SAFI™ - Structural Engineering Software
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40 years of trusted, productive engineering.

Telecom Tower Analysis & Design Software

Analyze and design self-supporting lattice towers, guyed masts and monopoles to ANSI/TIA-222-I and CSA S37-24, with automatic wind and ice loads, antenna and feed line libraries, and vortex shedding fatigue checks.

Built for telecom structural engineers

3D Structural Analysis Software for Communication Towers

SAFI™ Telecom is a dedicated 3D structural analysis and design program for antenna-supporting structures: self-supporting lattice towers (3- and 4-sided), guyed masts, and tapered or stepped monopoles.

Build your tower with parametric generators, add antennas, dishes and feed lines from built-in libraries, and let the software generate wind, ice, dead and thermal loads to ANSI/TIA-222-I or CSA S37-24 automatically.

Every member is checked to code, including fatigue and vortex shedding checks for monopoles, and compiled into editable, professional reports, whether you’re designing a new structure or re-analyzing an existing tower for new antenna loading.

  • Lattice towers
  • Guyed masts
  • Monopoles
See pricing
SAFI Telecom 3D model of a lattice telecom tower with antennas, feed lines and wind load results

Engineered for productivity

Why Engineers Choose SAFI™ Telecom

Purpose-built for telecom structures, from load generation to final report, so you spend less time setting up models and more time engineering.

  • Both North American codes in one program

    Design to ANSI/TIA-222-I and CSA S37-24, with built-in US county and Canadian climatic databases for wind and ice.

  • Automatic wind and ice loads

    Drag coefficients, gust factors and ice thickness are calculated automatically for every member, antenna, dish and feed line.

  • Towers, masts and monopoles in minutes

    Parametric generators and panel libraries build full 3D models of lattice towers, guyed masts and monopoles, including antennas and feed lines.

  • Analysis built for telecom

    P-Delta, nonlinear, buckling and exact catenary cable analysis for guys, plus CSA S37 Annex N tower dynamics and vortex shedding checks.

Watch the Full Telecom Tower Design Workflow in SAFI™ Telecom

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Free webinar video

A complete walkthrough presented by a structural engineer. Register today to receive your free webinar directly in your inbox.

In this video

  1. How lattice towers, guyed masts and monopoles are modeled
  2. How TIA-222-I and CSA S37-24 wind and ice loads are generated automatically
  3. How code checks and professional reports are produced

Structure types

One Program for Every Telecom Structure Lattice Towers, Guyed Masts & Monopoles

Model, analyze and design the three main types of antenna-supporting structures to ANSI/TIA-222-I and CSA S37-24, each with dedicated generators, section libraries and code checks.

  • Self-Supporting Lattice Towers

    Generate 3- and 4-sided lattice towers from panel libraries, then add antennas, dishes and feed lines in a few clicks.

    • Parametric tower and panel generation
    • Rolled and cold-formed 60° and 90° angles, HSS, pipes and rounds
    • Tension-only bracing and buckling checks
  • Guyed Masts & Guyed Towers

    Analyze guyed masts with exact nonlinear catenary cable elements, so guy behavior, sag and pretension are captured accurately.

    • Linear and exact nonlinear catenary elements
    • P-Delta and static nonlinear analysis
    • Wind and ice loads on guys, mast and appurtenances
  • Tapered & Stepped Monopoles

    Generate monopoles from tubular sections and check them for strength, fatigue and vortex shedding to TIA-222 and CSA S37 Annex N.

    • 8-, 12-, 16-, 18-, 20-, 24-sided and round sections
    • Fatigue analysis and vortex shedding checks
    • Anchor rod design to ASCE 48

Capabilities

Core Features for Telecom Tower Design

From automatic load generation to editable reports, every step of telecom tower analysis and design in one integrated Windows desktop program.

Automatic Wind & Ice Load Generation to TIA-222 and CSA S37

Define the site once and SAFI™ Telecom generates every code load case and combination for the entire structure.

