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Sound and Bore Inspection with Fumigant

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This inspection type is designed for a utility that has western species poles (Douglas Fir, Western Larch) poles with a non-durable heartwood. It includes a sound and bore inspection followed up with the application of a fumigant.

Inspection:
  • Visual inspection 360 degrees of the pole from the ground line to the tip.
  • Sounding 35-40 strikes on a pole from ground line to top of reach.
  • Boring at a probable decay point. These would be 1) A large check at the ground line; 2) At a point of machinery damage at ground line, or; 3) At a point of a visual decay indicator at ground line (green coloration, fruiting bodies).
    • To the center of the pole.
    • At a 45 degree angle, minimum.
    • I recommend only one well-placed boring rather than multiple borings. 

Fumigant Application:
  • Usually based on age, a fumigant is added.  
  • Best Fumigant Available: Osmose MITC fume
  • An acceptable second is Durafume, Superfume or Ultrafume (all the same)
  • Fumigant application needs to be according to manufacturer specs in a workmanlike manner.

Data Collection: This is customer-driven, but the minimum requirement would be a GPS point taken at the pole. Notations of attributes of the pole, which include physical characteristics, would usually be on a staking sheet (height, class, vintage) and any hardware or pole issues.

Data Delivery: Should be given in a suitable electronic format, typically a shapefile (.shp), Excel or Access format. Some utilities request a mark up of their maps for important information such as reject location. RAM generates detailed maps from the data acquired during the pole inspection and presents it in a book form at the end of the job.

Accuracy: This inspection/treatment combination can be designated as either a Sound and Bore only inspection, or a Partial Excavate inspection, coupled with fumigant application.   Accuracy improves significantly with a Partial Excavation inspection.

Cost: This is a higher cost per pole inspection. It should be between 15 and 35 dollars per pole depending on variables such as fumigant choice, terrain and data detail.