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DOWNLOAD PDF COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 19, 2014 – SPIDA® Software has partnered with RS Technologies Inc. (RS) to develop a material library containing RS modular composite utility poles up to 80 ft. [24.4 m] for their SPIDACalc Structure Analysis Software. RS, with support from SPIDA, has generated an RS Pole material library, or client file, for SPIDACalc software that includes RS pole length and class combinations up to 80 ft. [24.4m]. Having access to this information allows utilities to easily model any RS pole configuration with SPIDACalc for both new installations and upgrades of existing infrastructure. SPIDA and RS will continue to collaborate and plan to release the library files for RS pole lengths up to 155 ft. [47.2 m] in the near future to enable SPIDACalc users to utilize the full range of RS poles. “A client file in SPIDACalc plays an important role in the software by defining the engineering values and options available to users. Partnering with RS allows our users to access the most accurate data straight from the manufacturer. This achievement makes the evaluation and selection of RS poles convenient and easy for our users,” said Brett Willitt, Vice President of SPIDA Software. Through this partnership, RS’s customers using SPIDACalc are now able to use the most up to date RS pole engineering values to produce precise analysis results. “We are very pleased that SPIDACalc users can now use the new RS data library to accurately and conveniently model RS pole structures. Many of our customers will appreciate the expanded design capability, and our technical team is pleased to have partnered with the SPIDA Software team on this project,” stated Howard Elliott, President and CEO of RS. SPIDACalc users interested in obtaining an RS Pole Client File can contact RS at sales@RSpoles.com or 1-403-219-8000. About SPIDA Software: SPIDA Software is leading the way with affordable, practical and cutting-edge software products that help electric and telecommunication utilities better design, manage and track their physical assets. SPIDACalc is the industry-leading structural analysis software that performs pole loading, pole strength and guying analyses. SPIDMin Asset Administration Software is a web-based, spatial application with configurable project management tools to coordinate utility activities including pole attachments and field inspection programs. SPIDA’s user-friendly products can be used independently or deployed as SPIDA’s Structure Management System. The Structure Management System combines asset management and structural engineering into a centralized platform that transforms and simplifies daily tasks such as asset inspections, engineering, and joint use coordination. In an ever-changing industry, SPIDA continues to provide innovative technology tools necessary for system hardening and reliability initiatives. About RS Technologies: RS Technologies Inc. is a customer and technology driven company that designs, engineers, and manufactures composite utility poles. The poles are used in transmission, distribution and communication applications and offer a lighter, more durable, and longer-lasting solution over wood, steel and concrete alternatives. In many instances, the environmentally friendly poles deliver the lowest total installed and lifecycle cost solution of any pole on the market. With installations dating back to 2003, RS has over 450 customers globally and is ISO 9001:2015 registered. For more information, please visit spidasoftware.com and RSpoles.com. # # # Tim Spratt Director, Sales tim.spratt@spidasoftware.com 614-470-9882
RS Technologies looks forward to next phase of accelerated growth CALGARY, AB, CAN, February 6, 2024 – RS Technologies Inc. (“RS” or the “Company”), a leading global manufacturer of composite utility poles, today announced that the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) has appointed John Higgins as Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), effective January 18, 2024. The appointment of John Higgins, who has served on the Board since 2019, follows the departure of George Kirby, who served as the President and CEO of RS since 2021, and whose tenure marked a period of growth and innovation. The Board greatly appreciates George’s dedication to advancing RS’s position as a premier composite utility pole manufacturer. “John has extensive experience serving the utility industry, leading growth businesses and a deep knowledge of RS specifically,” said Don Lowry, Chairman of the Board. “Investment in the electrical grid is at an inflection point, and John is the right leader to accelerate RS’s growth and secure the Company’s place as a leader in the market for utility structures.” John has a proven track record and brings a wealth of utility service and infrastructure experience to RS. Prior to joining the Board, John was President of the Utility