[en] Dealt with are the methods of the system approach to reliable grounding of new design features of cooling towers with the metal frame. The new design of prestressed ferroconcrete shells is presented. It provides considerable saving in specific amount of material per structure and labor input for manufacturing. The problems to be solved by the researchers, designers builders and operating staff are stated on the basis of the system approach. Successful solution of these problems will provide reliability of the structure. An example of the system approach to the design of a guy rope cooling tower is given