Contact Us

Covid-19: We are manufacturing, working and supplying as normal in-line with government guidelines

Frequently Asked Questions

1.  GENERAL QUESTIONS
2.  TECHNIAL QUESTIONS
3.  SLEEVE APPLICATION
4.  SLEEVE HANDLING & STORAGE

Have Further Questions?

Contact Us Today

Contact Us

1. General Questions

Who else uses Polesaver Ground-Line Barrier Sleeves?

Our sleeves are used by Utility companies in over 30 countries worldwide, learn more about how and where they use them in our case studies and user examples.

Why don’t you cover the butt of the pole?

Because the conditions below 200mm in the ground will not sustain decaying organisms, the temperature is below the 10C level necessary for decay to occur and oxygen and nutrient levels are very low meaning the decaying organisms are unable to survive.

Do Polesaver Sleeves work on creosote treated poles?

Yes, Polesaver ground-line barrier sleeves are compatible with Cresoste treated poles.

How do you know Polesaver Sleeves will last for 50 years?

The outer, thermoplastic sleeve material has a proven track record in severe ground contact barrier applications for over 50 years.

The inner, thermoplastic meltable bituminous sealant of the sleeve is a sophisticated, complex blend of bitumen (asphalt) and over 20 other additives engineered to provide a durable and long-lasting seal to the pole surface.

How much are they?

Polesaver sleeves are a low-cost, high benefit product, please contact us for pricing.

Surely the sleeved part of the utility pole becomes saturated with water and rot?

In a normal pole or post water enters the post from the ground, travels up to the above ground section and is lost to the atmosphere by drying, wind, sun etc. When a sleeve is applied, the pole surface is sealed and the entry level for moisture is lowered significantly.

Moisture is still lost from the above ground section, meaning the moisture content in the sleeved section of the pole is significantly lower than for an un-sleeved pole

Does the sleeve prevent termite attack?

On an independent test where wooden blocks were encapsulated with sleeve material, termite attack did not occur.

Termite attack of poles can be a significant problem in many parts of the world. Termites are generally attracted to decaying wood as this is easier for the termites to digest. By preventing decay, Polesaver has proven to be effective at significantly reducing termite attack of poles.

Learn more here.

What life extension can I expect as a result of using Polesaver sleeves?

Based on independent test data, the use of Polesaver sleeves on treated wooden poles should give a pole service life of 50 years or more.

What sized poles can be sleeved?

We supply sleeves for all pole sizes.

Can the sleeves be used on poles already in the ground?

Yes, provided the pole is not starting to rot or decay.

We recommend that boron rods are used to treat the core of the pole as a precaution when applying sleeves to poles already in service.

What quality control is used when making the sleeves?

We are an ISO9001 registered manufacturer.

Our sleeves are rigorously checked against a set of tight quality standards including size, weight, film thickness, softening point, shrink ratios and print quality.

2. Technical Questions

Does the bitumen in Polesaver sleeves react with Pentachlorophenol?

No it does not. Polesaver is regularly used on pentachlorophenol treated utility poles without problems or issues.

Do they work with all types of preservative?

Yes, Polesaver is compatible with all commonly used wood preservatives including Pentachlorophenol, Creosote, CCA and water based copper formulations etc.

Why can’t poles simply be coated with bitumen instead of using Polesaver Sleeves?

For two reasons:

Firstly, the coating will weather away above ground after only a few years. Secondly, cracks form in the pole over time splitting the bitumen coating, allowing decaying organisms to access the unprotected core of the pole, leading to decay.

The Polesaver outer sleeve can easily bridge these cracks of 25mm or more, ensuring decaying organisms can not access the protective core of the pole.

Life extension using liquid coatings on poles = 0 Years (Independent test data available)

If I decide to use sleeves on my poles, can I stop treating them with preservatives?

No, it is important to still use preservatives to protect the wood deeper in the ground and above ground. This ensures maximum pole life.

Does the sleeved part of the utility pole not become saturated with water and rot?

In a normal pole or post water enters the post from the ground, travels up to the above ground section and is lost to the atmosphere by drying, wind, sun etc. When a sleeve is applied, the pole surface is sealed and the entry level for moisture is lowered significantly.

Moisture is still lost from the above ground section, meaning the moisture content in the sleeved section of the pole is significantly lower than for an un-sleeved pole.

Does the product need a licence or biocidal approval to be used?

No, the sleeves are non-toxic and do not require any approvals, certification or import licences for use.

How long will the above ground section of the sleeve last?

In normal use the film has a service life in excess of 40 years. The film is U.V. stabilised and highly weather resistant.

What happens if the pole cracks due to drying above ground, can decaying organisms enter and rot the pole?

If cracks form the moisture content in the upper part of the sleeved section of the pole is normally below the 20% level necessary for decay and rot to occur, so decay does not occur.

Is the sleeve flammable?

Yes, but the ignition temperature is very high.

3. Sleeve Application

How much sleeve needs to be left above ground level?

The minimum to be left above ground is 10cm, the maximum 25cm with a recommended average of 15cm.

This is normally enough to cope with all likely variations in burial depth.

View Application Instructions

How long does it take to apply a sleeve to a pole?

It typically takes around 2 minutes per pole using a blow torch.

Can sleeves be applied to poles with elephant foot/enlarged base?

Yes, the sleeve is simply tightly wrapped around the ground line section of the pole and taped together using the pre-applied tape strip.

It can then be heat shrunk in place using a blow torch or application machine as normal.

Are there any special precautions to be taken prior to applying the sleeve?

Yes, it is sensible to remove any splinters or tears on the part of the pole to be sleeved as they can puncture the sleeve when shrinking in place.

We recommend the use of a surform for this which we can supply.

What equipment is needed to apply the sleeves to the pole?

We supply a range of application including a trigger light, gas blow torch, portable handheld electric shrink unit for field use and a high-powered rail-mounted applicator for pole yard sleeve application. 

Learn more here

What gas is needed to power the blowtorch?

The torch runs on Propane.

It can be used with a propane/butane mix but some problems with lighting can occur.

Is there another way of applying the sleeves in high volumes?

Yes, we offer a rail-mounted application machine for fast and efficient sleeve application. For smaller poles, we can also supply a high throughput conveyor feed machine capable of sleeving up to 150 poles per hour.

How much does it cost for the gas to apply a sleeve?

Typically £0.08 per sleeve

4. Sleeve Handling & Storage

Do Polesaver sleeves not get damaged in transit and loose their protection?

The Polesaver ground-line barrier sleeve is very tough.

It’s dual layer construction means that even if the outer sleeve is damaged, the inner bituminous liner maintains a seal on the pole surface. Our experience to date with other utilities and pole producers is that if the sleeved pole is handled sensibly (eg not dragged off the back of the lorry or the sleeve held with a grab etc) then problems are unlikely.

We do offer a patch tape for repairing damage, however we have supplied very small amounts of this to date.

For improved protection in situations where sleeves are being applied at the yard and transported to site via lorry, we offer Polesaver Plus, an extra layer of protection.

Find more information about Polesaver Plus.

Over what temperature range can I store and handle the sleeves?

The storage and handling temperature range is -10C to 40C.

Sleeves must not be stored in direct sunlight and, we recommend that sleeves are applied to the poles out of direct sunlight.

5. General Utility Pole Information

Here goes your title

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industrys standard dummy text ever since the 1500s.

Here goes your title

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industrys standard dummy text ever since the 1500s.

Here goes your title

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industrys standard dummy text ever since the 1500s.

Contact Us