The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) are launching a joint effort to raise awareness of new standards that are important for all workers and companies that install, alter or maintain communication towers.

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, amends TIA’s original 1019-A standard. The TIA 1019-A standard is widely used in the private and public sectors and has meaningfully improved communication tower worksites. The new document goes even further in driving high-caliber performance within the tower industry.

TIA and ASSE worked together to evolve TIA-1019-A for two distinct audiences. Construction related loading, analysis, and design requirements are now contained in the revised standard, while the construction means and methods provisions from the original standard are covered in ANSI/ASSE A10.48, Criteria for Safety Practices with the Construction, Demolition, Modification and Maintenance of Communications Structures. This new standard establishes minimum criteria for safe work practices and training for personnel performing work on communication structures, including antenna and antenna supporting structures, broadcast, and other similar structures. ANSI/TIA-322 and ANSI/ASSE A10.48 each represent important roles required for the planning and construction process. Both go into effect January 1, 2017. 

John Erichsen, chair of the TIA TR-14 Engineering Committee, commented, “It is very important that we raise awareness throughout the industry about TIA-322 and ASSE 10.48, which embody the latest generation of telecom construction standards. Building on the lessons gained by construction and engineering personnel, these standards will improve the construction process and help shape a high quality work environment. Together, the standards will improve worksite communications by establishing a common vernacular for all responsible with the deployment of telecom infrastructure.”  

“These standards are the culmination of years of work, and they take into account all of the best-practices we’ve identified during that time,” said Richard King, Chairman of the A-10 Committee that developed the A10.48 standard and saw its approval by ANSI. “As part of our efforts, we broke down each activity related to working on a communications tower and we are confident that the measures provided will reduce many commons issues. For this reason, we are very eager to see the standards quickly adopted throughout the industry.”  

Over the next several months, TIA and ASSE will actively work with industry partners to raise awareness of the new standards. Among the efforts will be an upcoming webinar that will focus on the standards and safety best practices in the tower industry. An announcement will be forthcoming on registration.

To order the standards please visit this web page.