(A) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ANTENNA. The outdoor portion of the receiving equipment for receiving television or radio waves from space.
HEIGHT. The overall vertical length of the antenna system above ground or, if the system be located on a building, then above that part of the level of the building upon which the system rests.
MAST. The portion of the outside antenna system to which the antenna is attached, and the support or extension required to elevate the antenna to a height deemed necessary for adequate operation.
PRIMARY POWER LINE. Any electrical line carrying 250 volts or more.
SECONDARY POWER LINE. Any electrical line carrying 250 volts or less.
(B) Regulations for installation of antenna.
(1) Except on radio and television antennas less than ten feet in height, all construction hereafter placed on the roof of a building or structure within the city shall be non-combustible and non-corrosive construction. All equipment installed on roofs shall be mounted on its own platform or plate covering one or more rafters of the roof and shall be securely anchored with guy wires. (See below for tower installation.)
(2) Poles or masts over ten feet must be guyed with four or more wires to one mast position. Masts 20 to 30 feet in height must be guyed to a minimum of two positions, the uppermost guy wires to be within two feet of the top, except where impractical because of the structure of a unit supporting the antenna, in which case the uppermost guy wire must be attached to the unit supporting the antenna. Roof-mounted masts over 30 feet high must not be erected without first securing permission from the Building Inspector having jurisdiction. The angle of the guys supporting the masts and towers must not be less than 30 degrees from the vertical mast. Wire used as guys shall in no case be less than 620-strand cable or equivalent and of the rust-proof type for masts less than 20 feet in height. And for masts exceeding 20 feet in height minimum size of wire used as guys shall be 618-strand cable or its equivalent and shall be of the rust-proof type. Rawl plugs shall not be used for guy wires or for mounting brackets. Guy wires shall not connect to any pole in the power or communication system of the city.
(3) Towers may be erected without the use of guy wires providing the towers are of a type approved by the Electrical Inspector and Fire Chief. The towers may be either roof-mounted or mounted on the ground independent of a building. In the event towers are erected from the ground and attached to a building and extend more than ten feet above the portion of the building to which they are attached, the towers must be guyed to the building by not less than three guy wires, one of which guy wire may be of an outrigger type. If a tower-mounted antenna extends more than 50 feet above the ground, whether roof-mounted or mounted on the ground, permission must first be secured from the Electrical Inspector before installation.
(4) Metal structures supporting antennas shall be permanently and effectively grounded as outlined in Article 820 of the National Electrical Code. Grounds for either the lead-in or the metal supporting pole or structure shall be made to existing underground water distributing system if available; provided that, no ground connection shall be made to an outside water spigot if the spigot is disconnected for any portion of a year. For installation beyond reach of the distribution systems, a regular driven ground rod of not less than six feet in length of an approved type may be used. The ground conductors shall not be smaller than No. 8 AWG. (Effectively grounded shall be interpreted as providing protection for mast, receiver and rotating mechanism if such is used, and ground straps or clamps shall be of the approved type.)
(5) Under no conditions will a ground connection be allowed to be connected to a sewer stack vent or gas lines or any line connected to a line connected to any inflammable material or to a gas or fuel oil line or to any other line conveying any combustible substances or to a line which is attached to a line or pipe conveying any combustible substances.
(6) Ground line from mast should not follow the contour of a building and shall not contact, nor be connected in any way to a down spout.
(7) Lightning arrestor for protection of receiver shall not be mounted on mast, but shall be mounted approximately as near the earth as the receiver and the arrestor shall be of the approved type.
(8) Antennas shall not be attached to chimneys as heavy stress often occurs on antenna supports due to the wind and ice loading to which the television antenna is subjected. Damage to chimney can occur below roof line creating a serious fire hazard.
(9) Serious accidents have occurred where improperly supported masts have fallen over primary and secondary power lines. It shall be the responsibility of the individual installing the masts or towers to take this factor into consideration so as to provide proper installation so as to assure maximum protection to life and property in case the mast or tower shall fall or topple.
(10) Guy wires crossing over or under secondary power lines shall have a four-foot minimum clearance from same as to avoid contact under all conditions and under no conditions shall guy wires be placed over primary power lines regardless of clearance, nor masts be erected to the heights that, in event of collapse or failure, the mast would fall over primary power lines located in streets or alleys of the city.
(11) Lead-in conductors attached to buildings shall be so installed that they cannot swing within two feet of conductors carrying 250 volts or less or within ten feet of conductors carrying more than 250 volts. The clearance between lead-in conductors and any conductor forming part of a lightning rod system shall be no less than six feet. Lead-in shall be supported at intervals of not more than 12 feet apart.
(12) Television antenna installers must constantly be aware that antenna wires and large dipole structures may seriously interfere with firefighters while raising ladders or handling hose lines. This may be important in closely built areas where antennas and wires may overhang or bridge space between buildings. Perhaps more serious is that high antennas on roofs or improperly supported towers may, under fire exposure, be so weakened that they may collapse and injure firefighters or occupants.
(13) It is recommended that master antennas be installed on apartment buildings and a “tee-tap” or other distribution system used to supply the lead-in conductors from the main cable.
(C) Electrical Inspector; duties, rights and authority.
(1) It shall be the duty of the Electrical Inspector and his or her authorized assistants to inspect all television and radio receiving antenna to ascertain if the work has been done in a workmanlike manner and to investigate all complaints from the general public pertaining to the antenna installations and interference caused thereby.
(2) The Electrical Inspector and his or her assistants are hereby empowered to inspect or reinspect any wiring, equipment or apparatus conducting or using electric current for radio and television service in the city and, if conductors, equipment or apparatus are found to be unsafe to life or property, or are not in conformity with the provisions of this section, the Electrical Inspector shall notify the person owning or operating the hazardous wiring or equipment to correct the condition within a 48-hour period or within the time the Electrical Inspector specifies. Failure to correct violations within the specified time shall constitute a violation of this section.
(3) A reasonable schedule of fees shall be established by the Council, by resolution, covering all inspections made by the Electrical Inspector pursuant to the provisions of this section, which schedule may be changed from time to time as the Council shall deem necessary or expedient. The fees shall be paid by the person making the installation prior to installation. No television antenna shall be installed or repaired until a permit to do so shall have been issued by proper authority.
(D) Application to existing antennas. Every television or radio receiving antenna erected prior to the effective date of this section may be maintained and operated in its present location, unless the antenna is so constructed, located and maintained as to be unsafe and dangerous as determined by the Electrical Inspector as provided in divisions (C)(1) and (C)(2) above; provided that, all repairs to antenna shall be made in accord with the provisions of this section.
(Ord. 86, effective 8-20-1955)