What are Composite Utility Poles?

Composite utility poles are a synthetic man-made material engineered and manufactured. The product is very strong and durable, achieving the same structural strength as a Class 2 Wood pole.

What are Fiber Reinforced Polymer Poles?

Fiber Reinforced Polymer Poles are a type of composite poles. They are known for their strength, long life, ability to handle high winds and are also fire resistant.

What are the Advantages of Fiber Reinforced Polymer / Composite Utility Poles?

Composite wood poles have many advantages including the following:

• Lightweight: they are 20% the weight of steel and 40% that of treated timber making them easy to handle and install.
• Strength: These poles have an extremely high strength-to-weight ratio, making them stronger than steel poles. If bent under extreme loads, they will return to their original straight position.
• Stable: Composite poles are chemically inert
• Environmentally stable: extremely low coefficient of thermal expansion
• Longevity: Fiber-reinforced polymer poles do not rust or rot. Unlike wood, composite poles do not rot, warp, or require regular treatment for pests or weather resistance. This makes them perfect for marine environments. They are great for in-water applications like pilings for docks and sea walls.
• Safety: Fiber-reinforced polymer poles are non-conductive. This is perfect for utility pole applications.
• Fire resistant: poles do not sustain a flame as there is no fuel source for fire.
• Perfect for High Wind Areas: Fiber-reinforced polymer poles will bend, not break, under high wind loads. They can withstand higher wind loads, like hurricane-force winds, and can withstand these types of environments better than steel or wood
• Installation: quick and easy. These poles are significantly lighter than wood poles making them easier to install.
• UV Resistant: Fiber-reinforced polymer poles do not break down with age and are protected from high-intensity UV rays. The pole remains at its original strength after years of exposure to high-intensity UV rays.
• Corrosion: Fiber-reinforced polymer poles do not rust like steel, making them more durable in coastal or harsh weather areas.
• Lower shipping charges: you can fit many more of these poles on a long bed truck, and it rarely requires heavy equipment to offload them. Easier to stack on a truck and offload
• Easy Repair: If fiber fiber-reinforced polymer pole gets damaged, the only requirement is to repair the coating for the affected area rather than sand back the substrate and re-coat the entire pole
• Custom Sizes and Color Available: these poles are available in custom sizes and colors. Standard colors are white, black, bronze and gray. Since these poles are manufactured, custom sizing is available.

How are Composite Utility Poles Made?

These poles are made by composite utility pole manufacturers using a specialized process under strict controls and quality guidelines. A combination of resin and fibers is molded together under extreme heat and pressure to form the basis of the pole. The poles are hollow and the main reason why they weigh significantly less than their wood, metal, and concrete counterparts. Yet they are incredibly strong and compete favorably against wood, concrete, and steel in terms of what they can handle and hold.

Where Can I Buy Composite Utility Poles?

You can buy composite utility poles from an online supplier like LED Lighting Supply. These composite utility poles are stocked in the USA.

How are Composite Utility Poles Stress Rated?

Each pole is designated a class, which is an ANSI designation of strength and durability. Typically speaking, the lower the class number, the stronger the pole.