Utilities benefit from the first major innovation in treated wood pole protection in years.

The next generation utility pole is here, developed by Viance with innovations that benefit pole treaters, utilities, lineworkers and the environment.

The manufacturing of pentachlorophenol officially came to an end in December of 2021 at the last location in the world that made pentachlorophenol. Pole treating plants are working through their penta inventories while others have already converted to alternatives.

The active ingredient in UltraPole® NXT treated poles and crossarms, DCOI, has been standardized since 1989 by the American Wood Protection Association. DCOI is also the key preservative component in Ecolife treated decking and fencing, the leading non-metallic preservative currently on the market. DCOI is registered for use as a wood preservative and is also used in water treatment, paints and coatings, adhesives, vinyl roof membranes, vinyl flooring, marine upholstery, outdoor furniture, shower curtains and more. DCOI is effective against wood decay fungi and termites, is stable and leach resistant.

This environmentally-advanced alternative for utility pole treatment has many advantages over the traditional oil-borne pole and crossarm treatments. The DCOI formulation is an environmentally-advanced and a thoroughly tested preservation system, offering electric utilities a high performance, durable pole with minimal environmental impact. 

Viance has worked extensively to add DCOI for utility poles and crossarms to the AWPA Book of Standards as well as utility companies' standards. Viance's research with wood species added southern yellow pine, red pine and Douglas fir poles; and southern yellow pine and Douglas fir crossarms to the AWPA Book of Standards.

Benefits include:

• Uses less energy, fossil fuels and water to produce, with lower eco-toxicity than other materials used for poles
• Capitalizes on both the physical and environmental strengths of wood poles and crossarms, with less impact on the environment
• Backed by a 50-year warranty against termites and decay and offer the industry’s only warranty for an oil-borne preservative 
• The active ingredient, DCOI, is not a Restricted Use Pesticide
• Is stable and leach resistant, and not persistent in soil
• Is low to no odor
• Has a wider range of disposal options at end of life