Power Line Systems 5400 King James Way, Suite 300
Madison, WI 53719, U.S.A.
Phone: (608) 238-2171, Fax: (608) 238-9241
Email: info@powerlinesystems.com
Home  News  Products

PLS-POLE ANSI Wood Pole Component Files

The following files are based on data from ANSI O5.1.2017. These files will only work with PLS-POLE Versions 14.55 and newer.

(See http://webstore.ansi.org/RecordDetail.aspx?sku=ANSI+O5.1-2017 to order a copy of ANSI O5.1.2017)

Fiber Strengths used are per Table 1, Page 12, and coincide with the fiber strength of those materials listed in REA Bulletin 1724E-200, 2015, Design Manual for High Voltage Transmission Lines (Table 13-1, Page 13-4) and REA Bulletin 1728F-700, 2011, REA Specification for Wood Poles, Stubs and Anchor Logs (Table 2, Page 29). It should be noted that neither of the REA bulletins provide properties for Scots Pine and Interior North Douglas Fir.

Annex A of ANSI O5.1.2017 provides additional strength reductions to the values above. We strongly suggest that Annex A be read and understood before designing a wood pole structure under this standard. Selecting ANSI O5.1.2017 under General / General Data for Strength Check for Wood Poles will use whichever strength reduction equation you have selected in your Wood Material Properties table (which is already defined in the ANSI_2017.mat file you can download below). These strength reduction factors will not be used on poles 55 feet and shorter (as per Annex A.)

The Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) values used are per Table 1, Page 12 of ANSI O5.1. These MOEs do NOT coincide with REA Bulletin 1724E-200, 2015, Design Manual for High Voltage Transmission Lines (Table 13-1, Page 13-4). However, the RUS cannot find the original source for those values used by RUS. The ANSI O5 Committee has determined that they are not current and that the values listed in the 2017 ANSI O5.1 should be used. The MOE values for Jack Pine, Ponderosa Pine, and Eastern Cedar are not provided in ANSI O5.1.2017, so the older values from the REA Bulletin 1724E-200 are used. It should be noted that neither ANSI O5.1 nor the RUS provides the MOE for Alaska Yellow Cedar, Scots Pine and Interior North Douglas Fir, thus the table below does not include these three pole properties. Should you need to use one of these three materials, you must determine the correct properties for your jurisdictions and incorporate them into your library.

All default embedments are 10% + 2' as this is common practice even though ANSI O5.1 values may differ for very short or very long poles.

Finally, the density of wood poles can vary greatly. Not only does the actual species of wood vary, but the moisture content, drying process, and treatment are all factors that can result in large density variations. For example, a 125' H1 Douglas Fir Pole through bored or through drilled and treated with Chemonite ® ACZA weighs 11,475 lbs. The same pole unincised, groundline or full length standard incising treated with Penta or Copper Naphthenate in Oil or Creosote will weigh 9900 lbs. This results in Douglas Fir poles having a density of 56 to 65 pcf, depending on the treatment process. For the ansi.mat and ansi_2017.mat files, all poles have been assumed to have a density of 60 pcf, except for Cedar poles which have been set at 50 pcf. It is up to the engineer to determine what final density to use based on the treatment and other factors.

All pole files (*.wpp) have been broken apart individually by type to aid those only using a common type or two in their systems. You can use the Merge button in Components / Wood Pole Properties to merge two or more of these individual libraries. We have also provided a complete file (ansi_2017.wpp), which includes all pole properties from ANSI O5.1.2017 respectively in one file. In addition to downloading the wood pole properties files (*_2017.wpp), you should also download the wood material properties (ansi_2017.mat).


The following files are based on data from ANSI O5.1.2008. These files will only work with PLS-POLE Versions 10.36 and newer.

(See http://webstore.ansi.org/RecordDetail.aspx?sku=ANSI+O5.1.2008 to order a copy of ANSI O5.1.2008)

The fiber stress (Modulus of Rupture) from ANSI O5.1.2008 coincides with the fiber stress of those materials listed in REA Bulletin 1728F-700, 1993, REA Specification for Wood Poles, Stubs and Anchor Logs (Table 1, Page 35). It should be noted that RUS does not provide properties for Scots Pine and Interior North Douglas Fir.

Annex A of ANSI O5.1.2008 provides additional strength reductions to the values above. We strongly suggest that Annex A be read and understood (but not necessarily agreed to) before designing a wood pole structure under this standard. Selecting ANSI O5.1.2008 under General / General Data for Strength Check for Wood Poles will use whichever strength reduction equation you have selected in your Wood Material Properties table (which is already defined in the ANSI_2008.MAT file you can download below). These strength reduction factors will not be used on poles 55 feet and shorter (as per Annex A.)

The Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) values are not provided in ANSI O5.1.2008, but can be found in REA Bulletin 1724E-200, 2009, Design Manual for High Voltage Transmission Lines (Table 13-1, Page 13-3). It should be noted that RUS does not provide the MOE for Alaska Yellow Cedar in addition to Scots Pine and Interior North Douglas Fir. As values for the MOE for these three materials are not provided in any of these references, the wood pole materials file (ANSI.MAT) below does not include these three pole properties. Should you need to use one of these three materials you must determine the correct properties for your jurisdictions and incorporate them into their library.

All default embedments are 10% + 2' as this is common practice even though ANSI O5.1 values may differ for very short or very long poles.

Finally, the density of wood poles can vary greatly. Not only does the actual species of wood vary, but the moisture content, drying process, and treatment are all factors that can result in large density variations. For example, a 125' H1 Douglas Fir Pole through bored or through drilled and treated with Chemonite ® ACZA weighs 11,475 lbs. The same pole unincised, groundline or full length standard incising treated with Penta or Copper Naphthenate in Oil or Creosote will weigh 9900 lbs. This results in Douglas Fir poles having a density of 56 to 65 pcf, depending on the treatment process. For the ansi.mat and ansi_2008.mat files, all poles have been assumed to have a density of 60 pcf, except for Cedar poles which have been set at 50 pcf. It is up to the engineer to determine what final density to use based on the treatment and other factors.

All pole files (*.wpp) have been broken apart individually by type to aid those only using a common type or two in their systems. You can use the Merge button in Components / Wood Pole Properties to merge two or more of these individual libraries. We have also provided a complete file (ansi_2008.wpp), which includes all pole properties from ANSI O5.1.2008 respectively in one file. In addition to downloading the wood pole properties files (*_2008.wpp), you should also download the wood material properties (ansi_2008.mat).


The following files are based on data from ANSI O5.1-2002, which was approved on March 8th, 2002.

The fiber stress (Modulus of Rupture) from ANSI O5.1-2002 coincides with the fiber stress of those materials listed in REA Bulletin 1728F-700, 1993, REA Specification for Wood Poles, Stubs and Anchor Logs (Table 1, Page 35). It should be noted that RUS does not provide properties for Scots Pine and Interior North Douglas Fir.

The Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) values are not provided in ANSI O5.1-2002, but can be found in REA Bulletin 1724E-200, 1992, Design Manual for High Voltage Transmission Lines (Table 13-1, Page 13-3). It should be noted that RUS does not provide the MOE for Alaska Yellow Cedar in addition to Scots Pine and Interior North Douglas Fir. As values for the MOE for these three materials are not provided in any of these references, the wood pole materials file (ANSI.MAT) below does not include these three pole properties. Should you need to use one of these three materials you must determine the correct properties for your jurisdictions and incorporate them into your library.

All default embedments are 10% + 2' as this is common practice even though ANSI O5.1 values may differ for very short or very long poles.

Finally, the density of wood poles can vary greatly. Not only does the actual species of wood vary, but the moisture content, drying process, and treatment are all factors that can result in large density variations. For example, a 125' H1 Douglas Fir Pole through bored or through drilled and treated with Chemonite ® ACZA weighs 11,475 lbs. The same pole unincised, groundline or full length standard incising treated with Penta or Copper Naphthenate in Oil or Creosote will weigh 9900 lbs. This results in Douglas Fir poles having a density of 56 to 65 pcf, depending on the treatment process. For the ASNI.MAT file, all poles have been assumed to have a density of 60 pcf, except for Cedar poles which have been set at 50 pcf. It is up to the engineer to determine what final density to use based on the treatment and other factors.

All pole files (*.wpp) have been broken apart individually by type to aid those only using a common type or two in their systems. We have also provided a complete file (ansi.wpp), which includes all pole properties from ANSI O5.1-2002 in one file. In addition to downloading the wood pole properties file (*.wpp), you should also download the wood material properties (ansi.mat).



Please note: Power Line Systems cannot provide a copy of ANSI O5.1, REA bulletins, or any other standards or material for that matter, as these standards are copyrighted. We suggest the ANSI webstore as one possible place to purchase your own copy of ANSI O5.1.2017, and RUS to download PDF copies of REA documents.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: These files are being provided on an "as-is" basis. Power Line Systems, Inc. accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of the data herein, and the PLS-CADD end user is responsible for the use and verification of all data obtained in this library.

© 2020 Power Line Systems All Rights Reserved.        Privacy Policy