25-Year Field Study Confirms Rot-Guard™ Sleeve's Effectiveness

Polesaver, a global leader in wooden utility pole protection, is proud to announce that its Rot-Guard™ ground-line barrier sleeves have been independently proven to deliver decades of protection for wooden utility poles - setting a new benchmark for long-term performance in the industry.

In a sector where performance claims are typically based on accelerated laboratory testing, the 25-year independent field test trial - conducted by the Building Research Establishment (BRE), Europe’s leading timber testing authority - represents the gold standard in real-world validation. The trial followed EN252:2014, the European Standard for evaluating wood preservatives in ground contact under true field conditions.

The findings were conclusive:

• Preservative dip-treated stakes alone:
  • Showed visible signs of decay within just 3 years.

• Preservative dip-treated stakes fitted with Polesaver’s ground-line barrier sleeves:
  • Remained structurally sound after 25 years of continuous in-ground exposure.

“We’re naturally delighted with the results,” said Richard George, CEO of Polesaver. “In a market that relies heavily on accelerated test data, being able to demonstrate 25 years of proven field performance gives utilities and infrastructure operators the confidence that our solution will meaningfully increase pole service life - and that, for us, is the true gold standard.”

The BRE used the Notional Mean Decay Rating (NMDR) system - a visual inspection method defined in EN252 - to assess stake performance. All stakes fitted with the sleeves achieved exceptional results. These stakes have now been returned to the ground for extended monitoring, reflecting Polesaver’s commitment to continued innovation and performance assurance.

Keeping Wood the Material of Choice

Polesaver’s Rot-Guard™ sleeves provide critical ground-line protection, the point at which wooden poles are most vulnerable to decay. The sleeves feature a dual-layer design that locks in wood preservatives while sealing out moisture, oxygen, and decay-causing organisms. This significantly reduces pole failure rates, increasing operational life and significantly reducing replacement and maintenance costs for utility and telecom providers worldwide, and keeps wood as the material of choice in the face of growing competition from alternative materials.

With over 30 years of industry expertise and use in more than 35 countries, Polesaver products are already trusted across the globe. The latest results from the ongoing BRE trial offer powerful, third-party confirmation that Polesaver’s ground-line barrier sleeves work - and they last.

Contact Polesaver

For more details about the BRE test data, or Polesaver Rot-Guard™ sleeves, please get in touch with the Polesaver team.