OVERHEAD CONSTRUCTION
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London Telecommunications Engineering
Training Centre GENERAL TEST ON POLES 1 GENERAL 2 Since the condition of the pole may have deteriorated since the last periodic examination, it is imperative that the general examination, as detailed in the following paragraphs, be. made before commencing any work on the pole. IT IS THE: RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERY OFFICER BEFORE STARTING ANY WORK ON ANY POLE, INCLUDING POLES NOT OWNED BY THE POST OFFICE, TO ENSURE THAT THE GENERAL EXAMINATION HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT AND THAT THE POLE IS NOT IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION. This examination forms part of the more general safety precautions for this class of work, as detailed in TI M4 E0600. 3 If an officer feels that he is not reasonably sure in judging the soundness of a pole by means of the general examination he must seek guidance and not take a chance. 4 All poles owned by the Post Office are given a periodic examination (TI A2 N1362) every six years by a Pole Examination Party even when such poles are known to be due for immediate recovery. During the periodic examination all poles are inspected whilst those 12 years old or more are given a complete test. 5 Poles found to be unsatisfactory by a Pole Examination Party are marked with a letter D. In the case of a wooden pole this takes the form of a red coloured aluminium label (Label, Pole D [50mm x 38m]) on which a letter D is embossed. Sheet steel poles and "hollow" type poles (see paragraph 13) are marked with a 75mm high letter D in red paint. 6 Poles considered to be satisfactory by a Pole Examination Party are marked with an "Examined" label which gives the date of the examination and the code number of the Pole Examination Officer who carried it out. However, up until the start of the 7th Pole Examination Cycle (1st January 1980) poles found to be satisfactory were not marked in any way. 7 In accordance with previous instructions poles found to be only slightly decayed, or corroded, during the periodic examination were classified as suspect and marked with a letter S. In the case of a wooden pole this would have taken the form of a red coloured aluminium label (Label, Pole S [50mm x 38m]) on which a letter S is embossed. Such poles are examined annually by Pole Examination Party. The "S" classification has now ceased and existing "S" poles will gradually be re-classified as "G" satisfactory or "D" unsatisfactory. 8 METHODS OF TESTING FOR DECAY IN WOODEN POLES 8.2 Prodding Test 9 EXAMINATION SEQUENCE FOR WOODEN P0LE 9.1 Check for any dangers adjacent to the pole such as spiked railings, glass topped walls or similar hazards. 9.2 Check that there is no obstruction preventing the test for decay being carried out. 9.3 Check the depth of the pole from the position of the 3m
mark which should normally be 1.8m or less above the ground line. 9.5 Test for decay at the ground line (see paragraph 8). Stamp aside or cut away any grass, undergrowth or stones to permit testing as near as possible to the ground line. When it is suspected that the ground level has been raised, eg on a roadside bank where road sweepings have been deposited or the ground level raised due to resurfacing, remove the additional material to expose the original ground line. Apply the hammer test right down at the ground line with not more than 25mm spacing between hammer taps all round the pole. Apply the prodding test at points round the ground line where surface decay is suspected. The extent of any decay must be determined by applying the tests at several points. If the test at the ground line shows some decay or there is doubt as to the condition below the ground line, excavate to expose 300mm of the pole below ground line. Clean the pole surface and apply the hammer and prodding tests around the exposed section. After testing back-fill and thoroughly consolidate the earth around the pole. The test for decay must be applied at all points on the pole where decay is apparent or suspected. Special attention should be given to the area around the top of the pole. 9.6 Examine all pole fittings (e.g. finials, suspension wire near the pole, stays, struts, pole steps etc) for security of fixing and excessive weakening due to decay or corrosion. Check all pole steps for firmness before putting any weight on them. Give special attention to coach screws securing steps on old poles which may be seriously weakened by rust below the head, or exposed in deep shakes or cracks. Check for growth of corrosion around coach screw heads and for the absence of galvanising plus deep pitting of the pole steps. Check that pole stepping is adequate and in accordance with TI A2 N1151. Inspect the earth wire and repair if in a dangerous condition. Items of plant found to be in need of attention must be reported on form A1024 to the Supervising Officer who, in the case of pole steps, must make arrangements for immediate replacement. 10 LAGGED POLES 11 RESULTS OF THE EXAMINATION OF WOODEN POLES 11.2 The pole must be regarded as "D" if it has been weakened by physical damage (such as scuffing or cuts) which either extends for more than one third of the circumference or is more than 30mm deep and exceeds 25mm in width around the pole. 11.3 If a pole is located within 1m of spiked railings, glass
topped 11.4 Where less than two-thirds of the circumference of a pole can be tested for decay, due to obstructions, the pole must be regarded as 11.5 If a pole is found to have any internal decay it must be regarded as 'D''. 11.6 The presence of external decay does not necessarily mean that a pole is unsatisfactory, the following points are intended as a guide:-
