SITE PLANNING – HAZARDS AND LIABILITIES OF WIRELESS
TELECOMMUNICATIONS BASE STATION INSTALLATIONS
This link contains URL's for articles from
various industry and government web sites that discuss safety hazards and
liability issues from wireless telecommunications installations. These
include back-up battery problems including fire, explosion, and leaking of
sulfuric acid as well as liability for RF interference with a variety of
industrial, medical and home electronic equipment in the neighborhood and real
estate property devaluation.
These articles can help to build the "public safety" and
"preserving property values" arguments and provide "substantial
evidence in a written record" to deny permits for wireless
telecommunications facilities in close proximity to schools, homes, and day
care and nursing home facilities such as on the community water tower, as well
as those proposed for existing structures such as roof tops, historic
structures and churches. The equipment shelter/hut that is required for the
operation of the antennas presents a clear hazard to the safety of the
neighborhood. The cost of liability insurance to cover all of these
hazards along with decreases in property values should discourage churches and
historic sites from hosting wireless facilities despite the promise of revenue
from the wireless provider.
BATTERY HAZARDS
Several of the authors of these articles were asked
to describe a typical battery array for a cellular or PCS base station
supporting an antenna site. Typically
there are 16 one hundred pound, Lead-Acid 48 volt batteries that are most often
filled with sulfuric acid. Their
chemistry is similar to automobile batteries. There is some controversy
as to whether the EPA regulation which requires notification of the presence of
hazardous materials to local fire and safety authorities should apply.
Sulfuric Acid is on the EPA list of "Extremely Hazardous Substances"
and is present in an array of 16 batteries in sufficient amount to require this
notification. As more and more antennas are sited on rooftops, in
steeples, and in residential neighborhoods, notification becomes more critical.
http://www.calicorp.com/articles/batteries-hazards.html
Lead-Acid Battery Hazards
http://www.ncs.gov/n5_hp/information_Assurance/HazSec2.htm
Web site of the National Communications System (NCS). In 1962 after
the Cuban missile crisis, President Kennedy directed the National Security
Council (NSC) to form this interdepartmental committee to examine the
communications networks and institute changes. NCS keeps ongoing records
of all hazards that have effected telecommunications systems in the United
States.
From this on-line NCS Report - 2.0
NATURAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL HAZARDS:
This section provides information concerning major natural and
technological hazard threats to NS/EP telecommunications and supporting
systems.
2.2.1.3 Experiential Data
Properties wholly dedicated to computer or telecommunications activities
are actually a comparatively small part of the U.S. fire problem. From1990 to
1994, computer and data processing centers annually averaged 29 structure
fires, no reported deaths, 1 injury, and $1.31 million in direct property
damage. All communications, defense, and document facilities combine -
including defense radio and radar sites, police and fire communications
centers, telephone exchanges, and document centers and record repositories-
annually averaged 249 structure fires, no deaths, 6 injuries, and $7.21 million
in direct property damage. The large problem actually occurs in electronic
equipment rooms or areas where more than 1,000 structure fires are reported
each year to U.S. fire departments.
See section entitled "1994 Los Angeles Telephone Exchange
Fire" and paragraph under Table 2-8 Causes of Fires at
Telecommunications Facilities.
http://www.telecomclick.com
Type in "A battery for all seasons?" in the SEARCH box.
Click on GO.
http://www.calicorp.com/advisory.htm
Advisory: Lead-acid Batteries
http://www.telecomclick.com
Type in "Power Struggle: Battling over battery technologies" in
the SEARCH box. Click on GO.
http://www.zomeworks.com/tech/H2/H2FAQ.html
Hydrogen FAQ [This article discusses how complex proper
venting of a battery shelter/room is. This company sells shelters as well as
designs to properly vent existing shelters.]
"What is the danger of explosion during battery charging?
Battery rooms and cabinets are
notorious for explosions when hydrogen created by electrolysis and mixed with
oxygen is ignited by a spark.
The proliferation of back up
batteries at communications sites has spread the hazard from the private
concern of the battery's users to the public at large. Battery cabinets,
vaults, and rooms are now scattered like time bombs all around the world, many
where explosion could injure or kill unaware bystanders. The danger is not
imagined. Many vaults have exploded and recently a communications shelter in
Yuma, Arizona, exploded shattering the windows of a neighboring house..."
http://www.powerquality.com/art0060/art1.htm
From the industry journal, Power Quality Journal.
