FAQ

1.    What is the expected lifespan on Duratel products?

Duratel poles are manufactured from a fiber-reinforced polyester resin material and engineered to withstand extreme winds, resist corrosion, rot, and harsh environmental conditions. Duratel 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.

2.    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.

3.    Are there any UV or blooming issues?

Duratel poles utalize a 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.

4.    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 and conform to ANSI 0.51 wood pole class equivalency. In practice, our pultruded fiberglass method results in a stronger, more rigid, non-conductive pole that has higher flexural strength than wood. Plus, Duratel poles are typically one-third the weight of traditional wood poles.

5.    What is the load rating for Duratel poles?

Duratel manufactures three different diameter pole profiles to accommodate multiple utility classes and loading scenarios. Depending on length and specific requirements, Duratel poles can meet up to Class H6 wood pole class equivalency for Grade B Construction.

6.    What is the maximum length Duratel can produce poles?

Duratel has 75 foot poles in system and can pultrude a maximum length of 80 feet. 

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

Typical lead time for custom ordered Duratel products is 4-6 weeks. Our factories are capable of pulling approximately 250 poles per week.

8.    What is the typical installation procedure?

Duratel poles weigh, on average, one-third less than wood poles. Installation can be accomplished with a two-man bucket truck equipped with pole claw and guides and an auger. Poles are typically buried 10 percent of the length plus 2 feet. All holes can be pre-drilled to customer specifications with ground wires installed internally, if desired, for easier installation. Duratel has received overwhelming positive feedback from linesmen and engineers who have installed our products.

9.    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. All pole caps are factory installed with self-tapping screws for removal purposes.

10.    How can the pole be climbed?

Removable and permanent pole steps can be installed during the manufacturing process to specifications supplied by the client, or can also be easily installed in the field.  Duratel poles are designed for safe access via pole steps or a bucket truck.

11.    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. For any field drilling, we suggest carbide or steel bits.

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

12.    Can Duratel products be cut with a chain saw?

Duratel poles can be custom manufactured to any specified length and delivered nationwide in 4-6 weeks. In the event a field modification is needed, Duratel poles can be quickly and easily customized using carbide tipped circular saw blades.  

13.    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. Duratel offers a steel base solution which can be designed and formed to follow any architectural style. The steel base option offers 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.

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

Duratel’s reinforced polymer has been tested to withstand very high temperatures. 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.

15.    Can lawnmowers and landscaping equipment 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.

16.    What happens if a vehicle impacts a Duratel pole?

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.

17.    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.