Limitations Of Wooden Electric Poles
Why the wooden electric poles will not become a norm for power distribution on major roads can be answered from our previous post about electric concrete poles.
Wooden poles have more disadvantages than a concrete pole and those disadvantages contributed to the reasons they are not being used for power distribution in busy places.
Despite their cheap cost, the electric pole can only be used in remote places to carry stepped-down power lines into buildings.
The wooden poles have different types according to the species of the wood which also determines their duration in service.
Average wooden poles can last for six years after which the bottom or foundation section will get weak and the chance of the pole collapsing will increase by over 50% in some cases, the pole may be seen oscillating when the wind is blowing.
Benin City and other cities in Nigeria are places quality and well-shaped electric poles are obtained, according to the dealer’s gist, the poles are usually treated with condemned oil or chemicals to help in preserving them for a longer time but that may not be the case for all the types since some have superior quality than others.
Public power firms do not use wooden poles for power distribution for the reasons of their inability to last for a long time and the frequency of collapse coming from such poles. They are known to sustain an injury and possibly fall if small cars accidentally hit any of them.
Another problem that led to the less use of the wooden poles is the casualty coming from their collapse each time it occurs.
They do not fall with control like the concrete poles because there are no rods to hold the body rather the entire body and its weight falls on the ground rendering serious damage to any property within and can possibly kill anyone it hit or within the area.
The problem of electric poles’ collapse is not just the damage but also the possibility of electrocution to anyone within.
If it falls on a vehicle on a traffic road having a powered live wire line the vehicles on the road may become electrified leading to the electrocution of everyone in the vehicles, such as how severe the effect of a collapse of electric poles could be.
