Quality Assurance

We proudly comply with the following standards and legislation:
SANS 754 – Eucalyptus poles, cross-arms and spacers for power distribution and telephone systems.
SANS 457-3 – Wooden poles, droppers, guardrail posts and spacer blocks.
SANS 1288 – Preservative treated timbers.
ESKOM: DSP 34-1647 – Specification for creosote treated wood poles, cross arms and spacer blocks.

TYPE TESTS
All quality tests required by industry are performed on poles prior to delivery. These include:
Moisture content tests: Poles are tested according to the oven-dry method. The maximum average moisture content shall not exceed 250g/kg (25%). The maximum moisture content per individual pole is limited to 280g/kg (28%).
Strength tests: Random samples are tested against a force corresponding to a minimum fibre stress (for bending) to 50MPa; if required this tating may be raised to 75MPa. Eight poles per 250 are routinely sampled.
Modulus of elasticity tests: The MOE shall be calculated for cantilever and midpoint testing where the average value for Eucalyptus poles and cross arms can be taken as 11’000 MPa (Elasticity tests are conducted for cantilever and midpoint modes and evaluated against the average value for Eucalyptus poles and cross arms of 11 000 MPa)
Retention tests:
Minimum retention for creosote 130kg/m3. (Tip diameter 80 – 140mm)
Minimum retention for creosote 115kg/m3 (Treated to refusal of 130kg/m3 or a minimum of 115 kg/m3.
Penetration test: All poles are subjected to 100% penetration test with an increment borer. The minimum penetration depth for the preservative should be at least 15mm at the theoretical ground line.

Strength and moisture tests