LCM23

Version:
Issue Date:
Review By Date:
Owned By:
Authorised By:

1.1
August 2006
June 2008
Engineering Manager D & P
Executive Manager D & P

LINE CONSTRUCTION MANUAL LCM23

POLE ERECTION
REVISION TABLE
Version No

Date of Revision

1.0

June 2006

1.1

August 2006

Details of Amendment
Initial Release
Clause No. 23.4.5.4 Addition to Erection Tolerance
Refer EDC-L 1008/0806

The above table lists in summary the amendments which have been made with most recent issues of this standard.
The table is updated with each re-issue. The latest amendments within the documents are marked with a change
indicator (|) in the outer margin.

CONTACT
This standard is the responsibility of the
Development and Projects Division, ElectraNet.
Please contact the indicated owner of the standard
with any inquiries.

ElectraNet
52-55 East Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5000
PO Box 7096, Hutt Street Post Office,
Adelaide, South Australia 5000
Ph (08) 8404 7966, Fx (08) 8404 7104

L I M I TATI O N O F L I A B I L I T Y AN D
D I S C L A I M E R O F W AR R A N T Y
ElectraNet makes no representation or warranty as
to the accuracy, reliability, completeness or
suitability for particular purposes of the information
in this document. ElectraNet and its employees,
agents and consultants shall have no liability
(including liability to any person by reason of
negligence or negligent misstatement) for any
statements, opinions, information or matter
(expressed or implied) arising out of, contained in
or derived from or for any omissions from the
information in this document, except in so far as
liability under any statute cannot be excluded.

2006 ElectraNet Pty Limited trading as ElectraNet. No part of this document may be reproduced
or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic, mechanical, including photocopying,
recording, taping or information retrieval systems) without the prior written permission of ElectraNet.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
23.1

SCOPE......................................................................................................................................................3

23.2

GENERAL...............................................................................................................................................3

23.3

POLE SUPPLY & DELIVERY..............................................................................................................3

23.4

POLE ASSEMBLY & ERECTION.......................................................................................................3

23.4.1
23.4.2
23.4.3
23.4.4
23.4.5
23.4.5.1
23.4.5.2
23.4.5.3
23.4.5.4
23.4.6
23.4.7
23.4.8
23.4.9
23.4.10
23.4.11
23.5

GENERAL............................................................................................................................................3
POLE ERECTION..................................................................................................................................4
STEEL POLES......................................................................................................................................4
CONCRETE POLES...............................................................................................................................4
STOBIE POLES.....................................................................................................................................5
Pole Characteristics.......................................................................................................................5
Pole Handling & Erection..............................................................................................................5
Pole Sand.......................................................................................................................................5
Erection Tolerances........................................................................................................................5
CROSSARMS........................................................................................................................................5
TIGHTENING OF BOLTS.......................................................................................................................6
ACCESS (PERSONNEL CLIMBING POLE)..............................................................................................6
CONSTRUCTION LOADS......................................................................................................................6
TEMPORARY GUYS.............................................................................................................................6
POLE IDENTIFICATION.........................................................................................................................7

AS-BUILT REVISIONS.........................................................................................................................7

23.1 SCOPE
The scope of this section is for the installation
of poles and crossarms for ElectraNet
transmission lines.

GENERAL
The Construction contractor shall:

Supply, deliver, erect poles,

and crossarms;

Supply, install and connect

pole earthing;

Measure and submit records of

earthing
resistance
to
ElectraNet;

Install pole identification;

Report
non-conformance
departures from design and
specification;

Provide As-Built drawings.

POLE SUPPLY & DELIVERY

The Contractor shall ensure that materials
supplied do not suffer damage or deterioration

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during manufacture,
storage and erection.

handling,

transport,

approved zinc rich paint applied to bright steel

surfaces.

Poles shall be inspected by the Contractor at

the manufacturers store or at handover
location. Upon acceptance, the contractor shall
be wholly responsible for damage incurred
during handling, transport and delivery to site.

After erection, all structures shall be cleaned

of all foreign matter, surplus paint and inked
temporary markings and left to the satisfaction
of ElectraNet.

The Contractor shall notify ElectraNet of

damage incurred to any pole and shall not
install damaged items until approved.

