Do not attempt to install or dismantle any ROHN Products
until you have read and understood the information in this
document.
Electrocution Hazard
Do not attempt to install or dismantle ROHN products near any
type of power line.
Should your installation come into contact with power
lines, you can be killed! Be sure your installation is
out of falling distance of nay overhead wires-including the
lead to any building. Read all instructions carefully before
you begin, or better yet, call a professional- it may save
your life. See below for more information.
Warning Signs Required
This notice sign must be attached to all poles, towers and
bases in a location which is conspicuous and readable
from the ground so that all personnel are notified and
warned. On large self-supporting towers, signs must be
attached on all three legs (if they are climbable) or on the
ladder. Aluminum wire is furnished for attaching signs. ROHN
recommends you check frequently to make sure the sign has not
been removed. These 6" x 9" signs may be ordered
prepaid for $6.00 each. Specify part number ACWS.
Tower Erectors
Please see that these signs are attached per the instructions
above before leaving the site.
Fall Hazard
Guyed towers are not self-supporting at any height. When
installing or dismantling a guyed tower always consult your
local tower installer. The condition of a used tower is
difficult to determine and in the process of dismantling you
could be killed or injured. Dismantling and installation may
require the use of temporary steel guys.
General Information and
Precautions
If you need help from ROHN
field technicians, warning labels, catalogs, guy charts, etc.
are available from ROHN.
If you are selling ROHN Products
Due to government regulations, be sure you and your customers
are informed as to proper use when purchasing any antenna
supporting structure.
Mixing of products
The mixing of so-called interchangeable copies of ROHN
products with ROHN products is dangerous and voids all
engineering or warranty data supplied by ROHN. Materials used
by the so-called copies are not the same quality and have not
been tested or engineered by ROHN to conform to the same
quality standards. Mixing of ROHN items may endanger lives
and cause serious failures and financial misfortune for all
concerned.
Who should install or Dismantle ROHN products
Installing, dismantling and rigging ROHN products requires
specialized skills and experience. Information supplied by
ROHN assumes that all products will be installed or
dismantled by personnel having these skills and having worked
with similar products before. No one should attempt to
install or dismantle ROHN products without these skills and
experience.
ROHN assumes no liability if faulty or dangerous practices
are used. There are available trained and experienced
personnel to assist in installation, maintenance, and
disassemble. Contact your local installer if consultation or
assistance is required.
What about used material
ROHN does not recommend or warrant in any way the use of used
materials. The use of used materials voids all warranties set
forth by ROHN because no one knows if the used material has
been misused, overloaded, or damaged. If, for some reason,
materials are re-used, all new, galvanized, high strength
bolt assemblies must be used.
General precautions
ROHN recommends anti-climb sections on all structures to
prevent unauthorized person from climbing.
Installation and dismantling may require the use of
temporary steel guys.
All installations must be grounded per local and national
codes.
All types of installations must be thoroughly inspected by
qualified personnel and re-marked with hazard and warning
labels at least once a year to ensure safety and proper
performance.
ROHN makes available many items which may or may not be
required for your particular installation. Some items
available in various types and sizes are safety climbing
devices, ladders, safety cages, anti-climb devices, work
platforms, F.A.A. painting and lighting, grounding, and
fencing. Special product services and special packaging are
also available.
Based on local, state, or federal laws and building codes
for your area, it may be necessary for your particular
installation to have special items or be given special
consideration. If there are any special requirements for your
particular installation, be sure to include them in your
request for quotation and on your order form. ROHN cannot be
responsible for any omission at any time.
About OSHA
Due to the Occupational Safety and Health Act regulations,
parts are available incorporating features which will permit
a safe product.
It is a policy of ROHN to design and make our products
safe to use without hazards to people and/or property.
We ask that you list specific requirements you wish us to
comply with in accordance with the intended use of a product.
These requirements may or may not affect the price of the
materials and equipment under consideration for purchase.
We would be happy to answer any additional questions you
may have.
About step bolts
Towers and poles may or may not include step bolts. Step
bolts are supplied as a convenience during construction.
If your structure has step bolts, the spacing at the
section joints may not be consistent with the spacing
throughout the structure. If this condition presents any
hazard, the step bolts must be removed. For proper safety
ROHN recommends a ladder and/or safety climbing device on
towers and poles.
ROHN will not be responsible for the use of step bolts. If
you wish to use step bolts, the responsibility for their use
will be totally yours or your customers.
Consumer Warranty
Seller makes no warranty of any kind, expressed or implied,
and Buyer assumes all risk and liability resulting from the
use of ROHN products, whether used singularly or in
combination with other products.
Seller makes no warranty of merchantability of the
products or the fitness of the products for any purpose.
Seller neither assumes nor authorizes any person to assume
for Seller any other liability in connection with the sale or
use of its products sold, and there are no oral agreements or
warranties collateral to or affecting any sale.
The invalidity of any particular term or provision of this
disclaimer shall not affect the validity of the remaining
terms and provisions of the disclaimer and sales agreement.
Inspection and Maintenance Manual
The ROHN Inspection and Maintenance Manual, available from
ROHN for $15, is a guide to help maintain your installation.
Section 1 of the three part manual includes information
and directions on performing tower maintenance. Areas include
safety precautions, paint, corrosion protection, connections,
guy wires, insulators, welds, lighting, conduit and
grounding.
Section 2 includes the drawings and heck lists required to
conduct an organized and thorough inspection of the
structure. A second copy of all maintenance forms is
included.
Section 3 provides room for special notes and contains
drawings, specifications, and component lists for ROHN
Lighting Equipment.
Installation and dismantling safety
instructions
Each year people are killed, mutilated, or receive severe
permanent injuries when attempting to install or dismantle
towers, poles, and other structures. In many of these cases,
the victim was aware of the dangers of electrocution but did
not take adequate steps to avoid the hazard.
