RS Composite Pole and Fire Shield™ Successfully Endure Forest Fire

TILBURY, ON and CALGARY, Nov. 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ - RS Technologies Inc. ("RS" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that an RS pole, protected with an RS Fire Shield™ made from fibre reinforced polymer (FRP), has survived forest fire conditions in Canada's Northwest Territories with no damage to the pole and minimal damage to the RS Fire Shield™.

Until recently, the utility industry has largely relied on building material-related, coupon sized flammability tests to characterize the fire performance of utility poles. For composite poles specifically, these tests included the UL 94 Standard for Tests for Flammability of Plastic Materials for Parts in Devices and Appliances and the ASTM D635-14 Standard Test Method for Rate of Burning and/or Extent and Time of Burning Plastics in a Horizontal Position.

Beginning in 2011, RS undertook an initiative to design a reliable, quantitative test method that would simulate an actual full-scale fire, of a severe to extreme nature, as its flame front moves through a utility line right-of-way. To accomplish this, RS worked with third party forest fire expert Mark Ackerman from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. The resulting test method uses a steel sheath that is placed around the base of an embedded pole. Flames are then introduced to the annular space between the pole and the sheath by the controlled ignition of propane. The heat flux, flame temperature and exposure duration are designed to represent a "severe" (two-minute exposure) or "extreme" (three-minute exposure) wildfire event. Additionally, the fire-exposed poles can be full-scale bend tested per the ASTM D1036 Standard Test Methods of Static Tests of Wood Poles to quantify any loss of strength and/or stiffness.

As part of RS's ongoing fire testing program, now in its ninth year, Mr. Ackerman recently embedded an RS pole, protected with an RS Fire Shield™, in a forest in northern Canada. In a controlled burn exercise, the surrounding area was ignited to start a forest fire. Following ignition, the fire approached, engulfed and continued past the pole. The fire exposure time was approximately 30 seconds with flame temperatures reaching nearly 1,000°C [1,832°F]. After the fire passed, the pole self-extinguished thanks to the inherent material properties of the fiberglass and resin making up the pole. Upon inspection, the Fire Shield™ was found to have exhibited some surface charring, while the underlying pole showed no signs of damage and hence retained its initial structural strength and stiffness.

"This real-world wildfire test reinforces that RS poles and Fire Shields™ are a proven solution for utilities dealing with high fire risk environments," stated Howard Elliott, President and CEO of RS. "The temperature and speed of this forest fire have demonstrated that the fire testing protocols used by RS—including the duration times for both severe and extreme fire conditions—are scientifically representative. RS looks forward to continuing to lead the industry with this type of applied research and product deployment."

About RS
RS Technologies Inc. (RS) designs and manufactures the world's highest performing composite utility poles that are safer, more reliable and longer lasting than wood, steel and concrete poles. RS poles are used in transmission (up to 345kV), distribution and communication applications, are environmentally friendly and often deliver the lowest total installed and lifecycle cost solution of any pole on the market. With installations dating back to 2003, RS has over 400 customers in more than 25 countries and is ISO 9001:2015 registered. More information on RS and its poles is available at RSpoles.com.

SOURCE RS Technologies Inc.

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