How safe are the poles you are climbing

A wood utility pole can be dangerous. Wood by its very nature rots and deteriorates over time. It can also develop fungi and insects. It’s open to chemical exposure and to pollution. Its integrity gets weakened by snow, rain, wind and ice.

Traditional pole testing methods are subjective, inaccurate, and can actually cause further damage to the pole. Every time a bore test/excavation is performed, the pole is open to let in oxygen, water, and even fungus. (leading ingredients for decay).

Since the outer 2”-3” of the poles shell accounts for 80-90% of it’s strength, this type of inspection can weaken the pole by up to 1% for each hole bored.

Why Pole Testing is Important

Without routine inspections, the utility company won’t be on alerted by a utility worker when a wood utility pole has deteriorated into a dangerous and unsafe condition — although the power and utility companies are still on notice because they know how long these wood utility poles are supposed to safely last before they are replaced.

The last thing a lineman wants to worry about is the integrity of the pole itself. Inner-Pole Testing changes this, bringing technology to pole inspections without causing damage to the pole.

With Inner-Pole Testing, you’ll get a full visual inspection of the pole along with technology that can determine the remaining wood fiber strength and moisture content.

Our industry leading Polux Technology uses two minimally invasive probes that measure both the fiber strength (in PSI) and moisture content without boring large holes. We do two tests on each pole, 180° apart at ground line, angled below, to ensure the most accurate results.

With accurate information and no structural damage to the pole, linemen can trust that every pole tested will be safe.

Spotlight on Inner-Pole Testing

Inner-Pole Testing uses science, not speculation, to give lineman inspections they can depend on.

The team at Inner-Pole can easily test a pole and receive reliable data in mere minutes, allowing us to know with certainty if a specific pole is stable. The ease of use allows for testing 75-150 (yes really, one-hundred and fifty) poles daily in normal geographical conditions.

This can meet federal testing and inspection guidelines well within your budget and project timelines. Data can be made available according to the needs of your organization –streamlining your ability to make sound decisions for your employees and infrastructure.

Inner-Pole Testing