  • Wind and ice loads on members, dishes, antennas and feed lines
  • Dead, wind, ice and thermal load cases and load combinations generated automatically
  • US county listings of design criteria for wind, wind with ice, and ice
  • Databases of wind, ice and spectral accelerations for US states, counties and Canadian provinces
  • Automatic drag coefficients, gust factors, topographic parameters and ice escalation per TIA-222
  • Uniform or user-defined wind pressure profiles, uniform ice thickness profile
  • Manual joint, member, surface and plate loads (concentrated, uniform, trapezoidal and thermal)
  • Loads displayed graphically, with detailed wind and ice parameters in numerical tables
Automatic wind and ice load generation to ANSI/TIA-222-I on a lattice telecom tower in SAFI Telecom

Parametric Tower Modeling & Built-in Libraries

The parametric wizard generates complete 3D tower models in minutes, including main members, diagonals, diaphragms and rigid connections.

  • Automatic generation of 3- and 4-sided lattice towers, guyed masts and monopoles
  • Full 3D modeling of structural and mounted components
  • Panel Editor for custom panels, or a library of standard panel designs
  • Libraries of materials, sections, panels and attachments
  • Antennas, dishes, feed lines, guys and transmission wires as discrete or linear attachments
  • Automatic feed line generation for lattice towers
  • Monopole generator with real-time, to-scale previews and automatic member subdivision
  • Paraboloid dishes (with radome or shroud), grid, flat and round antennas
Parametric lattice tower generator with panel library and antennas in SAFI Telecom

Advanced Structural Analysis for Towers, Guys & Monopoles

State-of-the-art analysis methods capture the real behavior of lattice towers, guyed masts and monopoles.

  • Finite element analysis (FEA), including plate and shell elements
  • Static linear, P-Delta, static nonlinear and buckling analysis
  • Nonlinear analysis using load control and displacement control strategies
  • Natural frequencies, static equivalent seismic, and seismic and dynamic time-history analysis
  • Linear and exact nonlinear catenary cable elements for guys
  • Automatic handling of tension-only members
  • Direct Analysis Method (DAM) and Effective Length Method (kL) for AISC 360
  • Non-structural components (spatial objects and spatial loads) with automatic dead, ice and wind loads
3D structural analysis results of a telecom tower with P-Delta and nonlinear analysis in SAFI Telecom

Code Checks, Fatigue & Connection Design

Members, bolted connections and anchor rods are checked to TIA-222 and CSA S37, including fatigue and vortex shedding.

  • Slenderness, buckling length, tension and compression checks
  • Optional LRFD checks for bending, shear, torsion, warping and combined forces
  • Bolted connections in shear, bearing and block shear
  • Anchor rods and base plates with fatigue checks (ASCE 48-11 and TIA-222-H Annex Q methods)
  • Fatigue thresholds for joints and base plates, with integrated fatigue load calculation
  • Tower dynamics, fatigue gust and vortex shedding loads per CSA S37 Annex N
  • Rolled and cold-formed 60° and 90° angles, HSS, pipes, rounds and 8- to 24-sided tubular sections
  • Profile optimization and equivalent loads on footings
Monopole generator with fatigue parameters for tapered and stepped monopoles in SAFI Telecom

Animated Results & Editable Professional Reports

See exactly how your tower behaves, then deliver clear, customized reports to your clients.

  • Animated static, P-Delta, buckling, seismic and dynamic results
  • Displacements, internal forces, stresses, reactions, mode shapes and time-history data
  • Animated envelopes that highlight critical regions
  • Limit states shown in color on the 3D model or in spreadsheets
  • Results displayed graphically or numerically, for the whole structure or a selection
  • Custom reports with editable titles, table reordering, templates and saved layouts
  • Export to Microsoft Word and Excel, plus SAFI™ reports, Access and ASCII formats
  • Graphics printed or copied to the clipboard for use in other programs
Editable custom report of telecom tower results exported to Word and Excel in SAFI Telecom

Intuitive Ribbon-Based Desktop Interface

A Windows desktop interface built for productivity, from the first sketch to the final check.

  • Ribbon-based graphical interface powered by DirectX 11 and OpenGL 2.0
  • Models displayed as lines, wireframes or 3D solids
  • Transparency options for members, plates, surfaces, spatial objects and panels
  • Powerful editing tools to model complex and non-standard towers
  • Metric, imperial and mixed unit systems, changeable at any time
SAFI Telecom ribbon-based desktop interface with a 3D lattice telecom tower model

Core features of SAFI™ Telecom software

A structural analysis and design software for professional telecommunication engineers.

