Left to their own devices, carriers will utilize the leased space in whatever fashion they determine best meets their bottom line, sometimes eliminating the opportunity for the building owner to lease to other carriers. While rarely done intentionally, installing equipment as inexpensively as possible is a standard cost-cutting measure and may restrict the ability to grant space to other wireless antenna equipment companies.
Another issue inherent in rooftop leasing is the physical attachment to the roof or parapet of the building. Once again, the carrier will look for the easiest and least expensive way to install the equipment. Sometimes, this installation may void roofing warranties; other times, it may cause leaking. Forcing a carrier to repair this kind of damage can be quite difficult and in some cases impossible, since the carrier may claim the roof was installed improperly when the building was originally constructed or renovated.
All rooftop tenants should be obligated to provide a structural analysis that confirms that the building frame will be capable of supporting the additional loading of the equipment being placed on the roof, which can often exceed 3,000 pounds.
We caution our clients to evaluate carefully before entering a lease how the installation of coaxial cables, remote radio units, towers, and antennas on rooftops will impact them. If you have questions, we at Steel in the Air are here to assist you in exploring these options to determine which is the best and safest for you. We will bring all the practical experience we’ve gained from helping over 3,000 + landowners and rooftop owners to evaluate your unique situation. We can review the proposed drawings and confirm what is best for the building owner.
