Accredited Standards Committee O5
Standards for Wood Utility Structures
ASC O5
Committee O5 is accredited by the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI) and develops standards for utility poles, crossarms,
and wood bracing used by electric and communications utilities.
Scope
Standardization of dimensional classifications, defect
descriptions and limitations, manufacturing practices, fiber
stresses and quality assurance procedures for wood poles and other
wood products used in the construction of electric supply and
communication lines.
Brief History
Committee O5 on Specifications and Dimensions for Wood Poles was organized in 1924 by the Bell Telephone System and the U.S. Independent Telephone Association's American Standards Associations (ASA) Telephone Group. Secretariat responsibilities were accepted by the American Wood Protection Association in 2011.
This Committee creates standards for wood poles, crossarms and
braces, and glue laminated timber for utility structures. Wood poles
continue to be the most cost-effective method to provide electric
power and telecommunications services to rural areas of the United
States. Today, there are approximately 100 million wood poles in
service throughout the United States.
Secretariat
ASC
O5 maintains ANSI accreditation jointly with its Secretariat.
Effective January 1, 2011, the
American Wood
Protection Association (AWPA) assumed the role of ASC O5
Secretariat. For more information about AWPA and its
activities, please visit the
AWPA Website.