Load generation in compliance with TIA-222 & CSA S37

•  Automatic calculation of wind and ice loads on members, dishes, antennas, and feedlines.
• Automatic generations of dead, wind, ice, thermal loads cases and load combinations.
•  Uniform wind pressure profile and uniform thickness ice profile.
•  User-defined wind pressure profiles.
• United States county listings of design criteria for wind, wind with ice, and ice.
• Databases of wind, ice, and spectral accelerations for specified states, counties and provinces in the United States and Canada.
• Loading for joints, members including concentrated, uniform, trapezoidal and thermal loads.
• Loading for surfaces and finite element plates.
• Automatic calculation of drag coefficients, gust factors, topographic parameters and escalate ice thickness according to TIA-222.
• Display loads graphically and detailed wind and ice loads parameters can be displayed in numerical tables.
Telecom Towers Structural Analysis and Design (ANSI/TIA-222-I and CSA S37-24)
Telecom Towers Structural Analysis and Design (ANSI/TIA-222-I and CSA S37-24)

Robust and comprehensive structural analysis

Telecom software features comprehensive state-of-the-art structural analysis methods, including:

• Finite Elements Analysis (FEA) including plates and shell elements

• P-Delta Analysis, Linear and Nonlinear Analysis, Buckling Analysis

• Static Equivalent Seismic Analysis, Seismic and Dynamic Time-History Analysis

• Non-linear analysis using load control and displacement control strategy

• Linear and exact non-linear cable elements

• Direct Analysis Method (DAM) and the Effective Length Method (kL) for AISC 360

• Possibility to add non-structural components using Spatial Objects and Spatial Loads to automatically calculate dead, ice, and wind loads

Review the engineering workflow for guyed tower cable analysis.

Parametric lattice tower generation

Build complete lattice tower models with automated 3D generation and integrated engineering libraries.

• Full 3D modeling of structural and mounted components
• Parametric workflows for rapid tower generation
• Integrated libraries for panels, materials, sections, and attachments
• Custom panel creation with the panel editor
• Support for discrete or linear attachments such as antennas, dishes, feedlines, guys, and transmission wires, diagonals, diaphragms.

Telecom Towers Structural Analysis and Design (ANSI/TIA-222-I and CSA S37-24)
Telecom Towers Structural Analysis and Design (ANSI/TIA-222-I and CSA S37-24)

Automated telecom towers, masts, and monopoles generation

• Automatic generation of 3-sided and 4-sided lattice towers, guyed masts, and monopoles
• Automatic feedline generation for lattice tower structures
• Built-in databases for cables, dishes, antennas, and transmission wires
• Extensive panel libraries and parametric modeling workflows
• Powerful load generator wizard and automated wind and ice load generation
• Integrated analysis, design checks, and structural visualization tools

Monopole generation with fatigue analysis

Generate tapered and stepped monopole structures using parametric workflows and integrated fatigue analysis tools.
• Automatic monopole generation from key dimensions and parameters
• Support for tapered and stepped monopole configurations
• Real-time, to-scale structural previews
• Automatic subdivision of physical members
• Fatigue threshold definition for joints and base plates
• Integrated fatigue load calculation workflows
Telecom Towers Structural Analysis and Design (ANSI/TIA-222-I and CSA S37-24)
SAFI Structural Analysis software Results Animation

Structural insights animation

SAFI™ Telecom software allows users to animate analysis results, including static, P-Delta, buckling, seismic, and dynamic analyses. This visualization highlights displacements, internal forces, stresses, reactions, mode shapes, and time-history data, offering clear insights into structural behavior.

Animating envelopes focuses on critical regions, simplifying complex data for better decision-making during dynamic events.

Executive custom reporting - editable professional reports

SAFI™ Telecom software offers advanced custom reporting tools, enabling users to create tailored, professional reports with ease. With options to select relevant data, add individual or multiple tables, and customize settings, users can design layouts that meet specific project needs.

Editable titles, table reordering, and predefined templates enhance efficiency, while saved custom layouts streamline future reporting. Reports can be customized and exported to Microsoft Word and Excel, streamlining workflows.

SAFI Structural Analysis software Custom Reports
Telecom Towers Structural Analysis and Design (ANSI/TIA-222-I and CSA S37-24)

Intuitive graphical ribbon-based interface

SAFI™ Telecom software features an intuitive, ribbon-based graphical user interface powered by DirectX 11 and OpenGL 2.0 for enhanced performance. Users can efficiently create, analyze, and design complex models, visualized as lines, wireframes, or 3D solids.

