The Telecommunications Industry Association’s Steel Antenna tower engineering committee met this week in Las Vegas to focus on revising and updating the TR-14 standard. The Engineering Committee TR-14 is responsible for the ANSI/EIA/TIA-222, Structural Steel Standards for Steel Antenna Towers and Supporting Structures standard. During a quorum meeting on Wednesday, the committee dedicated the TIA-322 standard (to be released before the end of 2016) to Ernest “Ernie” R. Jones, P.E. Jones, a highly-respected icon of the tower industry, died in a tower accident in Oklahoma in October, 2015.
“This standard is dedicated to the memory of Ernest (Ernie R.) Jones, P.E. Ernie was a tireless worker for the industry and never hesitated to share his extensive knowledge to proliferate understanding and development within the tower industry. Ernie was brilliant yet humble, and a true servant to others. His work ethic was unmatched and he never said no when approached,” noted the dedication. “He was a driving force in the development of the initial ANSI/TIA – 1019, 2004 Gin Pole Standard, leading the research and technical developments it represented. He continued as co-chairman for the technical section of the ANSI/TIA- 1019, 2011,or;. Tower Construction Standard. He was a participating member of the TR147 Committee of the Telecommunications Industry Association and Electronics Industry Association since 1986. Ernie was genuine, professional, and deeply respected by all who knew him, and his contributions to the tower industry will long be remembered.”
The TIA Steel Antenna tower engineering committee, headed by Chair John Erichsen of EET, Inc., with Mark Malouf, of Malouf Engineering International, vice chair and Bryan Lanier of American Tower as Secretary, and managed by Marianna Kramarikova, TIA’s manager for Technology & Standards, is working on planned changes to align the standard with the latest version of ASCE-7. Use of 3-second gusts instead of fastest mile wind speeds and the use of load reduction factor design instead of allowable stress design will be incorporated. Other anticipated changes include: seismic loading considerations, safety facilities, foundations, and analysis of existing structures.
Of Jones, Kramarikova told Inside Towers, “I knew Ernie personally through our work for almost six years and had great admiration and respect for him. He is fully respected by the tower community.”
A record-breaking crowd of more than 100 attended this week’s meeting. Dean McKenzie, Acting Director of Construction at OSHA, sent a personal video message to TIA Steel Antenna tower engineering committee members. McKenzie thanked the TIA committee for their good work and emphasized how important it is to keep making progress on maintaining our telecommunications tower infrastructure. The meeting advanced the revision under development for the Structural Standard for Antenna Supporting Structures and Antennas.
To see McKenzie’s video message, click here.
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