Old Dominion Services certifies wind-resistant tower design for Savory Industries

The Grayson County Planning Commission meeting on June 17, 2025, focused on the engineering certification for a new telecommunications tower. The discussion highlighted the tower's design specifications, which include a basic wind speed capacity of 160 miles per hour and an ice risk factor rating of 2. This certification was provided by Old Dominion Services and adheres to the Telecommunications Industry Association standards.

The engineering report detailed potential failure modes of the tower under extreme wind conditions. It indicated that if wind speeds exceed the tower's safety limits, localized buckling could occur, particularly in the upper sections of the structure. This failure would likely result in a portion of the tower collapsing onto itself, but the report reassured that such an event would have a limited fall radius of 100 feet by 100 feet within the designated lease area.

The certification was signed by Robert Beacom, a professional engineer licensed in Virginia, confirming the tower's compliance with safety standards. This meeting underscored the importance of ensuring structural integrity in telecommunications infrastructure, particularly in areas prone to severe weather conditions. The Planning Commission will continue to monitor the project as it progresses.