INTRODUCTION TO PRESCHEM

Largest manufacturer of remedial wood preservatives in Australia

Accredited to ISO 9001:2000 Technical expertise includes Chemical Engineers, Electrical Engineers and Wood Scientists

Established in Australia in 1988

Manufacturing base in Melbourne with support offices in other states and South Africa

Over 5 million poles treated with Preschem products around the world

COMPANY STRUCTURE

Preschem Organisation

Standards

Remedial Treatments for

Utility Poles

Clear timber finishes

Radial sawn timber

Pole Management & Technical Support service

Pole Inspection

IT Systems

Training

Quality

Manufacturing Division

USE OF PRESCHEM REMEDIAL PRODUCTS

Supplied to all major Electrical Utilities in Australia

Preliminary performance trials in Uruguay, Greece and Hong Kong

Consistently used by Utilities for in excess of 10 years

Major export to South Africa

BENEFITS RESULTING FROM USE OF PRESCHEM REMEDIAL

TREATMENTS

Extension of inspection cycles Reduction in unplanned pole failures

Reductions in pole replacement

Powercor Australia

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

1987/88 1988/89 1989/90 1990/91 1991/92 1992/93 1993/94 1994/95 1995/96

Financial year

Poles condemned as percent of population

USE OF WOODEN POLES IN OVERHEAD NETWORKS

Lowest cost

Most versatile

Relatively lightweight Renewable resource

MANAGEMENT OF WOODEN POLES (World wide trends)

Increasing focus on maximising life of assets

Change from cyclic to reliability based maintenance

Managing poles preferred to replacing poles

Improved control of pole failures and supply reliability

MANAGEMENT OF WOODEN POLES (continued)

Alignment of inspection, treatment and data collection

Increased use of pole reinstatement systems

Management of poles is no monkey business

HOW PRESCHEM CAN ASSIST THE MANAGEMENT PROCESS

Provide a broad and balanced perspective Experience in most aspects of pole management

 

Standards Training Treatment Process

Quality Control IT Systems

Ongoing technical support

KEY ASPECTS TO EFFECTIVE POLE INSPECTION

Visual inspection and sounding Target critical zone immediately below groundline Detailed external probing Managed use of boring holes for internal inspection to minimise strength reduction to poles

KEY ASPECTS TO EFFECTIVE POLE INSPECTION (continued)

Critical analysis of shavings from drilling Evaluation of pole strength Capture of information Use of auditing to standardise and improve

USE OF REMEDIAL TREATMENTS

Barrier and diffusible types Preschem products utilise diffusion principle Diffusion occurs at critical moisture levels for decay

External treatment uses a bandage containing solid pills

Internal treatment uses chalk type rods

APPLICATION METHOD FOR POLESAVER RODS

Drill treatment holes around pole circumference Insert several Polesaver rods per hole Plug with suitable tapered plug Screwed plastic plugs and other accessories available from Preschem

APPLICATION METHOD FOR BIOGUARD BANDAGE

Excavate around pole to 300mm deep

Wrap around circumference of pole and tape top section

Measure pole circumference and cut length of bandage

Backfill and consolidate

Clean soil and excess decay from outside of pole

BENEFITS OF SOLID TREATMENTS

Safe and easy to handle Minimum protective equipment required No specialist application equipment Slow release provides longer term effectiveness Minimal environmental contamination

STORAGE AND HANDLING

Not classified as a dangerous good for storage and transport

Clean and can be stored in original boxes Indefinite shelf life

Require dry, cool and well ventilated area

PERFORMANCE TRIALS Many trials already conducted throughout Australia and other countries Trials confirm the effectiveness of the diffusion process used to distribute the actives in Preschem treatments Field conditions are always simulated even to the extent of installing pole caps

PERFORMANCE TRIALS (continued)

Trials also extend to investigating product improvement Most trials have been independently assessed by Government Research Organisations Preschem committed to ongoing long term Research and Development program

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS

Preschem products are already registered for safe commercial use in several countries Controlled release of actives into wood Minimisation of waste Inaccessibility to public and animals

Preschem utilises an Environmental Management plan which incorporates aspects from production through to the end use of products

COST CONSIDERATIONS

Effective management of the pole population will lead to significant capital replacement savings

Projected Utility Budget Savings

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1987/88 1988/89 1989/90 1990/91 1991/92 1992/93 1993/94 1994/95 1995/96

Financial year

Cap

ital

rep

lace

men

t sa

vin

gs

($m

ill U

S)

Using typical Australian experience projected over 500,000 poles

COST CONSIDERATIONS(continued)

Minimal equipment needed to install treatments Low cost of inspection Poles can have extended service life of >50 years Pole inspection can assist in effective maintenance planning of other assets Reduction in expensive pole failures and other unplanned failures

HOW PRESCHEM CAN ASSIST IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A

POLE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

Use of pilot studies and trials

Product registration

Development or refinement of standards and procedures

Training programs

Technical support

SUMMARY

A pole management program will extend the life of poles

Managed wooden poles are cost effective

Data from pole inspection is an aid to maintenance planning

Make use of Preschem support