The PSNH pole inspection program for 2014 is well under way and will be in occurring in the Towns of Newbury, Lisbon and Sunapee in mid- August.
I wanted you to be aware so that if/ when you see activity around our equipment you are aware and also should residents call with questions.
Smith Mountain Investments is our contractor and Mr. Jim Smith is the owner. See contact information below.
Jim has many years of experience and has inspected millions of poles throughout the country.
Here is the general process:
- Contractor attempts to make contact with the customer where the pole is located; and they leave a notice if they are on private property.
- Contractor digs down about a foot to 18″ to look at the condition of the pole, they clean the surface and then *drill into it to measure the condition of the heart of the pole and the shell thickness.
They also strike the pole with a waffle hammer to listen for soundness and durability.
- If a pole is rejected, they install a square – red metal tag with an arrow on it to indicate the direction of the reject area and then report the finding to PSNH.
- Sometimes they find insects and or moisture and when this happens, they treat the pole and wrap it with to keep it contained and clean and all holes plugged with wooden dowels.
*The sound of a chainsaw is not them cutting down the pole, but a drill bit that is attached to a chainsaw motor.