The Rīga television tower is a free-standing all-metal structure. Its total height is 368 metres, which makes it the third-highest tower in Europe. The tower consists of a foundation, three supports, a middle section and the central antenna.
The foundations of the tower are constructed from reinforced concrete hollow pile-foundations, which rest on a bed of dolomite 24-27 metres underground. The designers of the tower have also taken into account the possibility of flood or earthquake. The tower has been constructed to withstand an earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale. Zaķusala itself is 6-7 metres above sea level. The tower is also built to withstand the strongest winds – 44 m/s. The sway amplitude is small, because there are three pendulum dampers, each weighing 10 tonnes, affixed at 198 metres, to lessen the sway of the tower. Changes in temperature can cause a 2.4 metre amplitude in the spire of the tower over 24 hours.
ANTICORROSIVE TREATMENT OF THE TOWER
As the tower is metal, it needs anticorrosive treatment. This treatment was performed for the first time after the tower’s construction by an alpine climbing team from St. Petersburg, and 62 tonnes of paint were used. Later the tower was repeatedly re-painted in segments. The central antenna and the tower’s supports were repainted in 1996 and 2003-2004 respectively. The tower’s supports previously had anticorrosive treatment in 1988, that is, 15 years earlier. Selection of the type of paint and checking compatibility with the already existing paint took 2.5 years, as test patches were painted and monitored. In 2003, 7.5 tonnes of anticorrosive treatment was purchased for the painting of the Rīga Radio and Television Tower (base coat, top coat, thinner, anti fungal coat). These were manufactured by Belgian company “Marin MATHYSS S.A.” and the Netherlands company “Rust-Oleum Netherlands B.V.”
The total surface area of the supports is 7500m2, which is an area larger than four hockey fields. Originally it was envisaged that the painting would be entrusted to a company, but this turned out to be so expensive that the Latvian State Radio and Television Centre decided to undertake the job themselves. The work was performed by a five-person team from the Latvian State Radio and Television Centre, which began work in June 2003 and completed it in August 2004. Work could only be performed in the summer, because the average temperature over 24 hours had to be greater than +8°C .
Before beginning the work it was necessary to prepare and erect the painting mechanism — a basket with cables, winches, retrieval and braking systems. Before the painting began, the tower supports were subjected to a mechanical treatment, that is, the surfaces were cleaned and the supports were treated with a special anti-fungal fluid.
Following these preliminary tasks, the painting was begun. The supports were painted three times — a first base coat of dark red was applied. After 24 hours, when the paint was dry, the second base coat could be applied, which was pale grey. Only after this the decorative colour was applied — that which can be currently seen. The difference in base coat colours was so that the layers could be differentiated — how much had been painted, and where. In order to minimise paint loss and so that the paint could be applied in a thick enough coat, the paint was applied by hand, using a roller.
THE TOWER CURRENTLY TRANSMITS:
1. Radio programmes: Latvian Radio 1, Latvian Radio 2, Latvian Radio 3 (Classical), Latvia’s Radio 4 (Integration programme), Christian radio, MIX FM, Radio SWH, SWH+. SWH-ROCK, Europe Hit Radio, Radio Skonto and FIT FM;
2. Television programmes: Latvian Television 1, Latvian Television 7, Latvian Independent television – LNT, TV3 and TV5;
3. DVB-T (experimental);
4. Electronic communications services are provided for various organisations and state institutions: Rīga City Council, Baltkom TV, Lattelecom, Latvenergo, Electram, Unistarts, LMT, VITA, Latnet Service, Optron, CSC Telekom, Telecom Baltija, Microlink Latvija, Telia Latvija, Bite Latvija, Tele 2, Baltcom Fiber and others.