The cogent point in this article is in the first paragraph:
". . . Most battery owners, including some of the biggest companies is the
country, do not follow IEEE recommendations. They claim that the full program
is too expensive. That is short-term thinking and sooner or later they will pay
for it."
http://www.calicorp.com/articles/open-house.html
Fire Department Safety Officers Association - "Open House" Battery
Incident
http://www.firehouse.com/news/2000/6/14_APstate.html
Fire Knocks Out State Department Phones
http://www.wa.gov/lni/news/pr051800.htm
All telecommunications contractors must register with Labor & Industry by
June 8
http://www.telecomclick.com
Type "Powering wireless telecom basestations" in the SEARCH
box. Click on "GO."
http://www.ospmag.com/features/1999/h2_ohno.htm
H2-OhNo! Hydrogen Build-Up Can Cause Battery Cabinets to EXPLODE
http://www.telecomclick.com
Type in "Flirting with disaster" in SEARCH box. Click on GO.
http://www.calicorp.com/articles/osha_special_equip.htm
Electrical Safety Requirements for Special Equipment -
OSHA Regulatory Profile - Special Equipment
http://www.calicorp.com/articles/batteries-buildings.html
Lead-Acid Batteries in Buildings
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS OF BATTERY CHEMICALS
http://www.calicorp.com/articles/osha-articles.html
Industrial Lead-Acid Batteries Are Not Considered "Articles"
http://www.calicorp.com/epa_news_release.htm
EPA News Release - Ten Telecommunications Companies Voluntarily Disclose and
Correct Environmental Violations
http://es.epa.gov/oeca/ore/enfalert/vol3num6.html
EPA's "Audit Policy" Offers Opportunity for Telecommunications
Industry to Remedy Violations
http://www.americasnetwork.com/issues/2000supplements/20000915cc/cc20000915_finesprint.htm
Smart builders: The Fine(s) Print - EPA takes kindly to telecom
companies that catch and report their own mistakes
RADIO FREQUENCY RADIATION LIABILITY ISSUES - RF IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
http://www.telecomclick.com
Type in "The case for testing electromagnetic radiation at the mobile
radio sites" in the SEARCH box. Click GO.
From the United Kingdom-based web site of The Institution of Electrical
Engineers. IEE represents the public, professional and educational interest
of over 140,000 electrical, electronic and manufacturing engineers world-wide.
Key activities include publishing, the organization of conferences, the
maintenance of technical standards, interaction with government departments and
the provision of scientific and technical information services.
http://www.iee.org.uk/PAB/EMC/core.htm
IEE Guidance Document on EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) and Functional
Safety
[From "Introduction and Purpose"]
"One of the problems
peculiar to all electronic technologies is electromagnetic (EM)
interference. All electrical and electronic technologies emit EM
disturbances that can interfere with the correct operation of
radio-communications or other electronics. Modern electronic technologies
are in general more likely to cause such disturbances than those they replace.
All electronic technologies can
also suffer from degraded functionality (including complete failure) when
exposed to EM disturbances. Modern electronic technologies are in general
more likely to be susceptible in this way than those they replace. . .
Electronic technology is
increasingly used in safety-related applications. Consequently, errors
and misoperation of electronic devices due to inadequate EMC can result in
hazardous situations with an increased risk of harm to people's health and
safety."
REAL ESTATE DEVALUATION
http://www.appraisalinstitute.org/pubs/aipub125.htm
The Home Environmental Sourcebook: 50 Environmental Hazards to Avoid
When Buying, Selling, or Maintaining a Home.
Although published in 1996, it is currently out of print. Try to borrow a
copy from your state's Appraisal Board's library. Wireless base stations
are included in the list of 50.
http://www.abanet.org/publicserv/envguide.html
1998 American Bar Association Annual Meeting - Environmental Law Activities
Session on Monday, August 3, 1998 - Stigmas, Contamination and the Environment:
Their Influence on Property Valuation for Tax Purposes. Microwave and
cellular towers are included in the list of stigmas.