WHY CONSIDER WOOD?
In conjunction with Polesaver, wood is the proven material of choice for environmentally positive utility poles
WOOD VS THE ALTERNATIVES
In the context of environmental awareness, prioritising timber over higher-carbon materials such as concrete and steel stands out as a significant strategy for mitigating carbon emissions, as highlighted by high profile companies such as the Committee on Climate Change. Timber treatment combined with ground line barrier protection offers an enduring shield against fungal decay and insect infestation for one of the most sustainable construction materials in the market. This choice promotes the preservation of natural resources by harnessing renewable materials and minimising reliance on non-renewable alternatives.Â
In an analysis focused on utility poles, life cycle assessment (LCA) findings highlight the superiority of Polesaver barrier sleeves over alternative options. When applied to UC4 treated wooden poles, the environmental costs associated with production is lower than that of concrete, steel, and vinyl composites. As well as providing a longer-life span for treated timber poles, the ground line barrier sleeves also protected the critical, permeable ground line from preservative loss. The Polesaver protected wooden pole exhibits the least impact on ecosystems, human health, and resources. The following table demonstrates the lifetime environmental cost of a wooden pole protected with Polesaver, alongside other materials.Â
HOW THEY COMPARE
Total COâ‚‚ Emissions Over 40 Years (kg)*
*Data based on minimum expected service life
*Lifetime COâ‚‚ emissions include COâ‚‚emissions to manufacture and replace each product over a 40-year period. A wood post stores 22kgs of COâ‚‚which is taken into account in the calculations. Full environmental data available on request
*Lifespan of UC4 treated timber varies based on preservative used
*The Polesaver sleeve also protects the ground line which reduces ground contamination
*Environmental data taken from Conclusions and Summary Report on an Environmental Lifecycle Assessment of Utility Poles prepared by: AquAeTer, Inc
SUMMARY
When evaluating materials for utility poles and similar applications, considering their life cycle costs provides valuable insights. This entails accounting for factors such as timber cost, treatment processes, preservative retention, transportation, installation, maintenance, inspection, replacement, and end-of-life disposal. In this regard, Polesaver barrier sleeves offer a comprehensive solution that not only minimises environmental impact but also ensures cost-effectiveness over the entire lifespan of utility poles.Â
Wood utility poles fitted with Polesaver rot protection can reduce the carbon footprint of each pole by up to -302kg over the pole’s lifetime. Â
Thanks to Polesaver’s proven rot protection, wooden utility poles can be protected against rot, increasing the life of your poles by 20+ years.
In addition to Polesaver Sleeve’s, termite and fire protection systems are also available in the form of our Fire Fabric & Termi-Guard products to help ensure total pole protection.
Increased pole life and significantly reduced carbon footprint helps your utility easily achieve it’s CSR goals.
(based on independent EN252 field test data, full report available on request)
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Polesaver manufactures and supplies guaranteed products that are proven to increase the life of utility poles. With millions of sleeves supplied to date, our patented ground-line barrier sleeves have been proven in volume use since 1994.
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