When importing pole loading specifications, there are a few details to look out for. Check out this list of details and assumptions and confirm that your new models match your engineering needs!
Wire Specs
Wire specs in Katapult Pro are able to have both Slack and Full tensions, but in PoleForeman these are split into separate wire specs. All wires are imported as separate wire specs, but you are able to combine them manually using the model editor. Full vs. Slack tensions for a cable are selected using the Wire Tension attribute on the midspan marker.
Tensions imported are selected based on the matching loading parameters for the loading district as specified by the NESC:
Heavy
0° F analysis temperature
0.5” radial ice thickness
4 lb horizontal wind pressure
0.3 lb/ft conductor constant
Medium
15° F analysis temperature
0.25” radial ice thickness
4 lb horizontal wind pressure
0.2 lb/ft conductor constant
Light
30° F analysis temperature
0” radial ice thickness
9 lb horizontal wind pressure
0.05 lb/ft conductor constant
Warm Island above 9000 ft
15° F analysis temperature
0.25” radial ice thickness
4 lb horizontal wind pressure
0.2 lb/ft conductor constant
Warm Island below 9000 ft
50° F analysis temperature
0” radial ice thickness
9 lb horizontal wind pressure
0.05 lb/ft conductor constant
Arm Specs
Crossarm Offsets are not explicitly defined in PoleForeman databases. Upon import, arm offsets are set to:
0 inches if the arm name includes “Bracket”
Half of the length of the arm if it is marked as a crossarm
Otherwise, 4 inches (for alley arms)
Down Guy Specs
Cross sectional area is not defined for down guys in PoleForeman databases. We calculate the cross sectional area given the wires diameter from the database and a percent solid that assumes a 7 stranded cable (the most common and most solid). If you know your down guy cable has a different stranding, you can update the cross sectional area in the Model Editor using the following formula:
A = π * (diameter/2)2 * percentSolid
For 3 stranded cable - percentSolid = 0.644
For 7 stranded cable - percentSolid = 0.7778
For 19 stranded cable - percentSolid = 0.76
Anchor Specs
Anchor Specs in Katapult Pro are a combination of a Rod and Anchor, but in PoleForeman they are modeled separately. When we import from PoleForeman, you end up with a cross product of “Rod Size + Anchor Type” as the anchor specs. We recommend using the Model Editor to cleanup this list to a smaller, more usable list by removing the Rod and Anchor combinations that are not in actual use.
You will need to edit the list first in the Anchor Spec attribute in Attribute Editor, and then in the Anchor Spec Editor under Pole Loading.
Soil type is an attribute that can either be set on each anchor, or set as a default value in the model editor. To set the default value for your models given the region of work, navigate to “Default Specs” under Pole Loading in the Model Editor.
General Details
It is up to your discretion to choose to include small loading factors such as drip loops. By default, all measured items are included. Specific items can be skipped by adding the PLA Ignore attribute, or entire types of equipment or drip loops can be ignored by adding them in the model editor as equipment specs with 0 height, width, depth and weight.
