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TS 43-88 Issue 7 2020
Revision Summary
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Name
Position
Version 0.1 (DRAFT) Date
ENA TS 43-88 Issue 7 2020
Revision Summary

Selection and treatment of wood poles and

associated timber for overhead lines
PURPOSE
This Technical Specification specifies the requirements of the Electricity Industry
with regard to the fabrication and supply of wood products used for wood pole
overhead lines.

SCOPE
• Applies to ENA Member Company staff, their contractors and HISTORY
pole suppliers/ fabricators
•Completely rewritten in 2016
• Provides details of the selection, quality, seasoning, strength •Minor revisions in 2020
characteristics, fabrication, marking, and treatment of wood
products to enable suppliers, member companies and their
contractors to specify timber products used in wood pole
overhead lines.

• Provides details of typical pole dimensions and masses

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 ENA TS 43-88 Issue 7 2020
Revision Summary

Summary of Amendments Nature of Revision

• Characteristic strength values for Scots Pine (Pinus Minor revision
Sylvestris) wooden poles
Key Points
• Electronic capacitive (pin-less) moisture meter use First issue ????
• Revision to incorporate copper/ alternatively Inclusion of characteristic strength
preserved treated timber products data

• New test for bleeding poles Inclusion of capacitive (pin-less)

moisture meters
• Pole volumes and masses updated (ANNEX B) Normative references updated
• Minor presentational changes to the volumetric
measurement of treatment (Annex E)
• Latest HSE position on use of creosote provided in
Annex G
• Normative references updated
• Minor editorial corrections
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ENA TS 43-88 Issue 7 2020
Revision Summary

Who is affected and why?

 Pole fabricators and suppliers
o Common industry specifications that amplify/ clarify British Standards
requirements.

 Member Company engineering staff

o Common quality of wood products that ensures conformity with
British Standards, with modified self-certification parameters for suppliers
with respect to copper/ alternatively treated timber products.

 Design Staff & Consultants

o Provides details of characteristic strength values, typical pole dimensions
and associated pole masses to aid in pole design assessment.

The use of this Technical Specification should in no way weaken or undermine

the requirements of the Utilities’ or Other Parties’ own safety guidelines.

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ENA TS 43-88 Issue 7 2020
Revision Summary

Impact Assessment
Factor Risk Rating Assessment

Safety Nil

The continuing use of creosote treated timber products may have a

Rating Environment Moderate detrimental environmental effect over time, due to the effect of gravity and the
Categories leaching of creosote into the ground around a pole.

Nil The revised characteristic strength values may have a minor financial impact.
Financial Minor
(costs / benefits)
Negligible
The revision provides new characteristic strength data for both Deterministic
Asset Quality & Minor and Probabilistic line designs. This will ensure designs meet the full factors of
Minor Performance safety.

Moderate Statutory/ Nil

Regulatory

Major
Reputation Nil

The latest issue of the document is available from the ENA Engineering Catalogue via
www.energynetworks.org. Further information can be obtained from ENA by e-mailing
Vincent.Hay@energynetworks.org

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