Evaluating and specifying a composite utility pole in an existing PLS-CADD workflow starts with a practical question: can the manufacturer’s pole data fit into the software and engineering process the utility already uses?
Thursday Poles provides an EnduraPOLE™ PLS-POLE library file containing FRP pole properties for PLS-POLE. Engineers use those properties to build the structure configuration required for the project, analyze it under applicable loads, and incorporate the reviewed structure into the broader PLS-CADD line design.
The manufacturer defines the pole properties. The engineer defines how the project loads and uses the structure. Keeping those roles separate gives engineers a consistent starting point without replacing the project-specific analysis that determines whether the structure fits the application.
How PLS-POLE Supports the PLS-CADD Workflow
PLS-CADD models the overhead line, including terrain, conductors, clearances, structure locations, and project criteria. PLS-POLE models and analyzes the individual structure under the loads and design requirements established for the project.
The EnduraPOLE™ .fpp file belongs on the PLS-POLE side of that workflow because it supplies the FRP pole properties engineers need to build the structure.
Loading the manufacturer file does not create a finished structure or make the material decision. The engineer still defines framing, attachments, equipment, insulators, guys, braces, loading criteria, and other project-specific details before evaluating the structure.
The EnduraPOLE™ PLS-POLE to PLS-CADD Workflow
1. Download the Current EnduraPOLE™ PLS-POLE Library
Download the current EnduraPOLE™ .fpp library file from the Thursday Poles Resources page under Technical Information.
The Resources page also includes engineering drawings, drilling information, specifications, and other technical documentation that support structure development and project review.
Keep the file version with the project documentation so reviewers can trace the manufacturer data in the structure model back to the analysis approved for the project.
2. Load the EnduraPOLE™ Properties into PLS-POLE
Use the .fpp file as an FRP pole properties library in PLS-POLE.
The file supplies the manufacturer-defined pole properties. It does not supply the complete project structure. The engineer still configures framing, attachment locations, equipment, insulators, guys, braces, and other components required for the application.
That distinction matters because the manufacturer file standardizes the pole input without replacing project-specific engineering decisions.
3. Build the Structure Configuration
Select the applicable EnduraPOLE™ configuration and build the structure required for the proposed design.
Use the appropriate pole length together with the framing, insulators, attachment locations, and other components required for the structure. Confirm that the selected pole properties match the configuration under evaluation rather than modifying manufacturer data to approximate a configuration that the file does not represent.
Evaluate strength and deflection requirements independently. EnduraPOLE™ strength and deflection classifications are not necessarily the same, so the applicable project criteria should determine what the engineer reviews.
4. Apply Project Loads and Design Criteria
Apply the utility’s governing loads, loading requirements, and design assumptions through the established PLS-POLE process.
PLS-POLE then evaluates the completed structure using the EnduraPOLE™ pole properties supplied by Thursday Poles together with the project-specific inputs defined by the engineer.
The results apply only to the conditions modeled. Changes to framing, attachment heights, equipment, loading criteria, or other design assumptions can change the outcome.
The properties file standardizes the pole input. It does not standardize the application.
5. Review the Structure Analysis
Review the PLS-POLE results against the utility’s acceptance criteria and confirm that the modeled structure represents the proposed installation.
That review may include utilization, deflection, warnings, overstressed components, and other outputs relevant to the structure. Findings may require changes to framing, attachment locations, loading assumptions, or the selected pole configuration before the design advances.
The EnduraPOLE™ library reduces the need to recreate manufacturer pole properties from separate documents, but the engineer still determines whether the completed structure fits the application.
6. Incorporate the Reviewed Structure into PLS-CADD
Once the engineer has configured and reviewed the structure in PLS-POLE, incorporate it into the utility’s PLS-CADD line model.
PLS-CADD then evaluates the structure within the broader overhead-line design, where structure loading interacts with conductor behavior, clearances, terrain, neighboring structures, and other line conditions.
