4 FAQs about Construction standards for wind power at communication base stations

Do base station antennas increase wind load?

Base station antennas add load to the towers not only due to their mass, but also in the form of additional dynamic loading caused by the wind. Depending on the aerodynamic efficiency of the antenna, the increased wind load can be significant. Additionally, there are other location-specific factors to consider when calculating antenna wind load.

What factors should be considered when calculating antenna wind load?

Additionally, there are other location-specific factors to consider when calculating antenna wind load. These include geographic location, tower height, tower or building structure, surrounding terrain, and shielding effects from other mounted antennas. This is one of the major advantages of ultra-wideband antenna technology.

Why do wireless operators use wind load data?

That's why wireless operators often use wind load data presented by base station antenna manufacturers when deciding on which antennas to deploy. Therefore, it is important for operators and tower owners to fully understand how wind load data is calculated so fair comparisons can be made between various antennas.

How does wind load affect a tower?

In addition, antennas, connections, mounts and equipment add load to the towers not only due to their mass, but also in the form of additional dynamic loading caused by the wind. Depending on the aerodynamic efficiency of the overall tower, the increased wind load can be significant.

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