Ultra Low Profile Mount

Low Profile Platform for 12 antennas

Source: SitePro 1 (valmont)

 Monopole – Entry and Exit Ports

Entry Ports Exit Ports

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Hand holes and Pipe exit are used

ATC Designs – Cricket W. Elgin IL

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Foundations
Monopole Foundations
Monopole Foundation Types
Drilled Caisson most common .... Pad & Pier occasionally

Why:

• Area disturbed
by Fnd
Excavation

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• Equipment
Shelter or
Cabinet

• Soil conditions

• Schedule

• Costs

Pegasus Twr – Scott PA

Monopole Foundation Installation – Caisson
Typical sizes 6-8’ diameter with depths ranging
from 18 – 28’

Drill Rig, Bits, Casing and Equipment needed

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Clean Hole
 Monopole Foundation Installation – Challenges

14’ down limestone becomes

a problem so the step
method - drilling down to
depth with a 2’ auger and
then going up in size in 1’
steps.

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Burned up replaceable tips

MNDOT - Silver Creek MN

Monopole Foundation Installation – Caisson

After hole is drilled to

required depth - Rebar cage
is lifted into hole and
secured /positioned prior to
pouring concrete.

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Majority of concrete is
poured into hole prior to
setting anchor bolts

Note: the Drill Rig is used for, drilling

removing spoils, and lifting the required
material used in the foundation
Monopole Foundation Installation – anchor bolts

Anchor bolts and template are lowered

Anchor bolts assembly
into hole once the concrete is filled to a
certain level

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Then the concrete is poured out
Note - Anchor bolts projection
critical for final plumbing of pole
 Monopole Foundation Installation – Pad & Pier

The Pad & Pier requires more area & schedule

but clearly is a more costs effective approach.
21’ x 21’ pad with 6’ pier

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Pegasus - Scott PA
Monopole – Offload, Assembly & Erection

Offload

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Assembly & Erection
 Monopole offload and Assembly

90 ton crane typical for stacking 150 – 190’ Monopole

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Depending on the size of
the structure
the pole could be delivered
on one or many truck loads.
 Monopole offload and Assembly
Each new structure has come Everything is assembled on the ground to
with an identity name plate – minimize the work in the air.
Manufacture, Site Name, Date
etc.
Platform

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First step is to install the step bolts
Prep the anchor bolts with the elevation nuts
 Monopole Erection – First Section (bottom)
First step – Know proper orientation for bottom Entry ports as it relates to the equipment

One of the workers

will be responsible
to providing the crane
with hands signals

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to safely raise, lower
and position the
10,000+ lbs steel
section on the anchor
bolts

This hand signal

means “ Hold” while
they rotate the section
 Monopole Assembly & Erection
Another view – Setting the base section
Slip joint in action – note no step bolts in area

Tag lines
are used to
guide and
Overlap of sections pivot the

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section for
correct
alignment

Note the straps used to lift the pole – choked and

not at the top – why ?
 Monopole Erection section by section
90 ton crane typical for stacking 150 – 190’ Monopole

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Each section is lifted in place
and set. The self weight of the
section causes the slip joint to seat fully with the help of a
little soup acting as a lubricant.
Monopole Erection - topping off

The platform is always assembled on the

ground prior. Most of the time it is the last
large section to be raised and installed.
Sometimes it is bolted on the top section prior

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Monopole – How are Antennas installed ?

Installing Equipment

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 Installing Equipment on Monopoles

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Capstan winch
Single drum winch with
with foot switch
Rope capstone on the side

Once the pole 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.

Then a block is used at the top of the structure and

the tower is now part of the lifting equipment
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
 Installing & Alignment on Monopoles

Tools used to Align

the antennas

LTE, PCS, Cellular, M/W antennas

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jumpers, etc all need to be secured
and protected from high winds &
Digital Level
extreme weather conditions

Antenna
Alignment Tool for
proper Azimuth
 Installing Equipment on Monopoles

Which coax
Goes to
which
Needs details (2)
Antenna ?

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Color coding
is used to
identify top
and bottom
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Up and Down
Maintenance
Monopole Typical Service
 Monopole Maintenance – Keeping things clean

Maintenance – Debris removal and or Surface repair

Debris removal Most surface

often is required Repair is done

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Upstairs Using ZRC Galv
as well as at the Compound
base of the
pole
 Monopole Maintenance – Keeping things clean

Close up look reveals the size and qty of the debris ... Sometimes we find left over dinner

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 Monopole Maintenance – at times stops work !
Nesting is common on all types Top view – old nest
of towers at all various heights

In some geographical areas some

Bird species are protected and prevent
work on the towers during nesting periods

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View looking at the bottom of the platform

Large bird...
or lots of them
Monopole – Summary & Key Points

• Requires Smallest Area

• Shorter Heights
• Low Maintenance

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• Fast to Construct
• Continuous Taper with Slip Joint is
the most common
• Drilled Caisson most common
Specialized Suppliers & Resources

www.engend.com

www.primuselectronics.com
www.wirelessestimator.com

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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