POLE
ASSEMBLY
ERECTION
23.1.1

&

General

The Contractor shall be responsible for

erecting poles and crossarms specified in the
line schedule at the correct locations. The type
of crossarm and earthwire arrangement to be
used at each pole is detailed on the line
schedule and shown in the pole top
arrangement drawings.
Poles and crossarms delivered to structure
sites shall be supported clear of the ground by
suitable packing. Pole cantilever length and
alignment shall be controlled to prevent
cracking, and construction activities shall be
controlled to prevent damage by impact or
fire.
No part or members of the pole or crossarm
shall be forced, strained or damaged during
erection.
ElectraNet will reject any
component where there is evidence that undue
force was necessary for assembly.
Bolts/nuts shall comply with AS1111 unless
otherwise approved. A galvanised flat washer
shall be fitted under the nuts of all bolts. Bolts
shall be tightened to a snug-tight condition.
Components shall be hot-dipped galvanised to
AS/NZS4680.
Snug-tight condition is defined as the tightness
achieved by a few impacts on an impact
wrench or by the full effort of a person using a
standard podger spanner.
Minor damage to steelwork, field revisions
such as drilling a hole and minor defects to
galvanising may be repaired at site by the
application of at least two coats of an

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23.1.2

Pole Erection

The Contractor shall erect all structures

complete with step bolts, ladders, platforms,
anti-climbing
devices,
number
plates,
identification plates, warning plates and other
fixtures as required.
The Contractor shall be responsible for
ensuring foundation integrity prior to the
commencement of pole erection and no pole
shall be erected within ten (10) days of the
completion of the pole foundation.
Where structures are being erected within fifty
metres of an existing overhead power line, all
equipment associated with the lifting or
support of structural steel elements or subassemblies shall be provided with a connection
to earth. The lifting and support equipment
shall also provide a metallic conducting path
from the structural element or sub-assembly to
this earth connection.
Immediately before erection, all members
shall be checked for straightness and any
member deviating from the straight by more
than 1 in 500 shall be replaced. Ladders and
step bolts within 2.7 m of ground level shall be
permitted only whilst erection is in progress.
Straightening of members damaged during
transportation or erection is not acceptable.
Members bent in transport or during erection
must be replaced with corresponding new
members.

23.1.3

Steel Poles

Access for cranes may not be available to all

pole sites and the Contractor shall be required
to use alternative techniques such as manual
methods incorporating a "jury mast" or
helicopter erection.
Where long line
helicopter techniques are intended, the
Contractor shall submit written work
procedures three months prior to work being
carried out to the Superintendent for
endorsement.

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Where it is intended that temporary

importation and operation of foreign registered
heavy lift helicopters be carried out, the
Contractor is required to submit evidence of
CASA conditions and approval to the
Superintendent three months prior to the work
being carried out.
Poles exhibiting defects shall generally be
rejected and not used in the works. However,
where the Superintendent so approves the
method, materials and workmanship, minor
repairs may be carried out to the surface
finish.
After erection all structures shall be cleaned of
all foreign matter, surplus paint, and inked
temporary markings.
Special care shall be taken not to injure the
skin of galvanizing or specially treated
surfaces during erection. Care shall be taken
to remove any rust streaks or foreign matter
deposited on galvanized surfaces during
storage, transport or after erection.
Minor damage, minor field revisions, and
minor defects to galvanizing may be repaired
at site, subject to the approval of the
Superintendent, by the application of at least
two coats of approved quality zinc rich paint
to rust free steel. Areas of larger damage, but
not exceeding 4000 mm2 may be repaired at
the direction of the Superintendent by the
application of zinc metal spray or low melting
point zinc alloy repair rods or by
regalvanizing. Damaged areas in excess of
4000 mm2 shall be regalvanized.

23.1.4

Concrete Poles

Poles exhibiting defects shall generally be

rejected and not used in the works. However,
where the Superintendent so approves the
method, materials and workmanship, minor
repairs may be carried out. The Contractor
shall consult with the manufacturer of the pole
to determine the repair method.
After erection all structures shall be cleaned of
all foreign matter, surplus paint, and inked
temporary markings.

23.1.5

Stobie Poles

23.1.5.1 Pole
Characteristics
The physical characteristics of each pole,
including such items as mass and centre of
gravity, are detailed in the pole manufacturing
drawings.

23.1.5.2 Pole
Erection

Handling

&

The Contractor shall check and if necessary

tighten all pole bolts before any pole is
erected.
The contractor shall submit construction work
procedures depicting requirements for
handling and lifting poles that ensure no
permanent deformation of the pole will be
incurred during handling and erection. Poles
shall be lifted at designated lifting points and,
if required, the contractor shall utilise strongback spreader beams whilst lifting poles.
Poles shall be installed in reinforced concrete
cored footings as detailed in the line schedule.
Pole shall not be erected for a minimum of 7
days after pouring of the concrete for footings.
Conductor stringing shall not commence until
14 days have elapsed from time of concrete
placement for any pole that will be loaded.
The pole shall be plumbed and chocked prior
to installation and consolidation of backfill
sand.
Pole sand shall be consolidated around the
base of the pole in the cavity within the cored
concrete form. Compaction of the sand shall
be achieved by washing and hand-compaction
or other approved means in approximately 100
mm layers, making sure to expel all air pockets.

