Which height does extreme wind loading correspond to?

• A. 30 m
• B. 10 m
• C. 18.3 m (60 ft)
• D. 5 m

Answer: (C)

Extreme wind loading is defined at a standard reference height because wind speed and the resulting forces grow with height, so designers use a specific height to capture the worst-case loads on typical above-ground telecom structures. In OSP design practice, that reference height is 60 feet (18.3 meters). This height represents where aerial components like poles and hardware experience the maximum wind forces in design calculations, ensuring sufficient safety margins. The other heights are lower and would correspond to smaller wind loads, not the established extreme wind loading criterion used in these guidelines.