Utility Pole & Overhead Systems Conference

Pultruded Fiberglass Poles

presented by
Jesse Saunders, EMBA, SCMP
Director of Operations for FRP Transmission Innovations
 Agenda
• Overview of FRP Pultrusion
• Benefits
• Common Usages
• Design
• Installation
• Maintenance
• End of Life
 The Pultrusion Process 101
1.
Resin and glass fiber
reinforcements are combined
and formed into the shape of
the die on a continuous
process.
Rovings
Guide Plate
Continuous
Strand Mat
Preformer
4.
Pultruded profiles are cut to
length during the continuous
manufacturing process.
2.
The resin is initiated by the
thermal decomposition
process. The initiator is heated
until a chemical bond
dissociation produces two
radicals. The chain continues
Resin Impregnator to build until the monomer is
Surfacing Veil used resulting in a cured resin.
Forming &
Curing Die Pulling
System*
Cut-Off Saw
*Caterpillar Pullers (shown)
or Reciprocating Pullers
3.
The profiles are pulled
through a die.
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 Manufacturing Capability
• 1,224 feet per day per machine
• Approximately 25 poles 50’ in length per day per
machine
• Three layers of UV protection
• Electrical Grade E-Glass reinforcements
• Fire retardant additives
 Manufacturing
• Up to 120’ in length
• Range from 6” to 20” in diameter for standard
distribution pole
• No Taper, one diameter from top to bottom
• Offers both Octagonal and Round profiles
– Class 1 to 5 for Octagonal
– Class 4 to H3 for Round Pole
• Mfg’d to ANSI and NESC code requirements
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 Why Do Engineers And Owners
Specify Pultruded Profiles?
• Reduced Maintenance Costs
• Unaffected by Woodpeckers and Termites
• Corrosion and Rot Resistant
• Environmentally Safe
• Increase Safety
• Reduce Downtime

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Why Do Field Staff Prefer FRP?
• Lightweight
• Reliability
• Limited Access
• Weather/Fire Resistant
• Reduced Install Time
• Lineman Safety especially
during live line replacements
 FRP Composite Advantage
✓ HIGH DIELECTRIC
STRENGTH AND FIRE
RETARDANT
• Pass ‘hot stick’ recertification
tests
• ASTM F7111 & IEEE 978
• Fire: materials self
extinguishing
• UL94: 94V-0 rating
Avoid Cascading Failures
FRP Composite Advantage
✓ REDUCED SHIPPING COST

Wood
FRP Poles Douglas Fir
Class 3 – 40’ Pole 120 poles/truck 30 poles/truck
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
EDISON
WHY FRP POLES?
Light weight, limited access,
green
MET ED
WHY FRP POLES?
Reliability in wet environments
and environmentally sensitive
locations
UNITED ELECTRIC NW PA
WHY FRP POLES?
Ice load demands in
woodpecker prone areas
NATIONAL GRID
WHY FRP POLES?
Limited access in rear lot
WEST PENN POWER
WHY FRP POLES?
Limited access
UNITED ELECTRIC NW PA
WHY FRP POLES?
Limited access, reliability,
woodpecker prone area

10 year old wood pole

HAWAII ELECTRIC
WHY FRP POLES?
Termites destroy wood poles in
less than ten years
GUELPH HYDRO,
TORONTO, CANADA
WHY FRP POLES?
Due to major amounts of
de-icing salts along roadway
 Design
• Manufactured to same
classification as wood
poles
• Data is within PLS
Pole and PLS Cadd
• Engineered product
that can be
manufactured to
specific specs
 Installation
• Directly Embedded with a
depth similar to that of wood
(standard 10% + 2’)
– FRP Poles are completely inert
• Field Drillable
• Pole Grounding can be done
on the inside or outside of the
pole
• Climbing can be done with
pole steps or composite
climbers
 Hardware
• Any non-cleated
hardware can be
used on FRP poles
• Pole Steps can be
installed
• Guying designs
similar to a wood
pole
 Maintenance and End of Life
• No Maintenance
• If required a visual inspection or Tap Test can be
done
• Fiberglass wrap systems are available if
required
• Recycled into FRP fillers, repurposed or landfill
• Non leaching so landfill acceptable

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 QUESTIONS ?

Jesse Saunders, EMBA, SCMP

Director of Operations

jesse@transmissioninnovations.com

p: 778-285-8447, Ext. 606

c: 604-417-6846