Comprehensive Wood Pole Inspection Programs
Our inspection workflow is designed to identify decay, structural deterioration, and conditions that affect pole performance and safety.
Visual Inspection
A full top-to-bottom evaluation including:
- Indicators of external decay or shell rot
- Cracks, checks, and weathering
- Mechanical damage
- Animal or insect activity
- Lean, sweep, or stability concerns
- Hardware, fastener, and surface condition
- Groundline surface indicators of decay
Sounding & Bore Testing
Sounding: Hammering and sounding techniques detect hollows, voids, and weakened internal areas.
Bore Testing: Precision boring allows inspectors to confirm:
- Internal decay patterns and cavity size
- Preservative penetration
- Remaining shell thickness and overall internal condition
Groundline Excavation
Partial or full excavation exposes the critical groundline zone up to 18 inches below grade, where most structural deterioration begins.
Intrusive & Non-Intrusive Options
- Intrusive: Excavation, boring, probing, chipping, and residual strength calculations.
- Non-intrusive: Rapid assessment for broad circuit reviews or early screening.
The chosen method depends on system conditions, utility specifications, pole age, soil type, and inspection frequency.
Test & Treat Programs
Our test and treat services focus on identifying decay early and applying remedial treatments that extend the service life of in-service wood poles by 10–20 years.
Internal Treatments
- Boron rods and fumigants placed inside the pole to stop internal decay, fungi, and biological activity.
- Effective for early-stage and moderate internal deterioration.
External Groundline Treatments
Preservative pastes applied after excavation to:
- Slow decay at the groundline
- Protect against moisture and biological activity
- Reinforce the treated zone
Void Fillers
Applied when borings or excavation reveal internal cavities. Void fillers stabilize and strengthen weakened areas.
Customized Treatment Programs
Tailored around pole species, system age, soil type, regional climate, and previous treatment cycles. These curated programs maximize treatment effectiveness and long-term pole survivability.
Pole Restoration & Replacement Recommendations
After inspection and testing, poles are evaluated and categorized to support utility maintenance planning. All recommendations follow RUS, utility standards, and industry guidelines for safe continued operation.
We determine whether a pole is:
- Suitable for continued service
- In need of remedial treatment only
- A candidate for reinforcement (separate service)
- In need of replacement based on residual strength
- Showing conditions requiring future monitoring
High-Accuracy Data Collection & Reporting
Every inspected pole receives a complete digital record that supports planning, maintenance, and asset management. Our data integrates seamlessly into utility asset management tools and engineering systems.
Deliverables include:
- GPS location & Full photo documentation (before/after)
- Bore hole measurements & Residual shell thickness
- Groundline condition & Residual strength calculations
- Treatment details and products used
- Pole tag and ID verification
- Inspection classification and recommendations
- CSV, Excel, or GIS-compatible exports
Platforms Supported:
- KatapultPro, IKE, Field Maps, Survey123
- Fulcrum, ESRI / ArcGIS
- Client-specific platforms
The Keystone 15-Step Test & Treat Process
This standardized approach ensures accuracy and consistency across all circuits and service territories.
- Visual inspection
- Excavate groundline area
- Sound entire pole
- Bore inspection holes
- Probe internal wood
- Chip decayed material
- Measure remaining shell
- Calculate residual strength
- Determine serviceability or reinforcement need
- Plug bore holes
- Apply inspection documentation
- Install permanent pole tag
- Record GPS and digital data
- Apply internal and external treatments
- Backfill and restore site
Program Benefits
- Extends pole life 10–20 years
- Reduces capital replacement cost
- Improves grid reliability and system performance
- Provides consistent, defensible inspection data
- Supports maintenance planning and budgeting
- Proven execution at scale across the US
- Led by field experts with 2M+ poles inspected
Why Utilities Choose Keystone
- National coverage with reliable mobilization
- High-production inspection crews
- Clear communication and program management
- Clean, uniform reporting utilities can trust
- Zero recordable safety incidents
- Veteran-led leadership focused on quality and accountability
- Proven results across co-ops, IOUs, municipalities, and G&Ts
