A lightning protection tower shields refineries, gas stations, chemical plants and explosive storage yards from direct strikes. On site the sections weigh about 300 kg for a two-piece unit, 600 kg for three, 870 kg for four and 1200 kg for five pieces.
Where a truck crane can drive in, sections are lifted straight off the lorry and bolted together. In mountains or rough ground the crane cannot reach, crews raise the tower by hand. They mix and pour the concrete footing first and let it cure for at least one week. After curing, a wooden gin pole of 4 to 6 m stands on the foundation, a one-ton pulley ties to its top, and hand winches pull each section up one by one.
Once the tower stands, maintenance is half the job. We check it every six months, and again after any storm above level eight or an earthquake. Each inspection records the verticality, which must stay within 1/1500 of the height, plus member bend, bolt tightness, the aviation lamps and the galvanized surface. Any chipped zinc is touched up, and loose bolts are tightened all around in one pass. Working up the tower is high-altitude work, so the crew holds a valid climbing certificate.
