CASE STUDY

Santee Cooper Termite-Damaged Utility Pole Repair

Timber poles on a 230 kV feeder line, some with up to 75% section loss from termites, were strengthened with PileMedic® PLG60.60 jackets and QuakeBond™ 320LV resin while the lines stayed energized.

PRODUCT: PILEMEDIC®
APPLICATION: UTILITY POLES
INDUSTRY: POWER UTILITIES

GET A POLE REPAIR CONSULTATION ALL PROJECTS

Two-pole H-frame structure on the Santee Cooper 230 kV line in Wando, South Carolina, with a boom lift at its base

230 kV line kept energized during the repair

feeder line, energized: 230 kV
section loss from termites: Up to 75%
with a 4-person crew: 3 weeks
added mid-job: +3 poles

Project Details

OWNER: Santee Cooper
LOCATION: Wando, South Carolina
STRUCTURE: Timber poles on a 230 kV feeder line
QUAKEWRAP® SYSTEM: PileMedic® PLG60.60 FRP pile jackets
FILL: QuakeBond™ 320LV low-viscosity resin
FINISH: UV protectant coating over the jacket
INSTALLER: FRP Construction, LLC
CREW AND SCHEDULE: 4-person crew, 3 weeks

01 · THE CHALLENGE

Termite Damage on a Line That Cannot Go Down

Santee Cooper supplies electricity to a BP chemical plant through a 230 kV feeder line in a remote area on the Cooper River. The plant runs year-round, and power shutdowns are very expensive for it.

Termite damage to 4 structures on the line was extensive, with section loss of up to 75%. The repairs had to be made with the power lines energized and with limited disruption to the fragile poles.

Timber utility pole hollowed out by termites, with the decayed core exposed between two sound poles

02 · THE SOLUTION

PileMedic® Jackets Filled With Low-Viscosity Resin

Each damaged pole was wrapped with PileMedic® PLG60.60 FRP pile jackets, and the annular space was filled with QuakeBond™ 320LV low-viscosity resin. The resin flowed into the badly deteriorated wood, restoring the pole beyond its original capacity. A final UV protectant coating over the jacket prevents UV degradation.

Worked around stub poles, pole enforcers, cross bracing and larger voids than expected
Stub pole anchor bolts removed one at a time, working up the pole
Lower sections allowed to cure before upper anchor bolts came out, so each pole stayed stable throughout

Timber transmission pole wrapped in a gray PileMedic jacket, with an installer on a lift beside it

03 · THE RESULT

Scope Doubled, Finished on Time

Partway through the job, the client doubled the scope by adding 3 more poles nearby. FRP Construction still completed the work on time, with a 4-person crew in 3 weeks, with the lines energized.

on schedule: 3 weeks
person crew: 4