Specification for

Treated Timber
High / Low Voltage Poles
Plus
Utility
Services Poles

Appendix A

TPL Specification Timber_Poles

Page 1 of 10

Scope:

This specification details requirements for treated timber poles for utility service lines.
The design of the pole shall take into account, as appropriate, the limit states of
stability, strength, serviceability, durability and other requirements of AS/NZS
4676:2000.

Environment:

Climatic design parameter

Climatic design value

Climate

Temperate Coastal- saline

Ambient Air Temperatures

Normal range
Mean Annual

-5 to 30 C
13.5 C

Rainfall average

1200mm

Relative Humidity

Up to 100%

Altitude

1-100m

Quality:

General requirements:
Each pole shall be sound, reasonably straight,
uniformly tapered and free from excessive
flare at the butt which may, however be
dressed for a distance of not more than
300mm from the end of the pole.

Appendix A

TPL Specification Timber_Poles

Page 2 of 10

Timber Species and Source

The species used shall be High Density Pinus Radiata sourced exclusively from
Northland forests. Latitude 35 to 36 South.

How ever, should it be proven by calculations, certification coupled with proven

experience and use, alternative species and sources may be approved by
Tonga Power Limited.
o These alternatives must contribute the minimum specification for
strength, quality, durability and treatment.
o Proof of all such tests must be provided along with testimonials of field
testing and work where the product has been utilised.
o Additionally, an authentic original proof of certification of an appropriate
level of warranty period must be furnished.

Timber Grade
5.1

Excluded defects

Poles shall be visually inspected for the following defects. Visible defects shall not
exceed the defined limits and any pole that exhibits defects in a position or to such
extent that the structural integrity or service life of the pole is reduced, shall be
rejected
-

decay
checks- the top and side surfaces shall be free from injurious checks and
splits
Insect damage damage by insects or larvae including excessive
superficial damage by bark boring insects
Transverse fractures
Shakes
Knots- large decayed or loose knots
End splits

5.2

Specified Limits

5.2.1 Checks
At any cross section of the pole the depth of check combined or singularly on any one
plane passing though the centre shall not exceed one third of the width of the pole at
that cross-section.
5.2.2 Knots
The diameter of individual knots shall not exceed 10% of the circumference of the
pole. The aggregate diameter of knots in any 300mm lengths of the pole shall not
exceed 20% of the circumference of the pole.

Appendix A

TPL Specification Timber_Poles

Page 3 of 10

5.2.3 Nodal Swelling

Nodal swelling shall not exceed 20mm relative to the surface of the pole.
5.2.4 Straightness
The maximum deviation of sweeps, crooks or kinks shall not exceed the requirements
of table 1.1 of AS2209-1994.
5.2.5 Spiral Grain
Spiral grain at the pole surface shall have a slope not greater than 1 in 10 when
measured over any 1m of the pole length.

Peeling

All outer bark and at least 90% of the cambium layer shall be removed, with no
piece longer than 75mm or wider than 12mm remaining. The cutting heads
shall follow the natural contours and irregularities of the pole and remove a
minimum of wood so as to retain full strength. Only the minimum amount of
sapwood shall be removed during peeling operations.

Alternatively, manual peeling is allowable providing the outer bark and at least
90% of the cambium layer shall be removed, with no piece longer than 75mm
or wider than 12mm remaining. It is understood this will minimise the amount of
sapwood removed during peeling operations.

Seasoning

Before chemical impregnation,

each pole shall be seasoned by
low pressure steaming.

Alternatively, to encourage the strength of the pole to remain as high as

possible, it is permissible for the step of the low pressure steaming process to
be left out. This can occur if the producer agrees and submits his reasoning by
way of written certification of that, stating the benefits to be obtained for Tonga
Power Limited.

Appendix A

TPL Specification Timber_Poles

Page 4 of 10

Physical Preparation

All incising, cutting to size, slab-gaining, boring, chamfering, surfacing etc shall be
done after seasoning and before treatment with preservative.
The finished surface shall be reasonably smooth and free from loose splinters and not
damaged from chainsaw notches or axe cuts.
8.1
Incising
Incising shall be carried out to a depth and frequency sufficient to achieve the
penetration specified in NZS3640:2003
8.2
Slab gaining and boring
Slab gaining and boring shall be in accordance with drawings provided by the
purchaser.
On poles showing sweep or curvature the slab gaining shall be on the concave
side in the plane of greatest curvature. The centre of each bolt hole shall be on
a straight line between the middle of the pole at the top and the middle of the
pole at the ground line.
8.3

Boring for brand discs

If a metal disc recessed into the pole is used for branding, as detailed in section
10, the recess shall be bored before the pole is treated with preservative, at a
distance of 1.5m above the ground line of the pole.

Slab Gaining and

Boring to
Customer
Specifications

Appendix A

TPL Specification Timber_Poles

Page 5 of 10

Preservative Treatment

The poles shall be treated with Chrome Copper Arsenate Oxide (CCA Oxide) to a
hazard class H5 to NZS3640:2003 using an alternating pressure method cycle. The
preservative shall be approved under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms
Act 1996.

Penetration of the preservative shall be to the full depth of the sapwood present. The
minimum depth of sapwood for softwood poles in accordance with AS2209-1994 is
35mm.