Users benefit from key functionalities such as detailed element creation, and transparency options for components like members, plates, surfaces, spatial objects and panels.

Additionally, powerful edition features allow to model very complex and non-standards towers. The software supports metric, imperial, and mixed unit systems, which can be modified at any time. 

Streamlined modeling with Telecom's advanced tools

SAFI™ Telecom software provides powerful and efficient tools for creating diverse latticed structure models. Engineers can streamline their modeling process with the parametric wizard generator and extensive panel libraries. The automatic model generator creates complete 3D tower models, including main members, diagonals, diaphragms, and rigid connections.

Users can customize panels with the intuitive Panel Editor or choose from a robust library of standard panel designs. Furthermore, the standard libraries offer a wide selection of materials and sections, enhancing convenience and flexibility.

Telecom Towers Structural Analysis and Design (ANSI/TIA-222-I and CSA S37-24)
SAFI Structural Analysis software Custom Reports

Comprehensive results visualization

Results and input data can be visualized, printed, and exported with flexible options for customization, reporting formats, and graphics sharing.
• Visualize results graphically or numerically.
• Print input data and results for the entire structure or specific parts using graphical selection or element ranges.
• Customize lists of input data and results for printing.
• Reports available in multiple formats: SAFI™ reports, Excel, Access, and ASCII text files.
• Graphics can be printed or copied to the clipboard for use in other programs.

GET STARTED

Explore SAFI™ Telecom with our engineering team

Request product and licensing information for your tower design workflow. Learn how SAFI™ Telecom models, loads and checks lattice towers, guyed masts and monopoles to ANSI/TIA-222-I and CSA S37-24. You can also request a live demo with an engineer.

  • Product features and licensing information
  • Tailored to your towers, masts and monopoles
  • Optional live demo and technical Q&A

We respect your privacy. Your information is not shared.

Request SAFI™ Telecom Product Information

Tell us about your project. Our team will answer all your questions. A live demo is available on request.

Technical specifications of SAFI™ Telecom Software

A structural analysis software for professional engineers.

Key Features - SAFI™ Telecom Software
Supported design codes

• Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)-222-I
• Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)-222-H
• Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)-222-G
• Canadian Standards Association CSA S37-24
• Canadian Standards Association CSA S37-18

Structural Analysis

Automatic generation of dead, ice, thermal and wind loads according to TIA-222 and CSA S37.
Uniform wind pressure profile and uniform thickness ice profile.
User-defined wind pressure profiles.
United States county listings of design criteria for wind, wind with ice, and ice.
Loading for joints, members including concentrated, uniform, trapezoidal and thermal loads.
Loading for surfaces and finite element plates.
Automatic calculation of drag coefficients, gust factors, topographic parameters and escalate ice thickness according to TIA-222.
Display loads graphically and detailed wind and ice loads parameters can be displayed in numerical tables.

Comprehensive Analysis methods including:
– Static linear
– P-Delta
– Static non-linear
– Buckling
– Natural frequencies
– Seismic and dynamic

Linear and exact nonlinear cable elements (catenary cables).
Automatic handling of tension-only members.

Dynamic Fatigue and Loads

Tower dynamic effect and fatigue according to S37 Annex N.
Automatic generation of fatigue wind gust loads and vortex shedding loading according to the TIA-222 and CSA S37.
Design checks according to TIA-222-I, TIA-222-H, TIA-222-G, and CSA S37-24, CSA S37-18.

Design checks of the following sections:
Rolled 90° and 60° (schifflerized) angles
60° and 90° cold formed angles
HSS and pipes
Round sections
Tubular sections (8 sides, 12 sides, 16 sides, 18 sides, 20 sides, 24 sides, and round)

Fatigue parameters

The Monopole Generator command auto assign the fatigue parameter when generating the model according to the input data. If the model has been created manually or after the model automatic generation is done, users can edit the Fatigue Parameters table to change the fatigue parameters for the connection details for both ends of the member or it can be edited graphically (see Member Attributes – Tubular).

Automatic calculation of wind and ice loads
• Automatically generates wind, ice, dead, and thermal loads
• Compliant with TIA-222-H / G / I and CSA S37-18 /24 standards.
• All design and geometric parameters are auto-calculated (slenderness ratios, force coefficients, etc.)

