Bleeding:
|
Seepage of oil and preservative from the pole after
treatment. |
Boultonizing:
|
Drying by heating in a nonaqueous solution under vacuum. |
Check:
|
The lengthwise separation of the wood that usually extends
across the rings of annual growth and results from the contraction of the circumference of
the pole during seasoning. |
Class:
|
In reference to the diameter of the pole. |
Compression Wood:
|
Abnormal wood formed on the lower side of branches and
inclined trunks of softwood (conifers) trees. Compression wood is identified by its
relatively wide annual rings, usually eccentric, relatively large amount of summerwood,
sometimes more than 50 percent of the width of the annual rings in which it occurs, and
its lack of demarcation between springwood and summerwood in the same annual rings.
Compression wood compared with normal wood, shrinks excessively lengthwise. |
Crook/Sweep:
|
Deviations from straightness. (See
Figure 1). |
Decay:
|
Incipient: The early stage of decay that has
not proceeded far enough to soften or otherwise perceptively impair the hardness of the
wood. It is usually accompanied by slight discoloration or bleaching of the wood.
Advanced: The older stage of decay in which
the destruction is readily recognized because the wood has become punky, soft and spongy,
stringy, pitted, crumbly or, in poles not stored or rafted in water, is in a soggy
condition. Decided discoloration or bleaching of the rotted wood is often apparent. |
Face of Pole:
|
The concave side of greatest curvature in poles with sweep
in one plane and one direction, or the side of greatest curvature between groundline and
top in poles having reverse or double sweep. |
Freight:
|
Poles can be shipped by several methods, including: rail,
flatbed truck, tripstake truck, and self unloading truck. (See
Details) |
Framing:
|
Holes and gains (flat surfaces) are made near the top of
poles prior to treatment to facilitate attachment of crossarms and other hardware. |
Groundline Section:
|
That portion of a pole between 1 foot above and 2 feet below
the groundline, as defined in the pole dimension tables (See
Figure 1). |
Heartwood (heart):
|
The inner core of a woody stem wholly composed of non-living
cells and usually differentiated from the outer enveloping layer (sapwood) by its darker
color. Heartwood and sapwood are comparable in strength. |
Penetration Enhancements:
|
Douglas fir and western cedar are more difficult species to
penetrate with preservative than pine, so various techniques are implemented to ensure
adequate penetration. The techniques involved are known as
incising, and boring
(drilling). (See Details). |
Pith:
|
The small core in the structural center of a log. |
Pole Defects:
|
Since wood poles are a natural product, they are not uniform
in shape. Following is a partial list of defects which often occur in poles. If the defect
is serious enough, it may render the pole unfit for use: Check, Split, Scar, Shake,
Crook/Sweep. |
Preservatives:
|
McFarland Cascade treats utility poles with
Pentachlorophenol,
Creosote, or Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA). (See Details). |
Pressure Treatment:
|
Treatment of poles in an air tight pressure cylinder, using
either the empty cell or full cell process. |
Rate of Growth:
|
The amount of tree growth each year expressed as the number
of growth rings per inch. |
Sap Stain:
|
A discoloration of the sapwood, caused by the action of
certain molds and fungi, that is not accompanied by softening or other disintegration of
the wood. |
Sapwood:
|
The living wood of pale color near the outside of the
log. Under most conditions the sapwood is more susceptible to decay than heartwood. |
Scar:
|
A depression in the surface of the pole resulting from a
wound where healing has not reestablished the normal cross section of the pole. |
Seasoning:
|
Removal of water from the wood fibers by natural air drying,
kiln drying, or Boultonizing. (See Details). |
Shake:
|
A separation along the grain, the greater part of which
occurs between the rings of annual growth. |
Size:
|
Pole lengths are measured in five foot increments. Standard
pole diameters (classes) have been established by the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI) based on minimum diameters by species at the top and six feet up from the
butt of the pole. ANSI class tables assure that poles in the same class of different
species have similar strength characteristics. |
Species:
|
McFarland Cascade supplies four species of trees for poles,
which we believe to be the best: Coastal Douglas Fir, Pinus Sylvestris, Southern
Yellow Pine and Western Cedar. (See Details) |
Specifications:
|
Although most large utilities have engineering or standards
departments and develop their own specifications, the wood pole treating industry
recognizes the following standards as minimums:
For untreated wood:
- American National Standards Institute (ANSI 05.1)
For treated wood:
- American Wood Preservers Association (AWPA)
Other commonly referenced standards include:
- Rural Utility System Specification 1728
- Federal Specification TTW-572
- ASTM Specification D4064-8 (piling)
- Electric Company of New England Specification (ECNE)
- Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
|
Spiral Grain:
|
Wood grain in which the fibers take a spiral course about
the trunk of a tree instead of a vertical course. |
Split:
|
A lengthwise separation of the wood extending completely
through the piece from one surface to another. |
Sweep:
|
Deviation of a pole from straightness. (See Figure 1) |
Thermal Treatment:
|
A method of treating poles by utilizing two serial
applications (or baths) of oil borne preservative.
|
Through-check:
|
A check extending from one surface through the piece to the
opposite surface or to an adjoining surface. |