Good practice is to install your products away from power
lines and obstructions. Your dealer carries a complete line
of installation and grounding hardware.
For your safety and to help you achieve a safe
installation, please read and follow the safety
precautions below. They may save your life!
- Check with the local governmental agency. Ask whether
your home is zoned for the type of product you wish
to install.
- Select your installation site with safety, as well as
performance, in mind. Remember: Power lines and
phone lines look alike. For your safety, assume that
any overhead lines can kill you.
- Call your power company. Tell them your plans and ask
them to look at your site. This is little
inconvenience, considering your life is at stake.
- Before you begin, plan your installation or
dismantling procedure carefully. Successful
installation or dismantling is largely a matter of
coordination. Each person should be assigned to a
specific task and should know what to do and when to
do it. One person should be designated as the
"boss" to call out instructions and watch
for signs of trouble.
- When installing or dismantling, Remember: Do not
use a metal ladder. Do not work on a wet or
windy day or if a thunderstorm is approaching. Do
dress properly – shoes with rubber soles and
heels, rubber gloves, long sleeve shirt or jacket,
and a hardhat.
- If the assembly starts to drop, get away from it and
let it fall. Remember: Antennas, masts,
towers, cables, metal guy wires and other metal are
all excellent conductors of electrical current. Even
the slightest touch of any of these parts to a
power line completes an electrical path through the
installer!
- If any part of the assembly should contact a power
line –Don’t touch it or try to remove it
yourself. Call your local power company. They
will remove it safely.
- If an electrical accident should occur –don’t
grab hold of the person in contact wit the power line
or you too may be electrocuted. Use a dry
board, stick or rope to push or pull the victim away
from the antenna. Have someone call for medical help.
Considerations in Erecting Towers and
Similar Products
Your local municipality or development may have established
height and building standards governing the use of towers and
similar products. Height restrictions are found in zoning
ordinances and private deed restrictions. Building standards
may be found in local building codes. Complying with these
requirements is usually easy and will help to provide many
years to safe and trouble free operation of your
installation.
Zoning ordinances, building codes and private deed
restrictions are complex legal documents. If you question
whether they apply to you , consult a local attorney. Five
minutes spent in advance can save many hours later.
Zoning ordinances, building codes and deed restrictions
are local. If you move from city to city these restrictions
may change.
Zoning ordinances are concerned wit the type of buildings
or other structures you can erect in your neighborhood. In
terms of towers and similar products, zoning laws will tell
you if your property is zoned for such items and, if so, what
height limitations, if any, are involved.
Building codes are concerned with the safety of buildings
or other structures permitted by local zoning ordinances.
Building codes will tell you where on your property you can
put the installation and the type of base and support (such
as guy wires) you will need.
Both zoning and building codes are usually administered by
the same governmental agency, often known as the Department
of Building and Safety or the Zoning Board.
The personal communications Foundation believes that the
following steps will help make sure you have a safe and legal
installation:
- Check wit the local governmental agency. Ask whether
your home is zoned for the type of product you wish
to install.
- Look at the actual zoning ordinances. Pay special
attention to the definitions. Many zoning ordinances
distinguish between "buildings" and
"structures". Others distinguish between
towers physically attached to the house, either by
guy wires or mounding and towers that are not
attached.
- See if a building permit is required. If so, be sure
to get one. They are usually quite inexpensive, often
less than on percent of the cost of the tower. As
part of the building permit, a local inspector will
check and make sure that the base, guy wires, etc.,
meet local safety requirements. Properly manufactured
commercially made towers and extremely safe and have
a large safety margin, but only if you install them
according to the directions! Paying $10.00 to $25.00
for an expert to inspect the foundation and finished
installation is the cheapest insurance you can
possibly buy! If a permit is required and not
obtained, your homeowner’s insurance many not
insure the tower and you have given neighbors, who
might object, a reason to require you to take the
tower down.
- In a limited number of cases you may need either a
zoning variance or a conditional use permit to erect
a structure high than the local zoning board
requirements. If so, it is far easier to apply in
advance than to put up the structure and apply later.
Most local governments are quite cooperative if you
apply in advance and follow their rules. Variance
provisions are used to provide flexibility from
dimensional regulations such as setback or height
restrictions. Conditional use permits are used where
towers or antennas are not otherwise allowed. A
public hearing is usually required before such
permits are issued.
- In addition to local ordinances, real estate
developers or homeowners’ associations may
impose their own requirements in a subdivision. These
requirements are usually known as deed restrictions
or Conditions, Covenants and Restrictions (CC&
R).
If you are thinking of moving into a new area, ask for a
copy of the deed restrictions in advance of signing an offer
to purchase the property. If you already own a home, a local
realtor, title insurance company or lawyer can obtain copies
of the deed restrictions, if any, for you. Don’t take
the work of the realtor who may be wrong!
If there are no deed restrictions, you need only be
concerned with local zoning and building codes. If there are
deed restrictions, read them carefully. Look at the
definitions. See if there are any restrictions on outside
structures or on the height of buildings or other structures
or if a local architectural control committee must pass on
any additions or changes to your property.
Deed restrictions are legal documents. A local lawyer
familiar with real estate law can read the restrictions in
only a few minutes and advise you. Even if the deed
restrictions prohibit or restrict the size of towers and
similar products, they many be unenforceable if many of your
neighbors have erected such products and no objections have
been raised.
This information has been adapted from the PERSONAL
COMMUNICATIONS FOUNDATION, 10960 Wilshire boulevard, Suite
1504, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Click here to send an
EMail message to ROHN. Ask for a free Safety Brochure. This
printed brochure is copyright-free and may be copied,
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