Pole Reinforcement Services

Reinforcement: The Next Step After Inspection

During a Test & Treat program, a certain percentage of poles will show reduced remaining shell thickness, structural loss at the groundline, or insufficient residual strength. These poles do not yet require replacement, but they cannot remain in service without additional support. This is where reinforcement becomes the most practical solution.

Reinforcement is ideal when a pole is:

• Too deteriorated for treatment alone
• Not deteriorated enough to justify replacement
• Carrying load that exceeds the remaining strength
• Supporting critical or time-sensitive circuits
• Located where replacement access is difficult
• Awaiting future capital replacement planning

Reinforcement fills the gap between treatment and replacement, giving utilities a safe and engineering-approved method to extend the life of at-risk poles.

Engineered Groundline Reinforcement Systems

We install industry-proven reinforcement systems designed to restore or exceed the pole’s original capacity. These systems are engineered to support poles that have lost structural integrity at the groundline — the most common location of decay found during Test & Treat work.

Reinforcement installation includes:

• Excavation of the groundline zone
• Removal of decayed outer layers (as required)
• Placement of engineered steel reinforcement components
• Hardware installation per manufacturer specifications
• Groundline preservative application
• Controlled backfill and compaction
• Final tagging and documentation

All materials and installation procedures follow utility engineering standards and approved system configurations.

Groundline Restoration Prior to Reinforcement

Many poles benefit from a combination of restoration and reinforcement.

Before installing the reinforcement system, Keystone can perform:

• Groundline excavation
• Removal of decayed wood
• Internal cavity cleaning
• Shaping and smoothing of the remaining shell
• Strength assessment confirmation
• Preservative application

This ensures the pole is properly prepared for reinforcement and meets required criteria.

Reinforcement Qualification

Pole reinforcement is only performed when a pole qualifies based on inspection results obtained during your Test & Treat program.

Qualification includes analysis of:

• Residual strength calculation
• Remaining shell thickness
• Bore test results
• Extent and depth of decay
• Pole age and species
• Engineering criteria from your utility

We reinforce only the poles that meet the structural threshold. Poles below the threshold are recommended for replacement to maintain system safety.

Integrated Test & Treat + Reinforcement Workflow

Our reinforcement programs integrate seamlessly with your Test & Treat cycle:

• 1. Inspection: Poles are evaluated visually, sounded, bored, and excavated.
• 2. Testing: Bore data and groundline conditions are recorded.
• 3. Treatment: Internal and external preservatives applied where appropriate.
• 4. Strength Calculation: Residual strength determines treatment vs reinforcement vs replacement.
• 5. Reinforcement Identification: Poles flagged as “Reinforce” move into a reinforcement queue.
• 6. Reinforcement Installation: Crews mobilize circuit-by-circuit to install engineered reinforcement systems.
• 7. Final Documentation: Reinforced poles receive a complete digital record for engineering and asset management.

This workflow gives utilities a closed-loop lifecycle program—inspection, treatment, reinforcement, and planning all aligned.

Reporting & Documentation

Every reinforcement installation includes:

• GPS location
• Before/after photos
• Strength calculations (from inspection)
• Confirmation of reinforcement qualification
• Reinforcement configuration and system type
• Treatment products used
• Installation notes
• Updated pole ID/tag information
• CSV, Excel, or GIS exports

Your engineering and asset management teams receive clear documentation showing:
– Why the pole qualified for reinforcement
– Why the pole qualified for reinforcement
– What was installed
– How the pole’s capacity was restored
– What ongoing monitoring (if any) is recommended

Benefits of Reinforcement

• Restores structural integrity of at-risk poles
• Extends service life without major capital spend
• Minimizes outages, traffic control needs, and disruption
• Lowers replacement rates and long-term budgets
• Provides immediate structural support where needed
• Ideal for high-load, hard-access, or critical circuits
• Keeps crews efficient by leveraging existing inspection data

Reinforcement maximizes the value of your Test & Treat program by taking the next step on every pole identified as needing structural improvement.

Why Utilities Choose Keystone for Reinforcement

• Crews trained specifically on engineered reinforcement systems
• Smooth integration with inspection and treatment programs
• Clear communication and easy scheduling
• Consistent installation quality across large service territories
• Zero recordable safety incidents
• Veteran-led leadership with deep field expertise
• Nationwide mobilization
• Reliable data utilities trust