Proven in Practice

Explore Jason Hall’s independent assessment of composite and timber utility poles, examining the engineering, operational and whole-of-life considerations that can influence utility pole material selection.

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Or hear directly from Jason as he discusses the findings and key considerations from the assessment.

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Utility pole experience with Suzanne Shipp and Jeremy Thomas, Energy Queensland

Drawing on their experience from the Roma–Injune line project, Energy Queensland Chief Engineer Suzanne Shipp and Lineman and Work Group Leader Jeremy Thomas share why FRP utility poles were selected, lessons from deployment and the practical considerations of introducing a new pole material into the network.

The project highlights where composite poles can provide particular value, including remote and isolated communities where access, transport and asset management present ongoing challenges.

“The composite pole up front cost is slightly higher than the other types of poles, but when you look at that over the life cycle of the pole and extending the asset over 80 years, it makes sense.”
— Suzanne Shipp, Chief Engineer, Energy Queensland

Utility insights with Michael Derrick, Network Manager, Energy Queensland

Hear from Energy Queensland Network Manager Michael Derrick as he shares how the network’s experience with FRP utility poles has evolved from addressing potential timber supply challenges to identifying broader opportunities across transport, installation and field operations.

Michael discusses where FRP can provide particular value, including western Queensland, termite-prone locations and remote island networks, as well as the response from crews working with the poles in the field.

“Once they’ve used the product and stood it and worked on it, it’s been almost universally accepted as being a really significant step forward.”
— Michael Derrick, Network Manager, Energy Queensland

Michael also highlights the installation efficiencies being experienced in the field, including a “multiple hour saving on each pole” compared with current practices.

• Durable – with an expected 80-year design life
• Inert – fully resistant to rot, rust and corrosion
• Resistant to termites and acid sulfate soils
• Lightweight, making it safer to handle, transport and install
• Modular by design so can be assembled off-site and craned or trucked into place saving you onsite time and expenses whilst reducing weather impacts to your project
• Cost effective – with reduced maintenance and replacement cycles resulting in significant savings over the lifetime of the structure
• Non-leaching, so will not release harmful substances into the environment making it suitable for areas of high conservation value
• Plus, structures made from FRP contribute to decarbonisation in construction and reducing global warming through less embodied carbon making for a more positive environmental impact
  

Read more about Wagner CFT’s Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).