INTRODUCTION TO PRESCHEM

 Largest manufacturer of remedial wood preservatives in Australia  Over 5 million poles treated with Preschem products around the world  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

COMPANY STRUCTURE

Preschem Organisation Pole Management & Technical Support service Pole Inspection IT Systems Training Quality Standards Manufacturing Division Remedial Treatments for Utility Poles Clear timber finishes Radial sawn timber

USE OF PRESCHEM REMEDIAL PRODUCTS

 Supplied to all major Electrical Utilities in Australia  Major export to South Africa  Consistently used by Utilities for in excess of 10 years  Preliminary performance trials in Uruguay, Greece and Hong Kong

BENEFITS RESULTING FROM USE OF PRESCHEM REMEDIAL TREATMENTS

 Reductions in pole replacement   Extension of inspection cycles Reduction in unplanned pole failures

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  Improved control of pole failures and supply reliability  Change from cyclic to reliability based maintenance  Managing poles preferred to replacing poles

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  Ongoing technical support Standards Training Treatment Process Quality Control IT Systems

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  Internal treatment uses chalk type rods  External treatment uses a bandage containing solid pills

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  Clean soil and excess decay from outside of pole  Measure pole circumference and cut length of bandage  Wrap around circumference of pole and tape top section  Backfill and consolidate

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  Require dry, cool and well ventilated area  Clean and can be stored in original boxes  Indefinite shelf life

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 1 0 7 6 3 2 5 4 1987/88 1988/89

Projected Utility Budget Savings

Using typical Australian experience projected over 500,000 poles 1989/90 1990/91 1991/92

Financial year

1992/93 1993/94 1994/95 1995/96

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