Services Group of MasTec, leading more than 4,000 employees serving the engineering, maintenance, and construction needs of the utility and telecommunications industries during his nine-year tenure. John also sits on the board of SAM Companies, the leading geospatial engineering firm serving the same sectors. John holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from West Point and an MBA from Harvard Business School. “During my time as a Board member, I have developed a profound respect for the Company’s talented team and its superior products, and I have the utmost confidence in our ability to continue to deliver our unique grid-hardening solutions, at scale, to this important market,” Higgins said. “I am honored to have this opportunity to lead our team and couldn’t be more excited to help RS realize its potential as we enter this next phase of growth.” RS Technologies’ investors Werklund Growth Fund L.P. and Energy Impact Partners L.P. welcomed John to the new role and expressed confidence in his ability to grow the company. “Having worked with John on the Board, I have witnessed firsthand his tireless efforts and the creativity brings. John’s ability to scale businesses will help establish RS as a key infrastructure provider,” said Stefan Erasmus, CEO of Werklund Growth Fund GP Inc. “We are confident that in his new role as CEO, John will enable RS’s advancement of composite infrastructure solutions and continue the programmatic adoption of RS’s products by utilities to create a more sustainable, reliable, and resilient grid,” said Steven Kantowitz, Partner at Energy Impact Partners L.P. About RS Technologies Inc. (RS) RS designs, engineers, and manufactures composite utility poles and related products for the electric transmission and distribution sectors. By applying superior resin formulation, stringent quality processes and dedicated utility servicing, RS is the global leader in composite utility structure design and manufacturing. The company’s PowerONTM poles’ unique modular designs satisfy hardened grid requirements from basic 40-foot distribution to 345kV transmission lines with engineered confidence. Using a controlled manufacturing environment, RS can match supply to utilities’ needs whether it is general replacement, restoration, new builds, or multi-year whole grid hardening programs. PowerONTM poles have been rigorously field-tested, demonstrating superior resilience against numerous threats to the electrical grid, including wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, woodpeckers, and other potential hazards. RS has manufacturing facilities in Tilbury, Ontario, Canada, and St. George, Utah, USA. More information on RS and PowerON TM poles is available at RSpoles.com
New state-of-the-art manufacturing facility set to create 400+ jobs in Texas while supporting grid resiliency upgrades for greater Houston electric customers ST. GEORGE, UTAH, USA, May 9, 2023 – RS Technologies Inc. (RS), a portfolio company of Werklund Growth Fund L.P. and Energy Impact Partners L.P., today announced a new manufacturing facility in Houston, Texas to meet increasing demand for its industry-leading composite utility structure solutions. The 400,000 square foot facility and adjacent 8-acre storage yard will provide critical American-made products needed to support electric grid hardening. The Houston-based facility will employ up to 350 manufacturing employees and 50+ additional professionals to design, engineer and manufacture the most sustainable high-performance composite poles, crossarms, and structures for the electric utility transmission and distribution sectors. The company’s products offer storm and fire resiliency and deliver lowest total life-cycle costs relative to traditional wood, steel or concrete products. RS products are delivering high reliability performance to over 460 utility customers across 28 countries in some of the most severe weather regions in the world. With the company’s deep materials science experience, RS is the only composite structure manufacturer using 100% polyurethane resin, enabling long life products and the elimination of scheduled maintenance. “The enormous challenges impacting the electric utility industry require rapidly scalable solutions,” said George Kirby, CEO of RS. “Our expansion is fueled by immense global demand for resilient infrastructure while also supporting utility companies locally, such as CenterPoint Energy, to enhance its resilient electric transmission and distribution network that delivers safe and reliable power to the communities it serves.” CenterPoint Energy, an industry-leading Texas-based electric and natural gas utility serving more than 7 million metered customers in six states, is using RS products to enhance its resiliency for extreme weather events as part of its grid hardening program. “CenterPoint Energy is committed to providing safe and reliable service to our customers. RS’s infrastructure products are an important