Maintain the reviewed structure information and supporting manufacturer documentation with the project record so later reviewers can identify the pole configuration and engineering assumptions that supported the design.
(Recommended visual: screenshot showing the EnduraPOLE™ FRP pole properties in PLS-POLE, followed by the completed structure within a PLS-CADD line model.)
Example: 40’ Class 1 EnduraPOLE™ vs. Wood
Before running a project-specific model, Thursday Poles’ published EnduraPOLE™ Comparison Chart provides a reference point for some of the differences an engineer may want to evaluate.
The chart compares a 40’ Class 1 EnduraPOLE™ with Douglas fir, western red cedar, and southern yellow pine. Thursday Poles calculated the wood-pole figures using PLS-POLE.
| Pole Property | EnduraPOLE™ | Douglas Fir | Western Red Cedar | Southern Yellow Pine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tip deflection @ class load (in) | 68.09 | 50.59 | 64.54 | 53.87 |
| Groundline diameter (in) | 12.00 | 13.05 | 14.32 | 13.05 |
| Weight (lbs) | 627 | 1,676 | 1,602 | 1,676 |
| Stress @ class load (psi) | 34,654 | 7,940 | 6,000 | 7,940 |
| Max stress (psi) | 45,000 | 8,000 | 6,000 | 8,000 |
| Residual strength @ class load (%) | 23.0% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.8% |
Class load is 4,500 lbs applied 2’ from the top of the pole. Residual strength at class load reflects the percentage of maximum strength still available at that load level.
These figures offer a useful comparison, but they do not replace project-specific modeling. Engineers still need to evaluate structure geometry, attachments, line configuration, loading criteria, and other design requirements for the actual application.
What the EnduraPOLE™ File Does and Does Not Do
The EnduraPOLE™ properties file gives engineers a consistent manufacturer-defined FRP pole component for PLS-POLE. That reduces the need to reconstruct pole properties from separate specifications and creates a more controlled starting point for analysis.
The file does not:
- Select the correct pole for the project
- Define framing or attachment locations
- Assign project loads
- Establish project-specific design assumptions
- Approve the completed structure
Those decisions remain part of the engineer’s and utility’s design and review process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Integrating EnduraPOLE™ Require Additional PLS-CADD Training?
If you already work in PLS-POLE and PLS-CADD, EnduraPOLE™ does not introduce a separate software platform. Thursday Poles provides the pole properties in a PLS-POLE FRP library file. Engineers use that file to build the structure in PLS-POLE before incorporating the reviewed structure into their existing PLS-CADD workflow.
Is EnduraPOLE™ a Direct PLS-CADD File?
No. Thursday Poles provides EnduraPOLE™ as an FRP pole properties file for PLS-POLE. Engineers use those properties to build and analyze the required PLS-POLE structure, then incorporate that structure into PLS-CADD.
Does the Properties File Replace Structural Analysis?
No. The file supplies manufacturer-defined pole properties. The engineer still builds the structure, applies the governing project loads and criteria, reviews the results, and completes the utility’s established approval process.
Can Engineers Compare EnduraPOLE™ With Other Pole Materials in the Same Design Process?
Yes. After configuring the EnduraPOLE™ structure in PLS-POLE and incorporating it into the line model, engineers can evaluate it under the same applicable project criteria they use for alternative structure designs.
Where Can Engineers Get the EnduraPOLE™ PLS-POLE Library?
Download the EnduraPOLE™ .fpp file directly or access it through the Thursday Poles Resources page. The page also includes supporting specifications, drawings, and other technical resources.
Evaluate EnduraPOLE™ in Your Existing Design Process
A manufacturer properties file does not make the material decision. It gives engineers a consistent pole model for evaluating that decision within the tools and engineering criteria they already use.
Download the EnduraPOLE™ PLS-POLE library, review the supporting information on the Thursday Poles Resources page, or speak with Thursday Poles about incorporating EnduraPOLE™ into your structure model.