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Obstruction Lights ICAO standards

ICAO standards for obstruction lights, Chapter 6 of ICAO Annex 14

ICAO Standards for Obstruction Lights: Ensuring Safety in Aviation

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) sets strict standards for obstruction lighting to ensure the safety of aircraft in flight. Obstruction lights are used to mark tall structures like telecom towers, transmission lines, and buildings that pose potential hazards to aircraft. These lights must be visible to pilots from a distance, regardless of weather or time of day.

Types of Obstruction Lights

ICAO defines several types of obstruction lights based on intensity and purpose:

  1. Low-Intensity Lights: These are used for structures under 45 meters in height. They emit a steady red light and are visible during nighttime.
  2. Medium-Intensity Lights: These are suitable for structures between 45 to 150 meters. They flash white during the day and red at night.
  3. High-Intensity Lights: For structures taller than 150 meters, high-intensity lights flash white and are visible in all conditions.

Chapter 6 of ICAO Annex 14 Volume I “Aerodrome Design and Operations”, ICAO regulates obstacle lighting’s photometric characteristics. Furthermore some recommendations are clarified about how to deploy obstruction lights for different heights of structures. Aviation Warning Light’s intensity characteristics and recommended configuration are referenced from ICAO Annex 14 Volume I “Aerodrome Design and Operations”, 8th Edition, July 2018.

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Photometric characteristics and distributions of obstacle lights

Light TypeColorSignal type (flash rate)Peak intensity (cd) at given background luminanceVertical beam spreadVertical elevation angle (minimum requirements)
Day (Above 500cd/m2)Twilight (50- 500cd/m2)Night (Below 50cd/m2)
Low-intensity, Type A (fixed obstacle)RedFixedN/AN/A≥10cd≥10°+2° - +10°
Low-intensity, Type B (fixed obstacle)RedFixedN/AN/A≥32cd≥10°+2° - +10°
Low-intensity, Type C (mobile obstacle)Yellow/BlueFlashing (60-90fpm)N/A≥40cd≥40cd & ≤400cd≥12°+2° - +20°
Low-intensity, Type D (follow-me obstacle)YellowFlashing (60-90fpm)N/A≥200cd≥200cd & ≤400cdN/AN/A
Low-intensity, Type E (fixed obstacle)RedFlashing (20-60fpm)N/AN/A≥32cd≥10°+2° - +10°

Light TypeColorSignal type (flash rate)Peak intensity (cd) at given background luminanceVertical beam spread (min. requirements)Vertical beam spread (recommended requirements)Intensity at Vertical elevation angle (minimum requirements)Intensity at Vertical elevation angle (recommended requirements)
Day (Above 500cd/m2)Twilight (50- 500cd/m2)Night (Below 50cd/m2)0°-1°0°-1°-10°
Medium-intensity, Type AWhiteFlashing (20-60fpm)20,000cd±25%2,000cd±25%2,000cd±25%≥3°NADay: mean: ≥20,000cd, min.: ≥15,000cd;Night: mean: ≥2,000cd, min.: ≥1,500cd;Day: ≥7,500cd; Night: ≥750cd;Day: ≤25,000cd; Night: ≤2,500cdDay: ≤11,250cd; Night: 1,125cdDay: ≤750cd; Night: ≤75cd
Medium-intensity, Type BRedFlashing (20-60fpm)N/AN/A2,000cd±25%≥3°NAmean: ≥2,000cd, min.: ≥1,500cd;≥750cd≤2,500cd≤1,125cd≤75cd
Medium-intensity, Type CRedFixedN/AN/A2,000cd±25%≥3°NAmean: ≥2,000cd, min.: ≥1,500cd;≥750cd≤2,500cd≤1,125cd≤75cd
High-intensity, Type AWhiteFlashing (40-60fpm)200,000cd±25%20,000cd±25%2,000cd±25%≥3°≤7°Day: mean: ≥200,000cd, min.: ≥150,000cd; Twilight: mean: ≥20,000cd, min.: ≥15,000cd; Night: mean: ≥2,000cd, min.: ≥1,500cd;Day: ≥75,000cd; Twilight: 7,500cd Night: ≥750cd;Day: ≤250,000cd; Twilight: ≤25,000cd; Night: ≤2,500cdDay: ≤112,500cd; Twilight: ≤11,250cd; Night: ≤1,125cdDay: ≤7,500cd; Twilight: ≤750cd; Night: ≤75cd
High-intensity, Type BWhiteFlashing (40-60fpm)100,000cd±25%20,000cd±25%2,000cd±25%≥3°≤7°Day: mean: ≥100,000cd, min.: ≥75,000cd; Twilight: mean: ≥20,000cd, min.: ≥15,000cd; Night: mean: ≥2,000cd, min.: ≥1,500cd;Day: ≥37,500cd; Twilight: 7,500cd Night: ≥750cd;Day: ≤125,000cd; Twilight: ≤25,000cd; Night: ≤2,500cdDay: ≤56,250cd; Twilight: ≤11,250cd; Night: ≤1,125cdDay: ≤3,750cd; Twilight: ≤750cd; Night: ≤75cd

Light Placement and Visibility

According to ICAO standards, obstruction lights must be placed at the highest points of the structure. If the tower or building has multiple levels, lights should also be installed at intermediate heights to ensure full visibility. For large structures, lights must be arranged so they are visible from all angles of approach.