23.1.5.3

Pole Sand

Sand used to support poles in cored concrete

footings shall comply with AS2758.1
Aggregates and Rock for Engineering
Purposes - Part 1 - Concrete aggregates.
Particle size distribution shall be in accordance
with AS1141.11.
Sand shall be double washed with a maximum
residual clay and fine silt content within the
range of 0-5%.

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A sample of the sand proposed by the
Contractor shall be submitted to ElectraNet for
approval and reference prior to use in the
works.

23.1.5.4

Erection Tolerances

Line and brace poles shall be erected so that

the poles are vertical. The structure shall be
erected so that the true deviation of the top of
the structure from the vertical shall not exceed
the lesser of pole height/400 or 50mm.

23.1.7
Tightening
Bolts
Any bolts/nuts shall
accordance with the
otherwise specified.

Diameter
(mm)

12
16
20
24

The contractor shall take special care to ensure

the straightness of segmented poles fitted with
bolted end-plate connections is maintained
after erection so that the pole tip deviation
does not exceed L/500 from the centreline of
the splice plate. The contractor shall take
measures to correct should clearance between
mating surfaces of the end-plates exceed
1.0mm maximum or 0.5mm average over
more than 67% of the surface using a method
approved by ElectraNet.

The Contractor shall assemble the members in

accordance with the drawings and attach to the
poles.

Every nut shall be locked by deformation of

the bolt thread by centre punching at two
diametrically opposite points. All punching
and deformation of bolts shall be done before
the stringing of conductors or earthwires is
commenced.
Crossarms mounted on the concrete face of
poles shall be bonded electrically to the
earthing rods in an approved manner and in
accordance with LCM 25 Structure Earthing.

Torque (Nm)
4.6 grade to
AS 1111
Note 1
30
75
140
250

Note 1:

These torques apply where

the
bolts
have
been
galvanized in accordance
with AS 1214 such that
external threads are coated
and internal threads are uncoated and lightly oiled.

Note 2:

These bolt torques may

require adjustment to avoid
damage
to
connected
materials.

Note 3:

All bolts shall be fitted with

galvanized flat washers and
nuts.

Crossarms

Crossarm supporting bolts shall be fitted so

that the bolt heads are against the crossarms
and where the bolts pass through the concrete
of the pole, suitable washers shall be placed
between concrete and nuts.

be tightened in
following unless

Bolts in structural connections which are not

within pole segments shall be tightened to:

Angle and dead-end poles shall be set so that

the top of the pole is set back in relation to the
base of the pole and so that the pull of the
conductors tends to make the pole vertical.
The amount of set required is shown on the
line schedule.

23.1.6

of

Bolts in tension due to loads at the support

point of the conductor shall be fitted with lock
nuts or stainless steel split pins, as directed by
the Superintendent.

23.1.8
Access (Personnel
climbing Pole)
Transmission poles, crossarms and earth-wire
peaks shall be fitted with step-bolts in
accordance with ElectraNet drawings.

23.1.9
Construction
Loads
Crossarms shall have sufficient structural
capacity to support applied loads arising from

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construction procedures or minimum specified

maintenance working loads.

23.1.10

Temporary Guys

Line poles of length greater than 20 metres

without conductor attached are liable to be
permanently damaged in high winds. These
poles shall therefore be temporarily guyed in
the direction of the centre line of the route
until the conductors are tied in.
Any materials, labour and equipment required
for such temporary guying shall be supplied
by the Contractor and included in the erection
costs.

23.1.11

Pole Identification

The Contractor shall mark poles as per the line

schedule and in accordance with the
ElectraNet drawings.

AS-BUILT REVISIONS
Supply and installation of structures shall
satisfy design intent. Revisions to design
specifications proposed by the Contractor shall
be submitted to the Designer for review and
approval prior to implementation. Should
approval not be granted, construction shall be
carried out in accordance with approved
design specifications.
Non-conformance reports shall be submitted
to the Designer for review and approval.
Should approval not be granted, construction
shall be corrected to conform to design
specifications.
For any item that varies from its initial design,
the Contractor shall prepare and supply to
ElectraNet, documents and/or drawings that
represent the item as it is actually constructed
or supplied.

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