What is the expected lifespan on Duratel products?

Duratel poles are manufactured from a fiber-reinforced polyester resin material and engineered to withstand hurricane force winds, resist corrosion, rot, and extreme environmental conditions. Duratel’s distribution poles incorporate the same structural materials used in cooling towers throughout the Southwestern United States. Both in-system tests and field tests have shown our poles life expectancy to exceed 80 years, more than twice as long as traditional material equivalents.

What material are your poles constructed from?

Duratel poles are pultruded with a patent-pending fiber reinforced composite material.  Our focus is to produce non-metallic products that offer many advantages over traditional materials such as wood, concrete, aluminum and steel.

Are there any UV or blooming issues?

Duratel poles have a 10 mil polyester veil which protects the surface with additional resin.  As added protection, a UV light absorber is added in the resin mix to dissipate heat from UV attack.

Do your poles meet the same test requirements as wood poles? 

Duratel has conducted stringent in-system testing on its products to ensure it meets or exceeds all industry standards. Duratel poles are engineered to have guaranteed minimum strengths. In practice, our pultruded fiberglass method results in a stronger, more rigid, non-conductive pole that has higher flexural strength than timber. Plus, Duratel poles are typically one-third the weight of traditional timber poles.

What is the load rating for Duratel poles?

The load rating for a typical 40 foot Duratel pole has been tested at 4,500 lbs. Cross arms can support 2,500 lbs each.

Can these poles be made to order? If so, what is typical lead time?

Typical lead-time for custom ordered Duratel products is 6-8 weeks. Delivery of distribution poles to stocking yards and ‘ship-and-store’ options available. The advantages of this include immediate availability of Duratel poles for emergencies and the ability to transition composite poles into the current system as needed without having to capitalize the expenditure until the poles are installed or used.

What is the typical installation procedure?

Duratel poles weigh, on average, one-third the weight of wood poles. Installation can be accomplished with a two-man bucket truck equipped with pole claw and guides and an auger. Poles are buried 10 percent of the length plus 2 feet. Duratel has received overwhelming positive feedback from linesmen and engineers who have set our products.

How are pole caps affixed? Are they permanent or semi-permanent? 

For permanent installations, options include Teflon tape, solvent cements and primers or other eco-friendly adhesives. If pole caps need to be removed, Duratel products are designed to accept cotter pins.

How can the pole be climbed?

Pole steps can be installed during the manufacturing process to specifications supplied by the client.  Duratel is designed for safe pole access via pole steps or a bucket truck.

How are holes drilled in the field? Will any hardware loosen as it ages? 

Duratel poles can be manufactured to any specification, including the addition of climbing mounts, brackets, cross arm attachments, etc…Field modifications are easily achieved using traditional, linesman-approved tools and equipment. 

Although our material does not expand and contract like wood, depending on conditions, loosening may occur.  We recommend incorporating lock washers.

Can Duratel products be cut with a chain saw?

Duratel poles can be custom manufactured to any specified length and delivered nationwide in 6-8 weeks. In the event a field modification is needed, Duratel poles can be quickly and easily customized using carbide tipped circular saw blades. 

Can Duratel poles be removed after installation? If so, what method is optimum?

Duratel poles are installed in the field using traditional drilling and setting methods or Duratel offers prefabricated concrete base solutions which can be designed and formed to follow any architectural style. Formed concrete caissons offer additional structural support, in-and-out feeds for wires to be fed through the pole center. Duratel poles are buried directly (10 percent of length plus two feet) and can be easily installed, moved, reused or repositioned with a two man bucket truck crew and pole guides without any structural or integrity loss.

If a transformer leaks hot oil on pole what will happen?

Duratel’s reinforced polymer has been tested to withstand 180 degree heat. It will not melt or degrade or burn below that temperature.  Our product has an integrated two-step fire retardant process for a Class One rating.  The combination of powered Bromine (a halogen agent which eliminates oxygen) and Aluminum Trihydrate (generates moisture) aids in extinguishing flares.

Can lawn mowers damage the surface? If so how is it fixed?

Duratel poles are extremely durable. Drop tests have shown they are impact resistant to over 10,000 PSI.  If such damage occurs, poles can be wrapped onsite with a fiber composite, similar to poles of traditional material.

What happens if a vehicle collides with Duratel pole?

Standard Class 4, 40’ Duratel distribution poles weigh approximately 310 lbs. In the event of a vehicle collision with one of our products, the pole is designed to absorb and distribute the impact. The hollow structure is inherently safer and causes less damage. Due to their decreased weight, Duratel poles will typically continue to support power lines, lowering the frequency of outages due to collisions.

What about disposal of Duratel poles? Are there any landfill issues?

Because Duratel products contain no toxic chemicals or preservatives, they can be safely recycled and used in concrete and asphalt applications. Duratel knows of no known issue with its products being used or disposed of in landfills.