component of our efforts to provide CenterPoint Energy customers with a cost-effective, resilient grid,” said Lynnae Wilson, Senior Vice President, Electric Business of CenterPoint Energy. “As we approach this year’s hurricane season, we continue investing in our transmission and distribution systems to enhance system reliability and resiliency. Manufacturing in the Houston area simplifies supply chain logistics for these important components and supports fast, efficient delivery.” In addition to proximity to CenterPoint Energy and other major coastal electric utilities requiring resilient solutions, RS’s Houston location was selected based on access to a highly skilled technical workforce. “I am pleased to welcome RS Technologies Inc. to Houston and fully support their new manufacturing facility,” said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. “The company’s commitment to innovation and resiliency in the design and manufacturing of sustainable composite utility poles and structures aligns very well with the resilience strategy that I released in 2022. The resilience framework encourages collective action from all Houston stakeholders to protect against future disasters so that disruptions are minimal. In addition to the resiliency benefit, this project will bring 350 manufacturing jobs and more than 50 professional and support jobs to North Houston which will provide more sustainable wages and improve the quality of life for those in the neighboring communities.” RS’s new Houston location is set to open in early 2024. ABOUT RS TECHNOLOGIES INC. RS designs, engineers, and manufactures composite utility poles and related products for the electric transmission and distribution sectors. By applying superior resin formulation, stringent quality processes, and dedicated utility servicing, RS is the global leader in composite utility structure design and manufacturing. The company’s PowerONTM poles’ unique modular designs satisfy hardened grid requirements from basic 40-foot distribution to 345kV transmission lines with engineered confidence. Utilizing a controlled manufacturing environment, RS can match supply to utilities’ needs whether it is general replacement, restoration, new builds, or multi-year whole grid hardening programs. RS has manufacturing facilities in Tilbury, Ontario, Canada and St. George, Utah, USA. More information on RS and PowerONTM Poles is available at RSpoles.com
DOWNLOAD PDF TILBURY, ONTARIO and CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA, November 1, 2021 – The Board of Directors of RS Technologies Inc. (“RS” or the “Company”), a leading global provider of composite utility poles, today announced that George H. Kirby has been named as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective November 1st, 2021. Howard Elliott, who has served as the President and CEO of RS for the last 10 years, and whose leadership gave rise to remarkable innovation and growth at the Company, will continue to play an integral role, remaining as President and Chief Operating Officer with a focus on operations and technology development. The Board wishes to express its deep gratitude to Howard for his dedication and impressive contribution during his tenure establishing RS as the premier composite utility pole manufacturer. George Kirby, an aerospace engineer by education, studied composite structures and applied this knowledge throughout his career at GE Power, AMSC, SAIC and AECOM. George, a successful public company CEO, has over 20 years of applicable experience commercializing and deploying disruptive technology. “George’s long career in the power industry commercializing disruptive technologies, plus his experience with capital markets, makes him the right leader at the right time for this phase of the Company’s growth” said Don Lowry, Chairman of the Board of RS. Until June of 2021, George was the CEO of Ocean Power Technologies (“OPT”) Inc., a leader in innovative and cost-effective low-carbon marine power data and service solutions (NYSE American: OPTT). OPT is spearheading the commercialization of power generation through the deployment of technology that harnesses the mechanical energy created by waves to electricity. George Kirby stated, “I believe RS possesses industry-leading pole technology and a growth trajectory that makes this a once in a lifetime opportunity to redefine the standard of sustainable and environmentally-responsible power pole grid infrastructure. RS Technologies’ growth has been impressive with increased production capacity coming online early in 2022 at the new St. George, Utah plant to meet surging demand. Increasingly, leading utility executives are recognizing that RS offers innovative solutions that address the threat of grid instability due to the increasing severity and frequency of climate events like fires and hurricanes. The Company’s products provide an indispensable means to address the impact of climate change by creating the grid