# Pole Loading Analysis & Make-Ready Engineering — Draftech International > **NESC-compliant structural analysis, make-ready design, and joint use attachment applications** — the engineering work that must happen before a single strand goes up on aerial plant. Done at scale across 22 states. **Canonical URL:** https://draftech.com/services/pole-loading-analysis.html **Company:** Draftech International, LLC | **Phone:** 305-306-7406 | **Email:** info@draftech.com --- ## Service Statistics | Metric | Value | |--------|-------| | Miles of OSP Designed | **44,000+** | | Active States | **22** | | Engineers Nationwide | **600+** | | Engineering Partners | **5** | --- ## Why Pole Loading Analysis & Make-Ready Engineering Matters Here's the situation we see more often than we'd like: an ISP gets through HLD, starts the permitting process, and doesn't commission pole loading analysis until the construction crew is already scheduled. Then the results come back with 37 poles needing replacement, 14 needing complex rearrangements, and two spans where existing pole geometry means clearances can't be achieved without a full re-route. The schedule is now six months behind. The budget has a hole in it. **Pole loading analysis is not a box-checking exercise.** It's the engineering work that determines whether your aerial build is actually constructable as designed — and if not, what it takes to make it so. The correct sequence for any aerial fiber deployment: 1. Field survey 2. Pole loading analysis 3. Make-ready design 4. Attachment applications 5. Make-ready completion 6. Strand installation Compressing or skipping steps creates cost and schedule risk. Every time. --- ## Our Process ### Step 1 — Field Data Intake & Pole Inventory Loading analysis is only as good as the input data. Our field survey team captures existing attachment heights, span lengths, pole class and species, and visual condition using **Katapult** or **IKE** — GPS-tagged, photo-documented, and QA'd before it touches the loading tool. We measure attachment heights with laser instruments, not estimates from the road. The difference between a field-verified 26.3-foot attachment height and an assumed 27-foot standard can change a loading result from 97% to 103% — one passes, one fails. ### Step 2 — Loading Model Setup in O-Calc Pro or SPIDA Calc We build the pole model in the tool required by the pole owner: - **O-Calc Pro** — for most CLEC and ISP joint use applications - **SPIDA Calc** — when the utility requires it Every existing attachment goes into the model at field-measured height with the appropriate wire weight and diameter. We apply the correct **NESC loading district** (Heavy, Medium, or Light) for the project geography, plus applicable wind speed from **ASCE 7**. No shortcuts on the input side. ### Step 3 — Loading Calculations & Compliance Check The analysis produces a **utilization percentage** — the ratio of applied load to allowable capacity. **NESC Grade B construction requires the pole to remain below 100%** under design loading conditions. We flag every pole at or above **90%** — not just those over 100% — because anything in the 90–100% band is a risk item deserving a second look before the attachment application goes in. ### Step 4 — Make-Ready Design For poles that fail compliance with the proposed new attachment, we design the make-ready: - Specifying the exact rearrangement — which existing attachments need to move and where - Calling for a pole replacement with the required class and height - Designing any required guy wire additions or anchor upgrades The make-ready design package is what pole owner crews or make-ready contractors work from in the field. ### Step 5 — Attachment Application Preparation & Submission We prepare the complete attachment application package: - Loading analysis outputs - Make-ready design drawings - Wire and hardware specifications - Utility-specific forms We manage submission and track the application through the pole owner's review process, following up on delays and responding to engineering questions from the utility's joint use department. --- ## Software & Tools ### O-Calc Pro Our primary tool for telecom attachment analysis. Fast, widely accepted by CLECs and most co-op utilities, and integrates with Katapult field data via direct import. Best for high-volume analyses on projects with dozens to hundreds of poles. ### SPIDA Calc Required by many investor-owned utilities (IOUs) in their joint use processes. More powerful