11.7 If even small amounts of decay exist at points where pole steps are fixed the pole must be regarded as "D".
12.1 if a black paint band of 600mm or more is visible above the ground line it must be assumed that the ground level has been lowered and the pole must be regarded as "D". 12.2 Inspect the pole for physical damage. Special attention must be given to poles situated in or adjacent to a hedgerow as such pole may be damaged by hedge-cutting machines; the most probably location of such damage will be 1.5m to 3m above the ground line. If the pole wall is cut through for more than one-sixth of its circumference or buckled due to an impact, it must be regarded as "D". Carefully examine the area around any physical damage for corrosion. 12.3 Visually inspect all round the pole right at and near the ground line and for a few feet above ground line. Stamp aside or cut away any grass or undergrowth as necessary. When it is suspected that the ground level has been raised, eg on a roadside bank where road sweepings have been deposited or the ground level raised due to resurfacing, remove the additional material to expose the original ground line. If some rusting and deep pitting is present or there is any doubt as to the condition below ground line, excavate to expose 300mm of the pole below ground line; clean and inspect the pole. (NOTE: Rust stains from fittings etc should not be confused with corrosion). If the effective thickness of the sheet steel is seriously reduced by rusting and pitting for one-quarter of the circumference or more the pole must be regarded as 12.4 If the area around the pole has been excavated in order to carry out the inspection in paragraph 12.3 above, back-fill and thoroughly consolidate the earth. 12.5 Examine all pole fittings (e.g. suspension wire near the pole, stays, pole steps etc) for security of fixing and excessive weakening due to corrosion. Careful attention must be paid to bolts securing the steps to the pole. Check all pole steps for firmness before putting any weight on them. Check for signs of cracking of the strengthening web of the step. Items of plant found to be in need of attention must be reported on form A1024 to the Supervising Officer who, in the case of pole steps, must make arrangements for immediate replacement. 13 "HOLLOW" TYPE POLES 14 ACTION AFTER EXAMINATION 15 POLES LABELLED "S" (see paragraph 7) 16 WORKING ON POLES CLASSIFIED "D" 17 JOINT USER POLES 17.2 On poles receiving post-installation treatment in the form of bandages protruding above ground level, the ground level for testing purposes, must be assumed to be at the top edge of the protective bandage. No attempt must be made to test the protected area or to remove the bandage. 17.3 A report must be made to the Supervising Officer on any pole considered to be unsatisfactory, and for those joint user poles not owned by the PO the Supervising Officer must inform the owner accordingly. 18 MARKING EXAMINED POLES (POLE EXAMINATION PARTY)
Each cycle of examination will have a new label issued of a different colour, i.e. the 7th cycle, starting 1 January 1980, label is yellow. 18.2 Wooden poles found to be in an unsatisfactory condition and classified "D" must have a Label, Pole, "D" fixed to them. These labels are made from red coloured aluminium sheet (50mm x 38mm) or which a letter "D" is embossed. A hole is provided in each corner for fixing the label to the pole by Pins, Steel No 1. The labels must be fixed between 2.4m to 2.7m above the ground level in the most conspicuous position. 8.3 Sheet steel poles and "hollow" type poles classified as being "ID" must be marked with a 75mm high letter "D" in Paint, Gloss, Red at a point between 2.4m to 2.7m above the ground level. For this purpose stencils may be cut or purchased locally. Paint brushes must be kept in a container in water to prevent hardening, and at weekends or when it is known that they will not be required for at least two days the brushes should be cleaned and stored dry. 18.4 "Hollow" type poles found to be in a satisfactory
condition should not be marked with a 'pole examined' label.
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Last revised: November 09, 2024FM2 | ||||||||
