Inspection of Wooden Poles in Electrical Power Distribution Networks in Southern Brazil

This work aims to test an inspection method for wooden utility poles based on a classification system according to qualitative (visual and sounding) and quantitative parameters (excavation and drilling) to assess internal/external wood decay. Ten thousand poles were inspected, distributed over 23 cities in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (Southern Brazil). The results indicated a significant quantity of poles in advanced decay (14%) with a great variability among cities. Poles treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) presented worse conservation when compared to creosote preserved poles, suggesting possible problems on CCA treatment.