[katwalatapan]

Hello,

I wanted to inquire regarding possible options to prevent condensation of rooftop cellular antenna installation due to venting of boilers in very cold climates.

In a high-rise building, we have natural gas fired boilers in a rooftop penthouse and the vents are through the side wall of the penthouse. There is cellular antenna equipment along the side wall of the penthouse installed very close to the vent terminations and there is a possible chance of condensation and ice built up in the electrical equipment in very cold climate.

One alternative is to re-route the vent somehow by installing a roof curb and through the roof. I would like to know of any other cheaper alternative that may include protection of the electrical equipment that may work to prevent condensation of equipment due to venting or other alternative that may be applicable.

Thank you.

 

[backstay]

If the equipment is outside it should be fine. We would install small strip heaters inside cabinets. We never had a problem and had a lot of frost blown in across open water in -40 temps. Build-up on the equipment causing mechanical failure is another issue.

 

[katwalatapan]

So generally if the cellular antenna installed on a monopole on the rooftop, if exposed to a lot of vent plume, may be alright. I wanted to understand any problems that may occur due to the antenna being exposed to the vent plume, because it is already exposed to the elements.

 

[8V71]

So generally if the cellular antenna installed on a monopole on the rooftop, if exposed to a lot of vent plume, may be alright. I wanted to understand any problems that may occur due to the antenna being exposed to the vent plume, because it is already exposed to the elements.

Are you just asking about the antenna only? I could see very thick ice building up on the antenna If it's in the path of the vent.

 

[katwalatapan]

Would the ice buildup cause any problems electrical/mechanical with the antenna or the RTU if it is in the path of the vent? Both the antenna and RTU are exposed to the elements anyways?

 

[8V71]

Would the ice buildup cause any problems electrical/mechanical with the antenna or the RTU if it is in the path of the vent? Both the antenna and RTU are exposed to the elements anyways?

The antenna manufacturer will give you the ice specs. I don't know what to tell you about the RTU.

 

[macmikeman]

 

[hheaddon]

The vent products are highly corrosive. The equipment mfg should have the specs on the venting arrangement's and how they should be run, and who put what equip in first? The acid products in those exhaust gases would eat up electronic parts pretty quick. The venting coming out is stainless I would think. It would be better to get the vent tops up and above any problem's. Again the mfg's install guides would tell how far and the number of elbows the venting would be limited to.