The intensity of the light should be strong enough to ensure visibility during day and night. ICAO mandates that lights must be visible for a minimum distance, depending on their intensity. For example, high-intensity lights should be visible from up to 20 kilometers away during the day.

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Importance of ICAO Compliance

Adhering to ICAO standards is essential for ensuring that obstruction lights meet global safety requirements. The standards guarantee that aircraft, especially those flying at low altitudes, can easily identify potential hazards. Non-compliance could lead to accidents, so using lights that meet these standards is crucial.

Power Supply and Backup

Obstruction lights must be powered by a reliable source. ICAO also recommends having backup power systems, such as generators or batteries, in case of power failure. This ensures continuous operation even during outages, protecting aircraft and infrastructure.

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Conclusion

ICAO standards for obstruction lights ensure safety in aviation by clearly marking hazards in flight paths. Whether it’s a telecom tower or a tall building, complying with these regulations guarantees that the structure is visible to pilots, reducing the risk of collisions.

As part of its comprehensive telecom and infrastructure solutions, MTS Tower offers a range of ICAO-compliant obstruction lights, designed to ensure maximum visibility and safety. Our obstruction lights are engineered to meet international standards, providing consistent performance in both urban and remote locations.

MTS Tower also provides turnkey solutions for installation and maintenance of these lights, ensuring they meet ICAO standards for placement, intensity, and power reliability. In addition, MTS Tower supplies generator sets as backup power sources for obstruction lighting systems, ensuring continuous operation in case of power failure.

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Galvanization Process of Telecom Towers

Understanding the Galvanization Process of Telecom Towers

Maximizing Durability and Corrosion Protections

The galvanization process is a vital part of manufacturing telecom towers, ensuring long-term protection against harsh environmental conditions. Steel towers, especially in the telecommunications industry, face constant exposure to weather, moisture, and other corrosive elements. To prevent structural degradation and extend their service life, galvanizing the steel is essential. This process enhances the durability of telecom towers, reduces maintenance costs, and complies with international standards.

The Importance of Galvanic Protection

Galvanic protection is a method that shields steel towers from rust and corrosion. It involves coating the surface with a protective layer of zinc through galvanization, creating a barrier that prevents harmful reactions between the steel and environmental factors. Zinc acts as a sacrificial metal, corroding before the steel itself, ensuring long-lasting protection.

Telecom towers often serve critical infrastructure functions, and corrosion can lead to failure or even collapse if not properly mitigated. Galvanic protection offers a practical solution, protecting against galvanic corrosion—a process that occurs when two dissimilar metals are in contact in the presence of an electrolyte. Since steel is prone to rust when expose to moisture, this protection is crucial in outdoor telecom installations.

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How Galvanization Maximizes the Lifespan of Telecom Towers

Galvanizing your telecom towers increases their lifespan significantly. During the galvanization process, steel components are dipped in molten zinc, forming a metallurgical bond. This zinc coating shields the steel from exposure to corrosive elements such as rain, salt, and pollution. In regions with harsh climates or heavy industrial activity, the towers need extra protection, which galvanization provides.

The coating also serves as a secondary layer of protection. Even if the zinc layer gets damage, it corrodes at a slower rate than steel. This self-healing property ensures long-term structural integrity, reducing the need for frequent repairs or replacements.

Understanding Galvanic Corrosion and Its Prevention

Galvanic corrosion occurs when two different metals are in contact with each other and an electrolyte. To prevent this on steel telecom towers, galvanization creates a uniform zinc layer. This zinc layer corrodes instead of the steel, offering sacrificial protection.

Preventing galvanic corrosion also requires using high-quality connections and bolts that are similarly treated or coated to avoid reactions between dissimilar metals. By ensuring compatibility among materials, tower integrity is maintained over the long term.

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Methods of Protection for Steel Towers

In addition to galvanization, there are other ways to protect steel telecom towers from corrosion. One of these is applying protective coatings, such as paint or powder coatings, which can be layered over the galvanized surface. Another method includes using corrosion inhibitors and installing tower components in environments with controlled humidity levels.

However, the most effective long-term protection remains the galvanization process. It requires little maintenance compared to other methods, making it cost-effective for tower owners and operators. The durability of a well-galvanized telecom tower ensures it will stand strong for decades, often without needing major repairs.

International Standards for Galvanization of Telecom Towers

Galvanizing steel telecom towers must comply with strict international standards to ensure consistent quality and protection. The most common standards include:

  • ISO 1461: This standard specifies the requirements for hot-dip galvanized coatings on fabricated iron and steel articles. It ensures uniform coating thickness and quality.
  • ASTM A123: An American standard that defines specifications for zinc coatings on iron and steel products.
  • EN 1090: A European standard that includes specifications for the execution of steel structures, including surface protection methods like galvanization.

These international standards ensure that the towers meet quality benchmarks and are prepared for various environmental challenges.

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Conclusion

Galvanization plays a critical role in ensuring the durability and longevity of telecom towers. The process not only protects against corrosion but also adheres to international standards that guarantee safety and reliability. With galvanic protection in place, telecom towers can operate in even the most demanding environments without compromising performance. As the telecommunications industry continues to expand, choosing the right corrosion protection method, like galvanization, is key to reducing long-term costs and maintaining operational integrity.