Wood Pole Inspection & Life Extension
Proper maintenance of wood utility poles helps add many years to the safe, reliable service life to your pole plant, thereby reducing unnecessary or premature replacement costs.
Osmose pole inspection programs allow you to better manage the critical factors that determine pole performance – strength, load, and cost.
The keys to a successful pole inspection program are:
- Identifying decay and measuring defects
- Estimating the pole’s remaining strength to determine pass/fail - Inaccurate strength calculations can be costly. A false fail can lead to unnecessary spending on restoration or replacement, while a false pass can create risk that may lead to pole failures and costly damage and repairs. Osmose technicians use StrengthCalc® software which models the cross section of decaying poles in relation to the transverse loads. StrengthCalc accounts for both the severity and location of the decay with respect to conductors and equipment. StrengthCalc determines precise section modulus to provide the percent remaining strength for weakened poles.
- Applying effective remedial treatments to extend the safe, reliable service-life of the pole. Remedial treatment is the key to getting the most out of your investment. The use of remedial treatments will earn dividends via extended pole life and improved plant resiliency.
Osmose can help you optimize your life-extension investments by matching your program objectives with an appropriate inspection method.
Inspection Methods & Accuracy
Sound & Selective Bore
Poles are "sounded" with a hammer to detect internal decay. Poles that show signs of internal decay (based on the sound test) are bored to determine the location and extent of the decay.
Level of accuracy for identifying rejects: 15%
Sound & Bore
Poles are both "sounded" with a hammer to detect internal decay and bored to determine the location and extent of the decay.
Level of accuracy for identifying rejects: 10 - 35%
Sound & Bore with Partial Excavation & Selective Treatment
Poles are "sounded" with a hammer to detect internal decay and bored to determine the location and extent of decay. Poles that show signs of internal or external decay are fully excavated to a depth of 18" to determine the extent of decay at the groundline. Decayed wood is removed and a preservative paste is applied to protect the remaining sound wood.
Level of accuracy for identifying rejects: 55 - 85%
Comprehensive Life Extension
Industry Best Practice
This program includes sound, bore, 18" excavation, remedial treatment. Poles are "sounded" with a hammer to detect internal decay and bored to determine the location and extent of decay. Each pole is fully excavated to a depth of 18" to determine the extent of decay at the groundline. Decayed wood is removed and a preservative paste is applied to protect the remaining sound wood.
Level of accuracy for identifying rejects: 98%
Case Study
Ohio Electric Cooperative & Sonic Inspection
Osmose inspected 36 poles on Ohio Electric Cooperative's distribution system that were previously inspected by a company utilizing their sonic inspection device. As a result, Osmose mitigated the replacement of six poles the original inspection company rejected, and reduced risk on the pole plant by accurately rejecting six poles missed by the original inspection company.
Program | Benefits | Limitations | Pole Life Extended |
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Sound & Selective Bore |
Locates obvious rejects quickly with a minimal investment. |
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Sound & Bore |
Locates obvious rejects quickly with a minimal investment. |
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Sound & Bore with Partial Excavation & Selective Treatment |
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Only for those "select" poles that receive treatment |
Comprehensive Inspection |
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