Pole Engineering

 

All G&S poles are designed and manufactured in accordance with Australian Standards. When designing a pole we take into account certain factors that will have a direct effect on the design and engineering of the product.

 

  1. The Importance Level. This is determined in accordance with Australian Standard AS1170.2 and is a process of determining the consequences of failure of the pole.  This will have a direct effect on the design engineering of the pole.
  2. The geographical installation location of the pole. Eg Wind Region A, B, C or D. This will have a direct effect on the wind loadings on the pole as wind speeds differ from region to region.
  3. The terrain category of the installation site. The terrain category rating indicates the obstructions or surface roughness associated with the particular terrain, which will have a direct effect on the wind loading on the pole and it’s operating equipment. Selection of the terrain category is made with due regard to the permanence of the obstructions that constitute the surface roughness. For example, the vegetation in a tropical cyclonic region should not be relied upon in assessing the surface roughness during a wind event. Typically, the larger the obstructions surrounding the installation site, the less the wind loading on the pole and vice versa. The theory being that the terrain obstruction will reduce the wind loading on the pole and its operating equipment.
  4. The total sail area of the lighting or other equipment to be installed on the pole. For each separate light fitting or piece of equipment, the largest single surface area is taken into account in assessing the item’s sail area.
  5. The mounting height of the lighting or other equipment on the pole.
  6. The total sail weight of the lighting or other equipment and the headframe.
  7. The sail offset from the pole centre. For example, if the sail area and weight is offset on one side of the pole in an unbalanced fashion, this will affect the loading on the pole.
  8. Topographical Multiplier
  9. Shielding Multiplier
  10. Directional Multiplier
  11. Annual Probability Of Exceedance
  12. The soil conditions of the installation location.

G&S Industries takes into account all these factors in designing safe working poles to meet our clients’ specific requirements. Using our computerised engineering programs, we can design and engineer a pole to suit any combination of these factors.

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Region Wind Speeds Vs m/s Vp m/s Vu m/s
A 38   41 50
B 38 49 60
C 45 57 70
D 50 69 85
Terrain Category Description
1 Exposed open terrain with few or no obstructions and water surfaces at serviceability wind speeds. Eg Flat Ice or Snow Field.
2 Water surfaces, open terrain, grassland with few, well-scattered obstructions having heights generally from 1.5m to 10m. Eg Airfields, Parks with Isolated Trees.
3 Terrain with numerous closely spaced obstructions 3m to 5m high such as areas of suburban housing and level wooded country.
4 Terrain with numerous large, high (10m to 30m high) and closely spaced obstructions such as large city centres and well-developed industrial complexes.