geometric modeling for complex guy wire configurations and multi-height attachment scenarios. We use it when the pole owner requires it or when the structure warrants additional precision. ### Katapult Field data collection and photogrammetry platform. Our field crews capture pole geometry and attachment data in Katapult, which feeds directly into O-Calc Pro — reducing manual data entry error and speeding up the analysis phase. ### IKE (Integrated Katapult Engine) Mobile field collection for attachment surveys. Used on projects where speed matters more than full GIS integration. --- ## O-Calc Pro vs. SPIDA Calc Comparison | Factor | O-Calc Pro | SPIDA Calc | |--------|-----------|------------| | Most commonly required by | CLECs, ISPs, telephone co-ops, municipal utilities | Investor-owned electric utilities (IOUs), large co-ops | | Data import from Katapult | Direct integration supported | Manual entry or separate workflow required | | Guy wire modeling | Functional, handles most cases | More granular — preferred for complex anchor setups | | Volume throughput | Higher — better for 100+ pole projects | Slower per-pole workflow | | Report format | Standard telecom joint use format | IOU-specific format — matches their internal review process | --- ## NESC Compliance: What the Code Actually Requires **NESC Rule 261** governs structural loading requirements for overhead supply and communication lines. Loading grades — **Grade B** being the most common for joint-use utility distribution poles — define design wind and ice loads that poles and attachments must withstand. ### NESC Loading Districts | Loading District | Radial Ice | Wind Pressure | Temperature | |-----------------|-----------|---------------|-------------| | Heavy | 0.5 in. | 4 psf | 0°F | | Medium | 0.25 in. | 4 psf | 15°F | | Light | 0 in. | 9 psf | 30°F | | Extreme Wind | 0 in. | Up to 26 psf | 60°F | A 0.5-inch ice shell on a 0.5-inch ADSS cable nearly quadruples the effective weight per foot and substantially increases projected area catching wind. A pole that easily handles cable weight in normal conditions may be within 5% of failure under Heavy loading. We also flag **NESC clearance violations** during loading analysis review — not just structural issues. A make-ready package that fixes the structural problem but ignores a vertical clearance issue between telecom and power is an incomplete package. --- ## Make-Ready Design: What We Handle Make-ready work typically falls into four categories: 1. **Transfer loads** — existing cables moved to different heights or positions on the same pole to create compliant attachment space 2. **Rearrangements** — significant restructuring of attachment order, often requiring coordination between multiple attaching utilities 3. **Guy wire additions** — new down guys or mid-span guys added to reduce pole bending moment and bring utilization into compliance 4. **Pole replacement** — full replacement with a taller class pole when no rearrangement can achieve compliance We coordinate with other attaching utilities — telephone company, cable, sometimes wireless — to schedule rearrangements in the correct sequence. Electric utility make-ready must happen before telecom make-ready. Telecom rearrangements must be done before the new fiber attachment can go in. --- ## Joint Use Attachment Applications Joint use is the legal and regulatory framework governing who can put what on a shared utility pole. The **FCC's pole attachment rules (47 U.S.C. § 224)** give telecom carriers the right to attach to investor-owned utility poles at regulated rates, but the process still requires application, review, and approval from the pole owner. Our joint use team handles the full application workflow: - Application package preparation (loading analysis, make-ready drawings, attachment specifications) - Submission to pole owner's joint use portal or department - Status tracking and follow-up — we escalate delays through the right channels - Response to utility engineering questions and requests for additional information - Coordination between multiple pole owners on a single build — power company, telephone, municipal - Make-ready inspection documentation and sign-off package preparation ### FCC One Touch Make Ready (OTMR) The FCC's OTMR rules provide a faster path in many cases by allowing the attaching party to perform all make-ready work in a single visit. Not all pole owners have adopted OTMR processes and the rules have exceptions — we navigate