of the future that is more sustainable and environmentally friendly.” George received his Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Syracuse University and his Master of Business Administration from Penn State University. About RS Technologies Inc. (RS) RS is based in Tilbury, Ontario, Canada and is a fully-owned subsidiary of the Calgary, Alberta-based Werklund group of companies. RS designs and manufactures the world’s highest performing composite utility poles that are safer, more fire and storm resilient than any other competing product. RS poles are longer lasting and more reliable than wood, steel or concrete and on an ESG basis are more environmentally friendly, consistently delivering a lower total life cycle cost than any other pole. More information on RS and its poles is available at RSpoles.com. For further information please contact: RS Technologies Inc. Joel Tennison VP & General Counsel Email: info@RSpoles.com Phone: 403-219-8000 RSpoles.com
Woodpeckers are not only interested in trees. They are also eyeing electricity and telecommunications distribution poles. The damage they cause is significant, to such an extent that it represents the second leading cause of pole replacement at Hydro-Québec. A large woodpecker stands perched at the entrance to its nest dug into an electricity distribution pole. PHOTO: HYDRO-QUÉBEC Andre Berard, RADIO-CANADA You may have seen or heard them banging non-stop on a pole in your neighborhood or yard. You probably smiled and wondered if those woodpeckers had fallen on your head. Why do they attack poles? For three reasons: to drum, what serves to mark their territory, it is without damage. But also, for food and nesting. And that’s a whole other story. Multiple boreholes can affect the integrity of poles. A woodpecker hole at the top of a pole. PHOTO : P.CADIEUX – UQAM – HYDROMEGA The affection of woodpeckers for poles is not new: this phenomenon was already observed in the days of the telegraph. Since then, the number of poles in Canada has multiplied, as has the number of woodpeckers. The survey of breeding birds in Canada indicates that between 1990 and 2014 the population of great woodpeckers doubled in Canada and tripled in Quebec. As a result, Hydro-Québec, which manages a fleet of 2 million poles, has seen an increase in woodpecker activity on its facilities. Dan Mastrocola is an engineer and head of pole maintenance at Hydro-Québec Distribution. PHOTO: RADIO-CANADA / A. BERNARD “We see places that were not affected and are now becoming more and more so. If we look at the figures from 2012 to 2021, we had more than 100,000 poles documented with damage caused by woodpeckers. About 12,000 poles need to be replaced.” — A quote from Dan Mastrocola, engineer and head of pole maintenance at Hydro-Québec Distribution A pole has a lifespan of about 60 years. It is usually at the end of this period that it is replaced. However, repeated attacks by woodpeckers can accelerate its degradation and force its premature replacement. At Hydro-Québec, woodpecker activity has become the second leading cause of pole replacement, after age. It was long believed that woodpeckers were more interested in old poles because they are more likely to be invaded by carpenter ants, the woodpecker feast. But this is not the case! Hydromega found out in 2015 in Dokis, Ontario. Hydromega’s distribution line in Dokis, Ontario, some of whose poles have been attacked by woodpicks. PHOTO : P.CADIEUX – UQAM – HYDROMEGA “It’s something we’ve never experienced before. The plant had been in operation for about two years, and we had about fifty poles out of 500 already damaged. A 10% of the line, which is not negligible.” — A quote from Sébastien Tilmant, Environment and Asset Optimization Manager at Hydroméga This episode kicked off a joint research project that brings together Hydroméga, Hydro-Québec and the Université de Québec à Montréal, among others. UQAM researcher Pierre Drapeau has been interested in woodpeckers for several years. In this case, his gaze turns mainly to the great woodpecker and the flamboyant peak. A flamboyant woodpecker lies in wait for the surroundings from its nest dug into an electricity distribution pole. PHOTO : P.CADIEUX – UQAM – HYDROMEGA The damage caused to poles by wood picks is of two different kinds. First, we note the feed holes, which can be multiple and shallow. They are used to reach colonies of carpenter ants. Then the birds can dig their nests inside the poles; In this case, the cavity they create is significantly larger. This nesting cavity, in the heart of a pole, has a diameter of about 15 cm and a height of about 50 cm. PHOTO: RADIO-CANADA / A. BERNARD “For a woodpecker, a Hydro pole is a dead snag on the ground. That’s how you have to look at it. What makes it settle on a pole rather than in the middle of the forest? That is an open question at the moment.” — A quote from Pierre Drapeau, Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) Pierre