A State of the Art Overview: Composite Utility Poles for Distribution and Transmission Applications

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) or "composite" poles have been in use since the early 1960's, when they were first installed in Hawaii as a solution to wood pole degradation and steel pole corrosion occurring due to the moist salt air environment. Since those early days, significant advances have been made in composite pole technology to the point where today composite poles are increasingly being used in many power distribution, power transmission and lighting applications. With their high strength-to-weight ratio, environmental friendliness, non-conductivity and resulting enhanced safety, and longest lifespan on the market, composite utility poles for monopole and H-frame configurations are steadily gaining in popularity with electric utilities. This paper will focus on the key advances that have been made in composite pole technology, including design, materials and manufacturing processes. New developments include impact-resistant polyurethane resin with enhanced UV protection, and axial fibers placed longitudinally along the pole for increased strength. In addition to the technological improvements, an innovative modular design concept allows lightweight composite utility pole modules to be easily nested, transported and assembled to make up various combinations of pole lengths and classes