The CCA Pole

The pole of the future

with a 70-year past.
A 70-Year Past
And Still Counting
W hen the Bell Telephone System
installed 18,000 CCA-treated
southern pine poles in 1940 and 1941, it was the
first large-scale use of CCA wood poles by the
The Ideal Material and
an Unsurpassed Preservative
Wood is the ideal material for utility poles. They are
produced from a renewable resource which is resilient
utility industry. Some of those poles have been and extremely resistant to oxidation, corrosion, fatigue,
removed since then due to line obsolescence or crumbling and spalling.
accidents, but not a single one is known to have From a commercial standpoint, wood has only one
been removed due to biological degradation. shortcoming: this natural resource is biodegradable.
CCA was first formulated in 1933 and has But with CCA preservative, wood is easily and cost-
been used in countless residential, commercial, eectively protected against the biological degraders
agricultural, and institutional projects. Supporting that cause it to weaken and collapse in nature, namely
transmission and distribution lines around the fungi and termites.
globe, CCA poles have been exposed a huge range
of conditions with the same results: dependable
performance and long service life.

Treating wood with

Wolman CCA preservative
extends service life 10-20 times
because after treatment the wood
is no longer attractive as a food
source to fungi and termites.
This claim is backed by a 50-year
limited warranty on Wolmanized
CCA poles.
How CCA Works

C
S
Stakes treated with
Wolman preserva-
hromated Copper tive and embedded
Arsenate, or CCA, is iin a test plot, such
a chemical preservative which as the one pictured
a
gives utility poles durability by here, by the U.S.
h
FForest Service in
rendering the wood fiber use- 1934 have shown no
1
less as a food source for fungi ssign of failure from
and termites. Wolmanized decay or insects.
d
CCA poles are protected by an Untreated posts
oxide formulation of CCA Type ffailed after just three
yyears.
C. It is a mixture of stable
metallic oxides which, on
contact with wood fibers,
forms insoluble precipitates
in the wood cells. Once these
precipitates become fixed in the wood, they do not migrate or evaporate. The treated poles are highly leach-
resistant. Since Wolman preservative is an oxide formulation of CCA, it provides optimal reactivity and fixation
without leaving unwanted, corrosive by-products on the surface of the pole.

Poles are moved into a

treating cylinder where
CCA is forced into wood
under pressure. When
treating is completed
and CCA poles are pulled
from the cylinder, ap-
proximately 80 percent
of chemicals are fixed
in the wood. Further fixa-
tion occurs soon there-
after, leaving the poles
highly leach resistant.
Features Add Up to Dependability, Dura

W olmanized CCA poles have a number

of feature which make them the util-
ity poles of choice. They are clean to the touch, odor
free, highly leach resistant, and friendly to the envi-
ronment. In addition, they oer low conductivity and
low corrosivity. And with CCA pressure-treatment,
the physical properties which make wood a superior
material for utility poles are not significantly altered.

Ongoing research and development has led to improvements in

both the production and performance of CCA poles.

Low Conductivity
Since the Wolman preservative used in CCA poles is
an oxide, rather than a salt formulation, there are no
by-products to increase conductivity. The low conduc-
tivity of dry Wolmanized poles provides protection
against the eects of current leakage and increases
the safety and security of line workers.

Low Corrosivity
Corrosion of hardware galvanized through bolts,
metal pole steps, and lag screws has not been a
problem with CCA poles since the oxide formulation
was introduced. Fasteners meeting ASTM A 153 are
recommended.

The Wolman CCA

oxide formulation is just
Long Life slightly more corrosive
Wolmanized CCA-treated poles are backed by a than untreated wood and
50-year warranty against damage from termites and water, and has not caused
troublesome corrosion of
fungal decay. If, within 50 years of purchase, a Wol- hardware.
manized CCA pole suers damage from either cause
that renders the pole unfit for its use, the owner will
be reimbursed for the full original purchase price. For
details, see www.WolmanizedWoodHD.com/poles.
ability
Strength
Full-scale testing has shown that CCA treatment
does not significantly aect bending strength and, in
some species of wood, it even increases it slightly.
The increase in modulus of rupture is not sucient
to impact the calculation of design stress, but it does
eliminate concerns about the strength of CCA treated
poles and it provides an extra cushion in the engineer-
ing and construction of a utility pole line.

Fixed Preservative
Because of CCA fixation in the wood, there is virtu-
ally no migration. As a result, remedial groundline
treatment is not necessary for aging poles and there is An eastern utility has subjected CCA poles to strength tests. All
no need to rotate poles in storage. samples passed ANSI design criteria, some deflecting more than
seven feet before breaking.
Cleanliness
In addition to the long-lasting performance they
provide, CCA poles make good neighbors. Since the
preservative is carried into the wood
in a water solution and is highly leach
resistant, CCA poles are clean to the
touch and nonstaining to utility work
crews and to children who might come
in contact with them.

Safety At left, before the treating process

A respected environmental con- begins, Wolman CCA solution is ana-
sulting firm, Gradient Corporation, lyzed to confirm its proper composition.
conducted a human health risk as- Above, retention levels are verified
by core borings extracted from every
sessment on children who play near
charge.
CCA poles and workers with exposure
to these poles. The assessment found
less intake of inorganic arsenic from poles than from
Reading a Utility Pole Brand
normal intake of food and drinking tap water. The
Species code: Producers code
report is available in printed and electronic formats. SP Southern Pine
WC Western Red Cedar NTC Location code
JP Jack Pine
LP Lodgepole Pine
NP Red (Norway) Pine F Month (optional)
& year treated
WP Ponderosa Pine
5-09 Preservative code:
Class Numeral SK CCA
(indicates circumference)
SP SK C Creosote
P Penta

5-35 Length, in feet

Wolmanized ET Poles
All the advantages of CCA poles,
plus theyre easier to climb

E ven though the increased use of bucket trucks in recent

years has reduced the need to climb poles, ga penetration
continues to be a concern for some users. The ET pole combines the
longevity and cleanliness of CCA poles
with the climbability of oil-impregnated
poles. Developed by Arch Wood Protection,
North Americas technological leader in
CCA preservative, the ET pole is treated
with a refined hydrocarbon oil emulsion
in the outer layer of the pole following
treatment with CCA. The viscous oil The original ET additive is colorless; a brown
additi
dd ve serves as a llubricant,
b making the pole easier to climb and colorant is now available.
to work on without aecting the preservative properties of the CCA
treatment.

