TABLE OF CONTENTS Telecommunications equipment comes in all shapes and sizes. To properly protect that equipment, shelters are designed and often custom built to house it. Different materials can be used to construct the shelters, including metal frames, concrete, wood frames, and lightweight insulated materials. Each type of material offers benefits for particular environmental conditions and site locations. Wireless operators require shelters that precisely fit their needs, so shelter manufacturers must be flexible enough to design customized shelters. Strict zoning regulations, and the fact that most prime locations are already occupied, will require manufacturers to make shelters that can be positioned virtually anywhere or to use small cabinets for the telecom equipment infrastructure.
Shelters erected on the top of a 40-story building may need to withstand strong gusts of wind similar to those built for hurricane-prone areas. Bullet- and vandal-proof shelter and cabinet design are also quite often required; all shelters and cabinets must pass certain ballistics requirements as per Bellcore recommendations. To keep the equipment within a telecommunications shelter in proper working order, it is important to control temperature levels in the shelter. Temperature control units often are initially integrated into a shelter, but they can also be added to a structure to create the proper system conditions. In colder climates, the insulation is increased. If the shelter is placed beneath a tower in an area where ice is common, the building's construction material must be able to withstand ice falling from the tower. Common problems...
