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H-frame transmission structures, whether in cities or rural areas, are a common component of the equipment used to transfer electricity from power plants to consumers via substations of utility companies. A majority of these H-frame structures in the US are almost 50 years old and will soon have to be replaced. Owing to the high cost of building new H-frames, utility companies are retrofitting these H-frames, looking for new materials for parts such as braces, dead-end assemblies, and crossarms.
Fiberglass crossarms are replacing wood and steel crossarms, ensuring long and maintenance-free service life. These crossarms do not rot, split, dry out or shrink because of weather, insects or UV radiation along with holding up against heavy loads. In addition, fiberglass provides more strength for a much less weight of the material used in comparison to wood or steel and further strengthens the crossarms with insulating properties.
Although fiberglass has been used in the distribution of electricity since almost 25 years, it still lacks awareness as a number of transmission engineers persist with wood or steel and do not readily agree to try an unfamiliar product. However, the trend has started to change now with more and more utility companies migrating to the use of fiberglass products. For instance, Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative from Marshfield, Missouri has started retrofitting 500 miles of 161 kV H-frame structures that transmit electricity to its 148 substations from the Associated Electric Coop (AECI) located in Springfield, Missouri. The need for a long lasting replacement to wood is what inspired the company’s move.
Based on the success of fiberglass crossarms, several utility companies are now also recommending the implementation of fiberglass crossarms as a cost-effective option over wood and steel.
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