Drapeau and his colleague Philippe Cadieux, from UQAM, in the field for research on woodpeckers PHOTO: RADIO-CANADA / A. BERNARD In the field, in a natural environment and near power lines, Pierre Drapeau and his team have begun research to document woodpecker habits, their feeding radius, the state of the forest in which they live, etc Among the hypotheses being studied, is it possible that woodpeckers opt for poles when nearby trees are not large enough to dig a nest? In parallel with university research on woodpeckers, Hydro-Québec must, during frequent visual inspections of its poles, improve the description of the holes dug by the pick. Depending on their size and number, it is necessary to estimate the point at which the pole will have lost too much of its mechanical strength. On a test bench, Hydro-Québec conducted tests to measure the loss of efficiency of poles damaged by wood picks. Securely held at one end, a winch pulls on the cable attached to the head of the pole until the pole gives way. Dan Mastrocola, who supervises the tests, notes from the first tests sometimes significant losses of capacity. “We have seen from 10% to almost 40% loss of capacity. That’s pretty important. Indeed, at more than 40%, in theory, the pole should be replaced.” — A quote from Dan Mastrocola, engineer in charge of pole maintenance at Hydro-Québec Distribution A pole damaged by wood picks (green mark) is subjected to a mechanical strength test on a Hydro-Québec test bench. PHOTO: RADIO-CANADA / A.BERNARD Replacing a pole costs $5500 or more, depending on the equipment that is installed on it or its proximity to an access road. Electric utilities try to protect some of their poles from woodpecker attacks using physical barriers, including wire mesh or rigid casings. However, their effectiveness is sometimes limited. The other option is
‘We spend a lot of time identifying the subthemes within the broader clean energy landscape where we think the EIP platform can add disproportionate value,’ Kantowitz says. Obey Martin Manayiti 44 mins ago The ability to drive innovation against increasing threats of severe weather and other factors that are pounding the energy grid will determine the success of investors in the utilities sector, Steven Kantowitz, partner at Energy Impact Partners (EIP) told PE Hub. EIP, a New York-based private equity firm, on Monday teamed up with RS Technologies, a portfolio company of family office Werklund Growth Fund, for an equity investment of C$150 million ($109 million) to accelerate the expansion of RS Technologies. Werklund Family Office is based in Calgary, Alberta. It manages the philanthropic, financial and business affairs of David Werklund and the Werklund family. RS designs, engineers and manufactures composite utility poles and other products for the electric transmission and distribution sectors and the communications sector. Its products are distributed across North America, Europe and the Caribbean, among regions. “We were fortunate that they chose us because they believe that we bring a lot of non-financial benefits to this business,” Kantowitz said. “The ability to help drive innovation in this space is an important part of what we are doing here.” Made from composite or fiber reinforced polymer materials, RS products aim to help add resilience to the grid against severe weather occurrences, such as hurricanes, fires, ice storms and other threats. These include woodpeckers, which devour wooden poles. As more funding is channeled towards reinforcing the aging grid in the US and other countries, many investors are picking up opportunities in this sector. They say it has proven to be relatively resilient against the macro-economic environment of high inflation and high interest rates. Even though many players are jumping into the sector, Kantowitz said, EIP’s “secret sauce” is to spend time looking for areas where it can unlock disproportionate value. “We spend a lot of time identifying the sub-themes within the broader clean energy landscape where we think the EIP platform can add disproportionate value,” he said. The utilities sector is also supported by many renewable energy sources that are coming online, Kantowitz said. New infrastructure is being built to support renewables as well as electric charging systems for electric vehicles. He said stakeholders are “starting to see the real-world impact of resiliency, reliability and real infrastructure solutions” that help enable the growth of renewables or “the distributed nature of how energy is being consumed and supplied today,” all of which supports EIP’s investing thesis. Kantowitz said EIP will focus on enhancing resiliency and reliability, adopting new engineering standards, optimizing a sales strategy, as well as making composite “a much bigger part of the pie” of grid hardening. “Fortunately, this business has more than enough organic growth ahead,” Kantowitz said. He was also bullish on M&A prospects.
CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA and NEW YORK October 24, 2022 – RS Technologies Inc. (RS), a portfolio company of Werklund Growth Fund L.P. (Werklund), and New York-based Energy Impact Partners (EIP) today announced an equity investment of more than CA$150 million to accelerate the continued expansion of RS Technologies’ industry-leading utility structure manufacturing business in North America. RS designs, engineers, and manufactures composite poles, crossarms, structures and related products for the electric utility transmission and distribution sectors. The company’s products offer greater fire and storm resiliency, safer operation, and lower total life-cycle costs relative to traditional wood, steel or concrete products. Achieving a service life of up to 120 years, RS products are installed at more than 460 utility customers across 28 countries in some of the most severe weather regions in the world. With the company’s deep materials science capabilities, RS is the only composite structure manufacturer using 100% polyurethane resin, enabling the creation of custom formulations that address various applications and outperform alternatives. The company’s PowerON line of composite poles is becoming the industry standard to mitigate the impacts of extreme fire and storm events and speed up grid restoration efforts. “We are experiencing enormous demand from electric utilities working to update their systems to withstand more severe weather events such as those recently impacting the southeast U.S. and the Canadian Maritimes,” said George Kirby, CEO of RS Technologies. “This investment from Energy Impact Partners ensures that we can address today’s grid modernization needs and build capacity to be ready for future events.” We are very excited to partner with RS and enable their continued growth in providing advanced composite infrastructure solutions for a more sustainable grid. The company has already built and scaled an impressive business while having an incredibly positive impact on communities, and we look forward to working with the team and Werklund to continue their growth and expand into additional solutions for the utilities of the future,” said Steven Kantowitz, Partner at EIP. “Our significant investment in RS reflects EIP’s commitment to taking action in building a more resilient infrastructure, one of the pillars of our investment strategy.” Energy Impact Partners was founded in 2015 by industry veterans on the premise of advancing the global energy transition. EIP’s collaborative model screens and scales innovative businesses across the energy landscape. With a core of influential utility partners, EIP has assembled an ecosystem of more than 30 corporations and industrials from key sectors such as the built environment, transportation, technology, industry, and finance – all with a common goal to progress the global economy towards a more resilient and sustainable future. The focus on resiliency and reliability, as well as the ability to drive value through their utility partnerships, makes EIP an ideal partner as RS continues to expand and grow. “Having invested early in RS, we are extremely proud of the entire RS team for building the unparalleled leader in composite electric utility structure manufacturing,” said SeeHon Tung, Managing Director, Private Investments at Werklund Family Office Inc. “This transaction enables RS to supply at scale, helping to fortify electric grids with mature products that will last for generations. We are thrilled to welcome EIP into the RS family.” J.P. Morgan Securities LLC acted as placement agent to RS Technologies. About RS Technologies Inc. RS designs, engineers, and manufactures composite utility poles and related products for the electric transmission and distribution sectors. By applying superior resin formulation, stringent quality processes, and dedicated utility servicing, RS is the global leader in composite utility structure design and manufacturing. The company’s PowerON poles’ unique modular designs satisfy hardened grid requirements from basic 40-foot distribution to 345kV transmission lines with engineered confidence. Utilizing a controlled manufacturing environment, RS can match supply to utilities’ needs whether it is general replacement, restoration, new builds, or multi-year whole grid hardening programs. RS has manufacturing facilities in Tilbury, Ontario, Canada and St. George, Utah, USA. More information on RS and PowerON Poles is available at RSpoles.com. About Energy Impact Partners Energy Impact Partners LP is a global investment firm leading the transition to a sustainable future. EIP brings together entrepreneurs and the world’s most forward-looking energy, technology and industrial companies to advance innovation. With approximately $3 billion in assets under management, EIP invests globally across venture, growth, private equity, credit, and infrastructure – and has a team of over 80 professionals based in its offices in New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Palm Beach, London, Cologne, and Oslo. For more information on EIP, please visit www.energyimpactpartners.com. About Werklund Based in Calgary, Alberta, Werklund Family Office Inc. is one of Canada’s largest single-family offices managing the philanthropic, financial and business affairs of David Werklund and the Werklund family. With a history of entrepreneurialism, operational excellence and bold investments, Werklund is a fixture within the Canadian ecosystem of private company funding. The Werklund family is proud to sponsor growth in business as well as charitable donations to the community. More information is available at www.werklund.com.
