Storage

Treated wood poles should be stored away from continual contact with the ground by wooden supports (old poles or timber). Poles should be stored on level clear ground and away from possible flooding or groundwater at a height of 300mm. They can be layered upwards using similar sizes to conserve on storage area. If poles are to be stored for very long periods the storage area should be covered and chemical leakage should be considered if near watercourses or drains.

Maintenance

When a treated wood pole is erected for use in the field, there is several destructive forces that can eventually cause pole ‘failure’. The main ones are decay, insect attacks, fire and lightening. Most
utilities have inspection schedules for their wood pole lines and the following should be used as a guideline and not ‘limited to’ for checks and inspections.

• Decay
• Insect attacks
• Fire
• Lightening