these on a project-by-project basis. ### Realistic Timeline Expectations | Activity | Typical Timeline | |----------|-----------------| | Loading analysis engineering (100 poles) | 2–4 weeks | | Complete engineering package preparation | 4–12 weeks (depending on pole count) | | Utility review (co-op, municipal) | 6–12 weeks | | Utility review (investor-owned utility) | 8–20 weeks | | Railroad crossing permits | 4–9 months | | Total field survey to completed make-ready | **4–9 months** (standard) | | Complex builds with overloaded poles | **12–18 months** | --- ## Who Needs Pole Loading Analysis - **ISPs and CLECs** — any aerial fiber attachment on jointly-used poles - **BEAD subgrantees** — make-ready engineering required before aerial plant construction - **Electric co-ops** — new attachments on co-op-owned poles - **Cable operators** — overbuild attachments on existing pole infrastructure - **Wireless tower companies** — structural analysis for fiber backhaul attachments on distribution poles --- ## FAQ — Pole Loading Analysis **Q: What is pole loading analysis?** A: Pole loading analysis is a structural engineering calculation that determines whether a utility pole can safely carry its current attachments plus any new ones being proposed — under design wind and ice loads defined by NESC. The result is a utilization percentage. If that number exceeds 100%, the pole can't support the new attachment as designed and either needs replacing or the attachment arrangement needs to change. **Q: How long does make-ready engineering take?** A: The engineering itself typically takes 4–12 weeks depending on pole count. The bottleneck is almost never the engineering — it's the utility's review timeline and make-ready scheduling. Realistic total timelines from field survey to completed make-ready run 4–9 months. On builds with overloaded poles and slow utilities, 12–18 months is not unusual. **Q: What is the difference between O-Calc Pro and SPIDA Calc?** A: Both calculate pole loading under NESC standards. O-Calc Pro is the standard for most telecom joint use applications, especially with CLECs, telephone co-ops, and municipal utilities. SPIDA Calc is required by many investor-owned electric utilities. We maintain active licenses and expertise in both. **Q: What happens when a pole fails the loading analysis?** A: You have three options: pole replacement (most expensive, most reliable), rearrangement of existing attachments to redistribute load, or addition of guy wires to reduce the bending moment. We design the make-ready for whichever solution achieves compliance and fits the project constraints. **Q: Does Draftech manage the attachment application to the utility?** A: Yes. We prepare the full application package, submit to the pole owner's joint use department, track the application through review, and respond to any engineering questions. We manage the process from analysis through approval. **Q: How much does pole loading analysis cost?** A: Pricing depends on pole count, tool required, and data quality from field survey. Contact us for a fixed-fee quote based on your project scope. **Q: Is pole loading analysis required for underground fiber construction?** A: No — pole loading analysis is specific to aerial plant attachments on utility poles. Underground fiber construction does not involve pole loading analysis, though it does require other engineering (bore profiles, conduit schedules) and permitting. --- ## Related Pages - [services/ftth-design.md](ftth-design.md) — FTTH design engineering - [services/field-survey.md](field-survey.md) — Strand mapping and pole inventory - [services/permitting.md](permitting.md) — Joint use permit coordination - [blog/pole-loading-analysis-o-calc-pro.md](../blog/pole-loading-analysis-o-calc-pro.md) — Complete O-Calc Pro guide - [blog/nesc-pole-loading-compliance-fiber-attachments.md](../blog/nesc-pole-loading-compliance-fiber-attachments.md) — NESC compliance breakdown - [blog/make-ready-engineering-timeline-fiber-deployment.md](../blog/make-ready-engineering-timeline-fiber-deployment.md) — Make-ready timeline planning - [blog/ftth-hld-design-mistakes.md](../blog/ftth-hld-design-mistakes.md) — HLD mistakes that increase make-ready cost --- ## Contact **Draftech International, LLC** 15280 NW 79th CT, Suite 102 Miami Lakes, FL 33016 - **Phone:** 305-306-7406 - **Email:** info@draftech.com - **Website:** https://draftech.com - **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/draftechint