DOWNLOAD PDF SCE needed a wildfire hardening solution for poles to support its heavier covered conductor. By Clinton Char and Brian O’Keefe, Southern California Edison, and Galen Fecht, RS Technologies Inc. A recent study by the journal Nature predicts an increase in the length of the California fire season from 36 days per year up to 58 days or 71 days, depending on moderate and high emission scenarios, respectively. An extended fire season means the threat of fire will start earlier in the spring, when historically there has been enough moisture to reduce fire threats, and extend later into the fall, which is particularly challenging considering the problematic combination of strengthening regional Santa Ana winds, which are associated with the lowest relative humidity of the year in Southern California, and already dry vegetation. High fire threat areas (in red and orange) in SCE service territory Confirming this ominous trend, in the last five years, California endured 13 of the 20 most destructive fires in the state’s history. With larger and more devastating fires now becoming the new normal, the term gigafire has emerged to label fires with over 1 million acres (404,686 hectares) burned. With 5 million customers in a 50,000-sq mile (129,500-sq km) service territory consisting of 4300 distribution circuits over 91,000 miles (146,450 km) of lines, Southern California Edison (SCE) has clearly mapped out high fire risk areas and understands the need for an effective fire-threat mitigation strategy. Prevention is one component of SCE’s strategy, manifested by the replacement of bare conductor with an insulated, covered conductor. However, with 1.4 million poles in its grid – most of which are wood – SCE also needed a proven wildfire hardening solution for poles to support the new, heavier covered conductor. Resilient Material Although it is the most prevalent material for distribution poles, wood is combustible. Steel poles are conductive and, in studies conducted by SCE, have the low potential to initiate wildfires under certain conditions. Concrete poles are too heavy to install in the remote areas of SCE’s service territory. Because they do not support combustion and they are the most wood like (that is, they can be drilled in the field), composite poles quickly emerged as a front runner for consideration in SCE’s wildfire-threat mitigation strategy. Two general polymer categories exist: thermoplastics and thermosets. Thermoplastics, also known generally as plastics, are items like a water bottle or the molded bumper cover on a vehicle. They are formed from pellets or powder using heat. Thermoplastics are not structural materials, so they melt when exposed to heat. Thermoset materials are entirely different than thermoplastics. Thermosets are composed of two components – a resin and hardener – that are mixed to create an exothermic reaction resulting in an irreversibly cured solid. When combined with a reinforcing fiber like nonconductive electrical glass, or E-glass, a structural element known as fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite is created. Because thermosets do not melt when exposed to fire, they maintain their form. The non-combustible performance characteristics of composite materials are widely understood. However, extreme fire exposure can be the ultimate test for any material type. Full-Scale Test Method Flame temperatures recorded during the 3-min RS-Ackerman fire test. Although composite materials do not support combustion, their surface can char with sufficient heat flux exposure. Historically, flammability tests for polymer materials relied solely on laboratory-based tests initially designed for the home appliance market. While effective for their intended purpose, these coupon-scale tests did not realistically simulate the intensity of a wildfire, which has been described by wildfire survivors as a huge wall of fire. Going back to 2011, composite pole manufacturer RS Technologies set out to design a full-scale test that would represent a severe wildfire moving through a utility line right-of-way. Partnering with a fire expert from the University of Alberta, Mark Ackerman, a test method was developed. The test parameters were established based on known wildfire characteristics: Peak heat flux (energy) of 22 Btu/sq ft (250 kW/sq m) Maximum temperature of 1472°F to 2192°F (800°C to 1200°C), with most fires below 1832°F (1000°C) Exposure durations ranging from less than 30 sec for grass-fueled fires up to 90 sec for heavy coniferous forest fires, with most wildfire residence times in the 45-sec to 60-sec range. The total heat flux, or total amount of energy, of the fire depends on many factors, including fuel type, quantity, moisture content and fire duration. The RS-Ackerman full-scale fire test method starts with a full pole embedded in the ground, with an embedment depth consistent with an installed pole. Next, a 10-ft (3-m) tall steel shroud is installed around the base of the pole. The shroud has three holes spaced at 120 degrees around the base, which allows for three propane-fed burners to deliver the flame exposure. Typically, the test is run for either a 2-min burn or 3-min burn. This establishes the performance on both severe and extreme fire scenarios, respectively. The peak temperature of the test is 2332°F (1278°C) with a total heat flux of 16,540 kW-s/sq m, which is applicable for the 3-min exposure version of the test on the RS Fire Shield, a composite shell made from the same materials used on any round cross-section pole, including composite poles, to provide extreme fire protection. After the exposure duration has been achieved, the fuel source is turned off and the steel shroud removed. RS-Ackerman fire test method setup. The RS-Ackerman test duplicates both radiative (the transfer of heat without any physical contact) and convective (the transfer of heat from one place to another by the movement of air) heat flux exposure. Utility pole heat flux exposure depends on whether the energy transfer is purely radiative, where the surface is not contacted by flames, or a combination of radiative and convective. Perhaps the most important element in the RS-Ackerman fire test is the post-fire exposure strength test. After the steel shroud is removed, the complete pole is extracted from the ground and loaded into a test fixture to complete a vertical full-scale bend test to failure,
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