Power Pole Replacement | OHMS Electrical Poles

Timber Pole Defects

Ausgrid is obligated by law to manage bush fire risks relating to its network. This includes conducting bushfire safety vegetation inspections of private powerlines every five years. So some customers receive an Ausgrid defect notice requiring them to have their power poles inspected by a qualified pole inspector.

A lot of the defects for private timber poles are due to rot, termites, and deterioration. These defects are usually visible to the naked and trained eye but most of the time damage can only be understood when a proper pole inspection is undertaken. The pole inspector removes generally 300mm of soil around the base of the pole and then proceeds to drill and assess the remaining strength. The good news is that at times the pole can be still in a serviceable condition with a certified report being issued to Ausgrid from the pole inspector which resolves the defect notice. However, the pole can also be in a dangerous condition which requires prompt action and remediation to prevent the asset from failing and subsequently pose a serious risk to life and property. And if not attended to fast enough the customer can lose supply and the repair costs can be much more expensive.

A good case study about a defect that was issued to a customer in a bush fire prone area was in Ourimbah on the Central Coast. The customer received a defect notice from Ausgrid and proceeded to take immediate action by calling a qualified pole inspector. Upon attending site the inspector performed an assessment of the pole and found significant rot and a reduction of the base diameter. Commendably the customer immediately engaged an ASP2 to perform the replacement of their private timber power pole and restore a safe electrical installation. Upon replacement of the power pole, the reduced residual strength was revealed when the ASP2 was simply able to push the pole over and caused it to snap at the base.

Regularly our team receives reports and calls of concerned customers who have suspect timber power poles. And examples, such as the case study mentioned above, reveal the need to prompt action by engaging qualified pole inspectors and ASP2’s to assess and repair the defective assets. With decades of experience and training Electrical Poles are ready to help, support, and provide honest advice to any customers in need. Feel free to call us today for a free consultation.