Structures
Please find below a brief description of the various structure types that RTS maps, inspects and modifies for our customer base:
Steel Poles
Steel poles have been utilized as a support structure in the communications, utility, sports lighting, and the transportation industries for over a half century. Poles are freestanding structures varying in height to 250 ft. Tubular steel poles are pressed and welded with high strength steel plate and assembled via slip joint overlapping connections in the field. Polygonal shapes include 12, 16, and 18-sided sections. Round poles consist of flanged pipe sections. Poles are supported on a concrete foundation with a shop-welded base plate and anchor rods or are direct burial. Typical finish for a pole structure is hot-dip galvanized. Depending on the usage and industry, poles can support communications antennas, electrical insulators and conductors, luminaires, small wind turbines, or traffic signals and signs. Critical inspection areas include the base welds, longseam welds, arm connections, and tightness of hardware including anchors.
Wood Poles
Used extensively for electric distribution, telephone, cable, and sports lighting, there are hundreds of thousands of wood poles dotting the landscape in the United States today. Wood poles are freestanding or guyed with lengths to 125 ft. Wood poles are grouped in classes based on their circumference measured 6 feet from the butt and their length. Varying species of wood poles are available with different preservative treatments. The pole supplier’s trademark, plant location, year of treatment, pole species, preservative used, class, and length are burn-branded or included on a tag. Wood poles are directly embedded.
​
Many wood poles are installed for decades without follow-up inspection. Once the protective preservative is compromised, decay moves quickly. Insect attack and avian damage can shorten the lifespan of wood poles; mechanical and vehicular damage also take their toll on these structures.
Concrete Poles
Due to their durability and proven track record, concrete poles are also a popular support structure across many industries. Constructed of pre-stressed concrete, the structures can be free-standing or guyed with heights to 150 ft.
​
While not as susceptible to corrosion effects as steel structures or decay as wood poles, concrete poles still require routine inspections due to spalling, cracking and mechanical damage. Contact RTS to learn how we can assist you with the inspection of your concrete poles.
Self-Support Structures
Self-support towers are used extensively in the communications industry. Towers are tapered, free-standing and 3 or 4-sided. Typically in 20 ft sections, tower legs are solid round, hollow tube, or lattice-leg style. Bracing members are either angle or round members. Bracing configurations are typically X-braced or K-down style. Structures can vary to 500 ft in height.
Guyed Towers
Guyed towers are used by the communications and broadcast industries. The structures are guyed and 3 or 4-sided. Tower legs are solid round, hollow tube, or angle. Bracing members are either angle or round members. Guyed towers can be some of the largest structures in the world at heights up to 2000 ft.
Roof-Top Structures
Crucial to the communication and broadcast industries, roof-top structures enhance cell coverage and provide broadcast signals in urban areas. Structures are steel and vary in height and composition.
