James Ruedlinger, at left, chair of the TIA-322 task group, acknowledged the dedication of many of the members who were responsible for the standard’s publication. TIA CEO Scott Belcher said it was truly remarkable work by TIA’s TR-14 Engineering Committee to step-up and move the standard forward in a short period of time.
On the heels of ANSI’s approval of ANSI/ASSE A10.48, the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leading association representing the manufacturers and suppliers of high tech communications networks, announced this morning that it will release a new standard to facilitate improved communication between engineers and contractors in order to help ensure a safe work environment when planning and assessing tower construction.
The new American National Standard Institute (ANSI) approved standard – ANSI/TIA-322, Loading Criteria, Analysis, and Design Related to the Installation, Alteration and Maintenance of Communication Structures, revises and redacts TIA’s original 1019-A standard which was first published in 2012.
Through a coordinated effort, TIA and the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) have evolved the original TIA-1019-A standard for two distinct audiences in construction planning and implementation. Portions of TIA-1019-A were brought into the existing standardization efforts underway in ASSE and drove the completion of the ANSI/ASSE A10.48 standard.
Construction related loading, analysis and design requirements are now contained in the standard, while the construction means and methods provisions from ANSI/TIA-1019-A are covered in the ANSI/ASSE A10.48 standard. The development of both revised standards to TIA-1019-A was a joint effort between TIA and ASSE to ensure the standards are synchronized. ANSI/TIA-322 and ANSI/ASSE A10.48 each represent important roles required to safely complete the planning and construction process. Both standards will go into effect January 1, 2017.
“I am extremely proud of the way our member volunteers worked together to develop and release this revised standard in less than a year,” said TIA CEO Scott Belcher. “The revisions have been anticipated for over a decade, so it was truly remarkable work by TIA’s TR-14 Engineering Committee to step-up and move this forward.”
The new standard is being dedicated to Ernie Jones
James Ruedlinger, chair of the TIA-322 task group developing ANSI/TIA-322, commented, “I would like to extend my utmost gratitude to all TIA members who served on the TR-14 Task Group 7 responsible for the ANSI/TIA-322. Tremendous time and effort has been expended to produce this industry leading standard as it relates to loading, analysis, and design of communication structures under construction as well as specialized design criteria for tower lifting devices.”
Ruedlinger, a structural engineer at Crown Castle, said he would also like to “sincerely thank my mentor, colleague, and dear friend Ernie Jones for his vision, integrity, and passion which served as the stimulus in the formation and ongoing development of this standard to promote construction safety and awareness for the entire communications industry.”
During a March 2016 TR-14 meeting in Las Vegas, John Erichsen, chairman of the TIA TR14 committee, said that TIA would be honoring Jones’ industry contribution and his life with a dedication to him in TIA-322 when it is published. Jones died in 2015 in a tragic incident while on a tower as he was assessing engineering details.
“The TIA 322 Standard will perfectly compliment the recently finalized A10.48 Standard,” said National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) Executive Director Todd Schlekeway. “The engineering elements of the TIA 1019-A are now in TIA 322 and the use elements of TIA 1019-A are now contained in the new A10.48 standard. This will provide more clarity to the industry . Perfect harmony was achieved with A10.48 and TIA 322,” said Schlekeway.
TIA actively seeks participation in tower industry projects from the user and general interest communities. For more information about TR-14 and how to participate in standards development with TIA, contact Marianna Kramáriková at mkramarikova@tiaonline.org. The TR-14 committee is the largest committee in TIA, with over 90 companies and 240 technical experts.
Kramáriková provided some CliffsNotes to Wireless Estimator regarding the new standard:
Marianna Kramáriková, Manager Technology & Standards for TIA, said the standard is an important tool for both engineers and contractors to ensure a safe work environment.
What is different with the new standard?
The criteria for loading, analysis and design, along with means and methods criteria related to the construction, installation, alteration and maintenance of communication structures were originally contained in the ANSI/TIA-1019-A standard, “Standard for Installation, Alteration and Maintenance of Antenna Supporting Structures and Antennas”. In response to industry initiatives, separate standards have been developed to provide greater clarity to the industry stakeholders. Construction related loading, analysis and design provisions are now contained in the ANSI/TIA-322 and means and methods provisions related to construction are now contained in the ANSI/ASSE A10.48 standard, “Criteria for Safety Practices with the Construction, Demolition, Modification and Maintenance of Communication Structures.”
Who should purchase it?
The ANSI/TIA-322 addresses specific engineering criteria relevant to practicing engineers servicing contractors and owners in addressing the supporting structure’s strength and stability under construction as well as design and analysis criteria for specialized lifting devices. In addition to engineers, contractors, owners, and gin pole designers and manufacturers; this standard contains content that may be relevant to service providers and regulatory entities supporting the communications industry.
Is it going to fix anything? Why should the general public care?
The preceding ANSI/TIA-1019-A is a combined standard covering loading, analysis and design for engineers, along with construction procedures, rigging practices and operational use for contractors (aka means and methods). In combining both analysis and design with operational use into a single standard, pertinent content and specific engineering roles and responsibilities for various applications could be difficult to locate and clearly identify.
As a result, separate standards have been developed to provide greater clarity to all vested stakeholders in construction planning and implementation by tailoring content to these two distinct audiences. Construction related loading, analysis and design requirements are now contained in the ANSI/TIA-322 standard, while the construction means and methods provisions are now covered in the ANSI/ASSE A10.48 standard. Overall, the ANSI/TIA-322 builds upon core engineering design and analysis concepts presented in the ANSI/TIA-1019-A to facilitate improved communications and understanding between engineers and contractors when planning and assessing tower construction activities impacting the supporting structure and specialized tower equipment to ensure a safe work environment.