While O-Calc Pro provides several non-wood poles as part of our available catalogs, it may be necessary to create custom poles from scratch. O-Calc Pro is capable of modeling metal, concrete and composite poles. Unlike wood poles, non-wood pole properties are specified by the manufacturer. It is necessary to obtain these specifications to model the pole in O-Calc Pro.

Load Cases for Non-Wood Poles

When modeling non-wood poles and applying the NESC safety regulations, the values remain the same as for wood poles. However, when modeling non-wood poles in California, the GO95 safety regulations are not the same as for wood poles. When using the GO95 load cases, O-Calc Pro automatically applies the loading values based on the pole material type selected, more on this important topic at the end of this article.

Create New Metal Pole

Go to File > New Pole, then choose the pole type. In this example we use a Metal Pole.

Selecting the Metal Pole option brings up the Create New Metal Pole window which allows you to choose an existing steel pole from a catalog(s):

Or you can click on the Attribute Values tab and enter the desired pole attributes to create the pole. Edit the dimensions and other pole identification attributes per manufacturer specifications.

Continue down the list to add thickness, moment and vertical capacity attribute values. These Tables can be created by manually entering the necessary values at each height point. Additionally, you can import a csv of the specified values to automatically generate the table.

To create these tables, you must obtain these measurements as a function of height. If the manufacturer does not provide this information as a function of height, you must calculate these tables based off provided moment, buckling and thickness values and the dimensions provided by the manufacturer.

Material Thickness

Next, create the pole material thickness vs height chart. Click on the ‘Thickness’ radio button and enter the desired values. Manually add or import a csv file with the desired values and save them.

Moment Capacity

Next, create the pole moment capacity vs height chart. Click on the ‘Moment’ radio button and enter the desired values. Manually add or import a csv file with the desired values and save them.

Buckling Tables

Next, create the pole vertical capacity vs height chart. Click on the ‘Vertical Cap’ radio button and enter the desired values. Manually add or import a csv file with the desired values and save them.

Mount Type - Pedestal vs Embedded

In addition to basic dimensions, you have the option to create a pole as embedded or pedestal mounted, as well as the ability to set the shape as round or polygonal. You can also customized class ratings, default setting depths, and various other values.

Steel Poles and Moment Tables Video

Below is a video that provides additional details on moment tables and non-wood poles:

Non-Wood Pole Safety Regulations for GO95

When modeling non-wood poles in California, the GO95 safety regulations are not the same as for wood poles. NESC safety regulation values are the same as for wood poles. GO95 uses safety factors in applying pole loading regulations. NESC uses load and strength factors. See the GO95 safety factors listed below by grade of construction and scenario (new or existing) pole.

O-Calc Pro implements the GO95 safety factors by applying a strength reduction factor. The GO95 safety factors are equivalent to the reciprocal of the O-Calc Pro strength reduction factor. See the OCP strength reduction factors listed below by grade of construction for new (At Installation) poles.

Note: Concrete pole load cases must be manually entered into a load case at the time. See the article entitled ‘Creating Custom Loadcases’.

The California GO95 Table 4 identifies the Minimum Safety Factors for various construction materials including poles, as shown below.