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THE ANTENNA The top portion of the tower from 222-368 metres is a cylindrical construction which narrows towards the top. This section houses radio and television antennae, and ends with a flagpole. A Swedish Alimac lift operates in the central antenna up to a height of 308 metres. The remaining 44 metres up to the flagpole can be reached via an internal staircase. |
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MIDDLE SECTION
The middle section of the tower — located 88-222 metres high — has been made by joining the tower’s supports and panelling this section with a special material: Car-ten, an aluminium-iron alloy. A range of technical machinery is housed behind the walls of the middle section. A vertical elevator operates in this section. |
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SUPPORTS
The main supporting structure of the tower are three supports, or legs, which give the tower its unique appearance and individuality. Two supports contain Assinter Otis express sloping elevators, which transport visitors to the observation deck in 42 seconds. The third support contains a staircase and technical communications equipment. |
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TECHNICAL BUILDING A technical building is located between the three tower supports. This houses administrative offices, a transmitter room and other technical rooms. Excluding the vestibule and elevator, all of the other rooms are not available for public viewing. |
The foundations of the tower are constructed from reinforced concrete hollow pile-foundations, which rest on a bed of dolomite 24-27 metres underground. The designers of the tower have also taken into account the possibility of flood or earthquake. The tower has been constructed to withstand an earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale. Zaķusala itself is 6-7 metres above sea level. The tower is also built to withstand the strongest winds – 44 m/s. The sway amplitude is small, because there are three pendulum dampers, each weighing 10 tonnes, affixed at 198 metres, to lessen the sway of the tower. Changes in temperature can cause a 2.4 metre amplitude in the spire of the tower over 24 hours.
ANTICORROSIVE TREATMENT OF THE TOWER
As the tower is metal, it needs anticorrosive treatment. This treatment was performed for the first time after the tower’s construction by an alpine climbing team from St. Petersburg, and 62 tonnes of paint were used. Later the tower was repeatedly re-painted in segments. The central antenna and the tower’s supports were repainted in 1996 and 2003-2004 respectively. The tower’s supports previously had anticorrosive treatment in 1988, that is, 15 years earlier. Selection of the type of paint and checking compatibility with the already existing paint took 2.5 years, as test patches were painted and monitored. In 2003, 7.5 tonnes of anticorrosive treatment was purchased for the painting of the Rīga Radio and Television Tower (base coat, top coat, thinner, anti fungal coat). These were manufactured by Belgian company “Marin MATHYSS S.A.” and the Netherlands company “Rust-Oleum Netherlands B.V.”
The total surface area of the supports is 7500m2, which is an area larger than four hockey fields. Originally it was envisaged that the painting would be entrusted to a company, but this turned out to be so expensive that the Latvian State Radio and Television Centre decided to undertake the job themselves. The work was performed by a five-person team from the Latvian State Radio and Television Centre, which began work in June 2003 and completed it in August 2004. Work could only be performed in the summer, because the average temperature over 24 hours had to be greater than +8°C .
Before beginning the work it was necessary to prepare and erect the painting mechanism — a basket with cables, winches, retrieval and braking systems. Before the painting began, the tower supports were subjected to a mechanical treatment, that is, the surfaces were cleaned and the supports were treated with a special anti-fungal fluid.
Following these preliminary tasks, the painting was begun. The supports were painted three times — a first base coat of dark red was applied. After 24 hours, when the paint was dry, the second base coat could be applied, which was pale grey. Only after this the decorative colour was applied — that which can be currently seen. The difference in base coat colours was so that the layers could be differentiated — how much had been painted, and where. In order to minimise paint loss and so that the paint could be applied in a thick enough coat, the paint was applied by hand, using a roller.
THE TOWER CURRENTLY TRANSMITS:
1. Radio programmes: Latvian Radio 1, Latvian Radio 2, Latvian Radio 3 (Classical), Latvia’s Radio 4 (Integration programme), Christian radio, MIX FM, Radio SWH, SWH+. SWH-ROCK, Europe Hit Radio, Radio Skonto and FIT FM;
2. Television programmes: Latvian Television 1, Latvian Television 7, Latvian Independent television – LNT, TV3 and TV5;
3. DVB-T (experimental);
4. Electronic communications services are provided for various organisations and state institutions: Rīga City Council, Baltkom TV, Lattelecom, Latvenergo, Electram, Unistarts, LMT, VITA, Latnet Service, Optron, CSC Telekom, Telecom Baltija, Microlink Latvija, Telia Latvija, Bite Latvija, Tele 2, Baltcom Fiber and others.