Prevent condensation in rooftop celluar equipment due to boiler venting.

[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.

 

[btrueblood]

It would probably be simpler and cheaper to relocate the cell equipment (who thought it would be a good idea to co-locate it with a combustion gas stack?).

 

[robertjo24]

Have you looked into extending heat trace to the cellular equipment to prevent condensation and ice?

 

[katwalatapan]

Extending the heat trace away from the cellular equipment using PVC pipe extension is also a possibility with supports fastened on the roof. I'm checking what the code allows in terms of distance of extension. Thank you.

 

[katwalatapan]

If the cellular transceiver antenna is exposed to a lot of vent plume, would it be of any concern (electrical or mechanical) if the antenna is installed on a monolpole on the rooftop?

 

[robertjo24]

No concern from an electrical perspective, but i would watch out for corrosion. It depends upon whats in teh vewnt plume, but if you get alot of corrosion, it sould start to cause you problems.