Climbing trials show lasting value

Numbers below represent average combined scores for
climbability, as given by linemen following climbing trials.
Scores are based on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the easiest
to climb.
9-Year 14-Year 14-Year 20-Year
Trial Trial A Trial B Trial
1997 2002 2002 2008
CCA 4.8 5.5 4.6 5.6
Penta 7.2 7.0 7.6
CCA ET 7.6 7.3 6.8 7.6
All poles were installed in 1988. The 9-year evaluation was
done by climbers from Carolina Power & Light; the 14-year
evaluation by climbers from Georgia Power Company;
20-year evaluations by climbers from Snapping Shoals EMC,
Mid-Carolina Cooperative, and EnergyUnited.
 Production of CCA Poles
from forest to market
Following is a typical sequence in
the production of a Wolman CCA utility
pole.
1. Most Wolman CCA poles pro-
duced in North America are cut from
southern yellow pine, although some
ET poles oer these are cut from red pine, lodgepole pine,
ponderosa pine, western red cedar, and
major benefits: ed while
jack pine. Felled trees are visually inspected whiile sti
tilllll in the
ti the forest
fore
fo rest
restt to
to
determine their suitability as poles.
No need to rotate poles during storage
because of the emulsions high viscosity. 2. Pole-quality trees are processed
tto remove bark and the cambium
Can be touched and handled without special llayer, and to trim all branch stubs and
la
safety precautions. oovergrown knots. Waste removed dur-
iing
inn these steps is recycled as bedding
Easier to saw, drill and nail into than regular oor landscape chips, or is used as a fuel.
CCA poles because the emulsion additive acts 3. Poles are then separated into
as a lubricating oil. cclasses based on their circumference
6 fe
feet
et ffrom
rom
rom the
th
he bu
butt
tt. Th
They
ey aare
rree iinspected
n for straightness, twist of
Retention of oil can be readily verified by grain, excessive knots, defects, decay,
inspection agencies a dicult task with or other damage, according to ANSI
standards. Next they are dried to a
other additives. moisture level of 28% or less in the
RUS (formerly REA) approved. zone 2 to 3 from the pole surface.
4. The poles are framed, or cut to
The longevity of CCA-treated wood the specifications necessary for cros-
resistance to termites and fungal decay for sarms, before treatment. This ensures
decades. that the cut surfaces will receive
adequate preservative treatment. Each pole is burn-branded so there
Excellent climbing characteristics confirmed is a permanent record of vital information about it for later reference.
by numerous field-climbing trials on both new 5. For treatment, the poles are loaded onto a specially designed
and aged poles. tram. Trams are pushed into a large, horizontal treating cylinder, the
cylinder door is sealed, and a vacuum is applied to remove most of
No need for future groundline remedial the air from the cylinder and from the wood cells.
treatment, since fixation of CCA virtually
eliminates preservative migration.
Low corrosivity.

Another alternative: PA
In addition to the ET treatment, CCA 6
6. W l
Wolman C
CC
CCAA soluti
l tion iis pumped
d iinto
t the
th cylinder,
li d and d the
th
poles may be treated with Polymer Additive pressure is raised to about 150 psi, forcing the preservative into the
to facilitate climbing. wood. The pole is treated to a retention level of 0.60 pounds per
cubic foot in the assay zone appropriate for the species. For ET poles,
Co-developed with the research institute of the oil emulsion is impregnated into the
Hydro-Qubec, the patented CCA-PA system outer layer of the pole following CCA
treatment.
begins with pressure-injection of water-soluble
7. After treatment, the poles are al-
solution into the poles. The wood is then heated, lowed to dry, and the chemicals become
polymerizing the additive so that it forms a three- fixed in the wood. The poles are then
dimensional insoluble network. shipped to their destinations, where they
can be stored in the same position for
Like ET treatment, PA makes poles easier to years without any loss of protection or
climb. need for rotation.
8. CCA poles are in common use
around the world for both the distribution
and transmission of electricity.
 Backed by
international expertise . . .

W olman CCA preservative is a

product of Arch Wood Protec-
tion, which also oversees the quality of its
licensed brands: Wolmanized wood and ET
CCA/oil emulsion. In alliance with innovative or-
ganizations such as Hydro-Qubec, Arch is the
world leader in the production and technology
of waterborne wood preservatives. The Arch
expertise results from decades of experience
and ongoing research at laboratories in the
United States, England, and New Zealand.

. . . And proven
environmental benefits

W olmanized wood is a proven and

environmentally sound choice.
It comes from a rapidly replenished, renewable
resource grown on managed timberlands; it
requires less energy to produce than alternative
products; it embodies carbon, reducing green-
house gases; its production releases no air pollut-
ants nor wastewater; the CCA is manufactured,
in part, from recycled materials; the treatment
extends the service life of wood, thereby reducing demands on
forests; and because of its lighter weight, preserved wood can
often be installed with smaller equipment that has less environ-
mental impact.

www.WolmanizedWoodHD.com/poles

2009 Arch Wood Protection, Inc. WOL-0025-R4