Oftentimes, you might find yourself strolling around neighbourhoods. You’ll see some tall, grey or light-coloured posts on streets where there are streetlights.

These tall towers are power poles that distribute power to homes and buildings. The local government is responsible for maintaining all the public power poles. On the other hand, private power poles are the sole responsibility of property owners. Either way, they need to be safe for everybody’s welfare.

Whether a power pole is out in the streets or inside someone’s big lot, it must follow certain guidelines and protocols. Some of the required guidelines include the height requirement for power pole installation. It takes experience and extensive practice to handle objects in higher grounds. Moreover, only a handful of electricians can touch these poles.

Proper pole height 

The question is, how high should power poles be? If one day you decide to set up your own power pole in your own property, what necessary measures should you follow? According to average Australian standards and guidelines, the height of the pole depends on the voltage of the provided power. The higher the voltage, the taller the power pole. The poles should be capable enough to handle the powerlines, especially in higher intensities. There are proper heights for strictly set voltages. 

  • A 6 to 7-meter power pole for 415 V (this can go as low 4.5 meters)
  • An 8 to 9-meter power pole for 11 kV
  • An 11 to 13-meter power pole for 19 kV
  • A 10 to 20-meter power pole for 33 kV
  • A 10 to 20-meter power pole for 66 kV

For taller power poles, the base of a power pole requires 2 meters of placement and depth into the ground. This is to ensure that the poles are safe from possible outside forces. This permits a no-dig zone for many areas, especially rural lands. There are designated spaces just for power poles and transmission towers in the more rural settings. People aren’t just allowed to do anything in those kinds of land.

One other reason for deep pole placements is this: Some of the most common vehicular accidents often involve hitting power poles. Because of this, the poles need to be strong and sturdy enough. Deeper pole placements prevent domino power-line accidents caused by a car crash. 

Reasons for height requirement

The height rule may seem vague and pointless, but they’re there for a reason. First and the most obvious reason being to keep the safety of an area from electrical wiring. A lot of vehicles and infrastructure need vertical clearance from power poles in an area. Everything below should be as far away from electrical wiring that can cause accidents and injury. Saggy wires can give out after too much power has run through it. Keeping the poles at specified heights saves possible vehicular commotions.

Second, to ensure that the power pole can handle all the things attached to it. These devices can be very heavy in material. They can potentially weigh down poles that are too loose or flimsy on the ground. Example of things that electricians attach to a pole in public are:

  • Cables
  • Streetlights
  • Wires
  • Conductors
  • Transformer

Private power poles

The same standard is set to power poles that are inside private lands. Electricians like Gordon Powers follow all the specified height guidelines for pole installations. Pole maintenance is also the responsibility of the property owner. Look after your power pole like you’ll look after your home. There might be fewer people prancing around in your property, but it’s still good to keep you and your family safe. Prevent potential power accidents that can happen in the first place. 

Conclusion

Gordon Powers has been around making many customers happy with our top-notch electrical service. As a team of licensed electricians, we offer power pole installation services for your private property. Drilling in the right pole for your lot is not an easy task. There is a lot of work and planning involved for newer poles. For that, we are here to help. From replacement, installation or even a repair, we can send in our level 2 electricians to you in no time. 

For enquiries, please call us at (02) 9199 7480 or send us an email. You can also book your appointment online by filling up our simple booking form.