Insufficient penetration

Full sapwood penetration

Core sampling and boring in determination of the penetration of the preservative

process shall be in accordance with the quality standards required by NZS 3640:2003
and AS2209-1994.

Appendix A

TPL Specification Timber_Poles

Page 6 of 10

10

Branding and Ground Line Depth Marking

Each pole shall be branded with a code providing the following information.
Wood Source Pinus radiata (PR)
Month and year of treatment
- Letters A to L for months January to December, two digits of year
Hazard class (H5)
Treatment plant registration number (409)
Preservative code number CCA (01)
Branding shall be by a corrosion resistant metal disc stamped with the code which is
recessed not more than 4mm below the surface of the pole.

NOTE: Correct burial depth should be marked on the pole by marking a line with
G/L next to it, standing for ground line.

11

Size and Strength

Poles will be specified by nominal length, top diameter and top load capacity.
Where required by the purchaser the specification of minimum ground line and butt
diameters can be made.
The size and form of the poles shall be in accordance with AS2209-1994, with
tolerances for straightness, end splits and barrel checks as specified in the standard.
The poles shall be designed either by calculation or by prototype testing in accordance
with AS/NZS 4676:2000.

The characteristic strength in bending (fb) for the poles shall be as for
strength group SD6 (seasoned), stress grade F17, of AS 1720.1-1997, or
50MPa.

Appendix A

TPL Specification Timber_Poles

Page 7 of 10

12

Proof Testing
Proof testing shall be used to confirm the calculated strength of the pole and
actual timber characteristic stresses.
5% of poles shall be randomly selected and stress tested
The pole shall be orientated for proof testing with its axis horizontal and the
load applied at right angles.
Poles shall withstand the applied loads without signs of distress.
Loads shall be applied at the ground line.
Proof load is calculated from
Pg=

Ps (L-a-b)
(G-a)

kN

Where Ps (small end) proof load is calculated from

Ps= k fb D3 x 10 -6 kN
32(L-G-b)

k
fb
D

= 0.9 for poles graded to AS2209-1994

= product adjustment factors from NZS4676:2000 for peeling & steaming
(0.75 & 0.85)
= characteristic bending strength (MPa)
= Minimum diameter at ground line

Test equipment is in accordance with NZS 3605:2001 appendix C

Three-point-bending test rig

Hydraulically loaded with Loadrite
Electronic scale

Appendix A

TPL Specification Timber_Poles

Page 8 of 10

13

Standard sizes produced:

Part #

Nominal length
(m)

Small End Diameter

Minimum Size
(mm)

Burial
Depth
(m)

Top
load
(kN)

Butt Colour
Coding

PSW86

190 214

1.6

PINK

PSW99

225 249

1.7

RED

PSW914

300 325

1.7

14

YELLOW

NEW01

10

225 249

1.8

GREEN

NEW02

10

300 325

1.8

13

PURPLE

PSW119

11

225 249

1.8

BLUE

PSW1112

11

350 375

1.8

12

BROWN

PSW1312

13

350 400

2.0

12

BLACK

Other sizes to be produced on request (with agreed proven performance specification):

Pole sizes inserted in the above table are to be the new standard for LV poles and will be
phased in after stocks are depleted from May 2010 onwards.
These are 10m poles and marked as NEW01 and NEW02 and will replace the 9m pole currently
used, part # PSW99 and PSW914
How ever the 9m 225 part # PSW99 will remain as the standard pole for road crossing and
service poles.
Pole PSW86 is the standard Customer service pole for inside properties, unless the customer
agrees upon or requires a taller / larger size pole for the design being undertaken.

Appendix A

TPL Specification Timber_Poles

Page 9 of 10

Appendix A Proof testing Calculation Sheet (Sample)

Input
data
Overall pole length (m) =

12

Assumed taper (mm/m) =

Butt end diameter =

346

mm

Test span =

11.5

mm

252.4

mm

Diameter at top end support =

Small end diameter (mm) =

250

Diameter at groundline =

330

mm

Butt end to support distance (m) =

0.2

Groundline to top support =

9.7

Top end to support distance (m) =

Butt to groundline point of load
application (m) =

0.3

Butt end support to groundline =

1.8

Load at top end support (kN) =

Load at groundline =

57.50

kN

Bending stress at load point =

24.74

MPa

Note; Max test stress for high density peeled &

steamed utility poles = 33.2 MPa

Given the load, pole size and MoE:

Expected MoE (GPa) from NZS3603
=

33.2

12.1

Deflection at groundline (mm) =

90

Smallest SED for given loads =

Given the load, pole size and deflection at the

ground line:
Observed deflection at ram at
groundline (mm)

65

( note degradation Kd factor of 0.8 applied for 50 yr service check: Max

Stress=26.56 )

fb Mpa

52

proof load

69.84
Pole
size

top load

mm

16.82

MoE (GPa) =

calculated

219

spec kN

kN

test point- gline

Load at

check
smallest

proof
load

proof load

deflection
(mm)

m from lg end

groundline
kN

sed for
load

kN

load kg

limit

50 yr
service
min
SED
diam

175/6

1.2

33

164

35.05

3577

38

180

200/8

1.6

32.1

173

41.08

4192

52

190

225/8.5

1.65

33.1

175

54.44

5555

40

192

250/9

1.7

51

210

70.07

7150

48

231

250/12

57.5

219

69.84

7127

90

242

Appendix A

TPL Specification Timber_Poles

Page 10 of 10