Improving the Performance of Wood Poles
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Date
2007
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Abstract
Excellent performance of wood poles requires properly prepared specifications for the poles and their preservative treatment, careful inspection of poles for compliance with the specification, and regularly scheduled maintenance programs for poles in service. The specifications must recognize the characteristics of the species used, provide protection of poles from damage during processing and treating, require preservative penetrations and retentions consistent with the size of the pole and service conditions, and yet permit the suppliers maximum flexibility in selecting that combination of practices which is both safe and cost effective. Quality of the pole and the treatment must be verified by experienced, well-informed inspectors solely responsible to the purchaser. Because the best specifications require interpretation, the inspector must be capable of making decisions that will hold down costs without endangering pole performance. Good specifications and good inspection will keep maintenance costs low but problems will develop. To provide the reliable information the pole manager needs before deterioration becomes obvious and danger poles occur, the initial sampling inspection must be made early. Cores or plugs must be brought into the laboratory where skilled personnel have the knowledge and equipment necessary to determine the condition of wood and to make reliable estimates of residual pole strength. This will permit the pole inspector to do what he does best—'look for unsafe poles—and enable the pole manager to maintain a safe, efficient wood pole system.