❓Frequently Asked Questions

Site-Specifics

How can I change the terrain category?

In the location tab of a site, you can manually update the terrain category as well as the orography factor by selecting Edit wind profile and making your changes.

Loading

Which force coefficient is used for linear ancillaries?

We use

• 1.2 for feeders

• 2.0 for access ladders

You can use the shielding factor to increase or decrease the loading.

Can I adjust the load combination coefficients?

At the moment, we do not support setting custom load combination coefficients.

If you have such a need, please let us know about it.

Which ancillary types do you support?

We support a wide range of ancillaries. We're continuously expanding, and as of 18.07.25, we support

• GSM antenna

• MW Dish with shroud

• MW Dish without shroud

• MW Dish as grid

• MW Dish with radome

• Omni antennna

• GPS device

• Yagi antenna

• Dipole antenna

• RRU module

• ODU

• FTTA box

• PTTA box

• TMA device

• MHA device

• Obstruction light

• Lightning rod

• Working platform

• Helix antenna

• Ice shield

• Combiner

• Grid antenna

In addition, you can the custom ancillary types to create and model any ancillary type.

We support multiple ways of calculating force coefficients for antennas, have a look at the deep dive into How Ancillary EPA is Calculated.

How are wind loads applied to the structure?

Have a look at our deep dive How Wind Loads Are Applied To The Structure.

Does Shapemaker support ice loading?

Yes, Shapemaker supports adding icing to the structure and ancillaries according to Annex NA.C of DIN EN 1993-3-1 (German Standard). The user can input the ice density and thickness.

Is it possible to change the reliability class?

Yes. This setting is available in the structure tab after enabling advanced settings for your users. You can enable advanced settings by clicking at your profile in the top right corner.

Does Shapemaker support patch loading?

Yes, Shapemaker support patch loading both for guyed masts and self supported structures, as according to the tower Eurocode.

How is ancillary EPA calculated?

Have a look at our deep dive here: How Ancillary EPA is Calculated.

Tower Family Modelling

Which panel types do you support?

The TowerBuilder is continuously in development, but as of 18.07.25, we support a wide range of typically use panel types. See the photo for an extract.

Shapemaker is happy to onboard new panel types on request and as needed by our customers.

Can you add a custom panel type?

As of 18.07.25, we do not support having users creating new geometries of panels.

This feature is on our roadmap, but without a set timeline.

Shapemaker is happy to add panel types needed for you tower families.

Do you support built-up members/reinforced members?

Shapemaker supports a variety of built up members. A non-exhaustive list

• Back-to-back angular members

• Star angular members

• Various combinations of angular + circular members

• More

Design Checks

Which foundations does Shapemaker support?

As of 18.07.25, Shapemaker supports the modelling and capacity checks of

• Raft foundation without columns

• Raft foundation with single column

• Raft foundation with multiple columns

• Multiple piers anchored in rock

• Single pier anchorerd in rock

• Hold-down bolts

Do you calculate the criteria for equivalent static method?

Yes. You can see the result and the intermediate values used in the calculation in the full report.

Analysis

Which tower types does Shapemaker support?

As of 18.07.25, Shapemaker supports full static analysis of

• Three and four legged self supported lattice stuctures

• Steel monopoles

• Hybrids: mono + lattice or lattice + mono

• Guyed masts

• Standardised rooftops - onboarded as agreement with client.

How can Shapemaker perform a structural analysis so fast?

As Shapemaker is telecom-only, it has enable us to optimise the force calculations and capacity checks to the structure types we support.

Even if we're evaluation hundreds of load cases, you'll experience that the analysis could finish in just seconds. Thanks to parallelisation of FEA runs, we're able to analyse 100+ meters guyed masts with non-linear analysis in just minutes.