Steel Light Poles & Why They Fall

The 30-40 foot light pole in this image (below) fell unexpectedly at a very popular retail center. Prevention of property damage and concern for life-safety are the inspiration for us to share this information. 

Preventing Fallen Steel Light Poles

Light poles fail for three primary reasons: 

1. Improper installation/ faulty manufacturing
2. Rust and rot due to trapped water 
3. Excessive wind or storms that exceed the designed wind speed rating of the pole

Rust and rot is the most common source of failure that we often see.  One way you can prevent this from occurring is to NOT install a Grout Cap on the top of the concrete pole base @ the steel light pole base connection.  Architects are notorious for designing pole bases and adding a detail for installing a very aesthetically pleasing Grout Cap, however, this Grout Cap ends up trapping water in the bottom of the pole and with time, this leads to pole failure. 

Here's a typical architectural detail wherein a Grout Cap is being specified:  

We highly recommend leaving out the Grout Cap or at minimum leaving weep holes or grooves to allow water to escape from the pole base, thus preventing constant moisture from rusting and rotting the pole base. 

Here's a pic (below) that shows the rust rot w/ the Grout Cap as the presumed cause:

Recommendations: 

• Periodic annual inspections of all light poles in your parking lots and roadways
• Inspection of threads/ nuts and tightening as needed
• Removal of any rusted or rotten light poles and replacement WITHOUT a Grout Cap
• Removal of any Grout Cap material at existing poles as a matter of prevention from future falls

This article has been shared by Direct Service, Construction and Design to specifically accommodate our intended clientele.  The intent of sharing this information is to better inform the public of these general topics, expand knowledge and safety for all and provide crucial information in regard to their MEP and building systems and/or assets. It is NOT our recommendation that any article recommendations or how-to scenarios be attempted by anyone other than a qualified or competent person.