What is the critical first step when assessing the feasibility of strengthening a tower to support additional antenna load?

The critical first step when assessing the feasibility of strengthening a tower to support additional antenna load is to conduct a thorough structural analysis of the existing tower, incorporating accurate as-built information and the proposed new loading. This analysis determines the current load capacity of the tower and identifies any structural members that are already at or near their maximum allowable stress levels. The structural analysis must be performed by a qualified professional engineer experienced in tower design and analysis. The results of this analysis will determine whether strengthening is even necessary and, if so, which areas of the tower require reinforcement. Without this initial analysis, any strengthening efforts would be based on guesswork and could potentially be ineffective or even detrimental to the tower's structural integrity.