Foundation poles

[hotwiretamer]

When setting a foundation pole for a deadend or corner at your place of work, who desides the deflection (or rake) on the structure? Does it come with the specs of the pole? Does your engineering dept. give you that info, or do the line crews decide how much rake needs to be put in it. Or, are the poles ordered pre-stressed?

[lewy]

We decide how much rake & we turn the back to face the anchor, all we are given is the pole & anchor locations & number of anchors to be installed. Our poles do not come pre stressed. Depending on how heavy we will use a higher class of pole. As far as anchors for us soil is the determining factor, but we like double helix PISA anchors.

[Highplains Drifter]

When setting a foundation pole for a deadend or corner at your place of work, who desides the deflection (or rake) on the structure? Does it come with the specs of the pole? Does your engineering dept. give you that info, or do the line crews decide how much rake needs to be put in it. Or, are the poles ordered pre-stressed?


We decide how much rake & we turn the back to face the anchor, all we are given is the pole & anchor locations & number of anchors to be installed. Our poles do not come pre stressed. Depending on how heavy we will use a higher class of pole. As far as anchors for us soil is the determining factor, but we like double helix PISA anchors.


Lewy, I think you read the original poster’s first post wrong.. I have never installed anchors or guy wire on any self supporting structure.

[hotwiretamer]

I've never used guys/anchors on foundation poles. Our foundation poles are used so that guys are not needed. I asked this question because I am never given any specs on deflection, and basically take an "educated guess" on the rake. I had a deadend recently bow so bad that I ended up putting the wire back in rollers and re-adjusted the anchoring bolts. I just couldn't live with the look of the dead-end, even though the engineer told me that the structure was fine. (It just looked liked sh#$t!) I asked him why I wasn't given specs on loading, and he told me that he could look into getting that info for me next time. He didn't seem all that concerned with my request.

[lewy]

Lewy, I think you read the original poster’s first post wrong.. I have never installed anchors or guy wire on any self supporting structure.

Yea I guess I did, I did not realize a foundation pole was a self supporting pole. We have very few in our system, but those that we do the backfill & tamping was very important, but I was never directly involved in them.

[Highplains Drifter]

Did you also help set up the Friction Crane? I remember helping set them up a few times. Nice photos....

[Pootnaigle]

Steve is dead on about the training available to IBEW hands.While welding may never be a necessary skill for some it will be useful to all.If things havent changed the training is free of cost to every apprentice, and a minimum fee is charged to journeymen.My advice to each and every apprentice is get all you can get while its free.Those that say they get nothing in return for their dues havent fully explored the benefits.The old days have come and gone but the expertise that came with them is still available to every member.

[Highplains Drifter]

I had a deadend recently bow so bad that I ended up putting the wire back in rollers and re-adjusted the anchoring bolts. I just couldn't live with the look of the dead-end, even though the engineer told me that the structure was fine. (It just looked liked sh#$t!)


I have noticed some bowing in the last few years with this junk steel they are using, also I think the new galvanizing looks like “shit” too….

[hotwiretamer]

[QUOTE=SBatts;100342]Well I am not a great detective, but I thought I was on the right track. If I futher, guess right you don't deal with this every day. Most foundation poles is either on a new job or like Sully's pictures a replacement, and each pole is delivered as needed at the site. I have always found a wealth of knowledge in that packing list taped to every new steel pole. I hope I was able to give you, whatever my old fogged brain cells could provide.

No, we don't deal with foundation poles everyday. That's why a little more information would have helped. We gotter done but I wouldn't have had to spend time doing things twice if the info was there in the first place. We have 10 foundation poles in our system, and I have been involved with all of them. (yes all ten, wow!)
I'm lucky enough to work at a Utility where we do all phases of linework from transmission to distribution, OH and URD. I agree with you that as a lineman you should know how to run every peace of equipment at the shop, and I would say 90% of the men, Grunt to Foreman can, and do.
I'm glad to see you think Havasu is paradise, however it can get pretty miserable here building line in the summer! While we are on the subject of Havasu right now, if anybody out there is looking at investing some of there blood money, housing in Havasu is very affordable right now! My wife's a realtor, so check it out! www.bellsellshavasu.com