Wind and ice loads generator
• Automatically generate wind and ice loads on open structures
• Supports multiple load conditions based on selected distribution:
– Wind only
– Wind with ice
– Service wind load
– Two thermal load
– Self-weight load
– Ice load

Wind loads
• Define wind load parameters using the Wind Loads command
• SAFI™ Telecom Software automatically distributes wind loads across the structure
• Loads are generated automatically during analysis
• View generated wind data anytime with the Wind Load Data command
Telecom design features

Available design provisions include ANSI/TIA-222 and CSA S37.

Members are checked against their ultimate strength in accordance with the selected code.
Design checks include:
– Slenderness ratios
– Buckling length
– Tension
– Compression
– Connections (shear, bearing, block shear)
– Anchor rods

Calculation of the equivalent loads on footings.

Can optionally check members according to LRFD for:
– Bending
– Tension-bending
– Compression-bending
– Shear
– Torsion
– Warping

Profile optimization of selected members allows to test different section shapes, grade and material types.

Antennas

The Antennas command allows to define telecommunication antenna properties.

Various types of antennas are possible such as:
Dish
– Paraboloid without Radome
– Paraboloid with Radome
– Paraboloid with Shroud (HP)
Grid
Flat
Round

Definition of bolts

Users can use the definition of bolts command to define the layout and properties of the bolts that will be used to connect the members of the structure.

Diameter (D)
Threads Pitch (tp)
Tensile Stress (Fub)
Shear Strength (Through Body) (Fvb)
Shear Strength (Through Threads) (Fvt)

Connection schemas

The Connection Schema command allows users to define the layout and properties of the bolts used to connect structural members, including:

Bolt properties:
• Bolt type
• Diameter (D)
• Thread pitch (tp)
• Ultimate stress (Fu)
• Bolt class

Type of connection:
• Direct connections
• Splice connections

Additional configurable parameters:
• Number of bolted flanges
• Number of bolt columns

Telecom specifications

Column face prototypes
A column is composed of several segments placed in a sequential order. Each column face is made of panels which fit into the column segments.

The Column Face Prototypes dialog box is used to define this sequence of panels. Each sequence is defined independently from the column; it will be attached to a specific column face by the Column Face Identification command.

Frame prototypes
The library in which the panel is defined as well as the desired panel must be selected in the Panel Library and Panel Name lists.

The Telecom Software provides a series of standard connection and diaphragm panels which can be found in the Standard-D library. Additional panels can also be created using the Panel Editor.

Guys
The Guys command allows to define the guys configuration for guyed towers. The guys and attachment members are generated when the tower model is generated using the Generation of Model command.

Anchor rods and Base plates
The anchor rods command is used to define the parameters of the anchorage of the columns to the foundations. Four types of anchors are available.

Anchors rods are checked for fatigue loading. New parameters in the Anchor Rods and Base Plates dialog box are available to define the fatigue threshold for the anchor rod. The fatigue check results are available in the anchor rods design table for fatigue load combinations.

ASCE 48-11 method
TIA-222-H method (Annex Q)

Vortex Shedding Force Calculator
This command helps users to quickly calculate the vortex shedding distributed force (Fvs) according to the Annex N of the S37-18.

Load generation

Telecom Software has capabilities to manually add joint and member loads as well as for the automatic generation of code-specified loads.

Surface wind loads data
The surface wind loads may be filtered before being displayed. It is possible to restrain the displayed results to the selected surfaces or to display them for the entire model. It is also possible to display the results for a specific basic load.

Ice loads
The Ice Loads command is used to define the tower ice loads parameters.  Telecom Software automatically generates the distribution of the ice loads on the structure according to these parameters.

The generation of the loads is made automatically during the analysis. However, the user may view the generated data with the Ice Load Data command prior to running the analysis.

Member ice loads
The member ice loads may be filtered before being displayed. It is possible to restrain the displayed results to the selected members or to display them for the entire model. It is also possible to display the results for a specific basic load.

Member wind loads data
The member wind loads may be filtered before being displayed. It is possible to restrain the displayed results to the selected elements or to display them for the entire model. It is also possible to display the results for a specific basic load.

Limit states

• Displayed graphically on the 3D model through color representation or presented numerically in spreadsheets and reports

Get started with SAFI™ Telecom

Ready to Design Your Next Telecom Tower?

Model, analyze and design self-supporting lattice towers, guyed masts and monopoles to ANSI/TIA-222-I and CSA S37-24, all in one program.

Prefer to talk? Call toll‑free 1 800 810‑9454