Balpara was engaged by Kingston City Council to test and evaluate the integrity of 39 decorative public lighting poles in Waterways Estate.

Project Overview

As part of maintenance work on its electrical infrastructure, Kingston City Council enlisted Balpara to perform an audit of 39 decorative light poles located within Waterways Estate, an area which is made up of man-made wetlands and lakes in the middle of a residential estate.

As with any electrical infrastructure, these light poles require periodic inspection, however their proximity to water make them particularly susceptible to corrosion and rust.

Project Scope

• Testing for structural damage, including broken welds, tampering, nut loosening, missing covers, internal or external corrosion, and foundation problems.
• Utilising a shell thickness indicator to determine existence and extent of any interior decay.
• Assigning each of the 39 light poles with a rating in a condition report with recommendations on each.
• Assessing the base of each light pole for structural integrity.
• Providing guidance on when the next audit should be conducted to ensure optimum performance.

Value Add

The client initially believed many of the poles would need replacing, however after investigation, Balpara determined that in many cases it was only the decorative collar of the light pole that had acquired rust, while the rest of the pole still maintained structural integrity. This saved significant time and money for our client.

Relevant Accreditation/Quality Standards

• All poles were assessed by a Certificate II qualified Asset Inspector.

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Download the Decorative Public Lighting Poles Audit case study here.