1. Using the
Tri-Anchor
System.
3. How do I k
4. Is this the same
anchoring system I remember seeing…?
5. What if I am not
located in the USA?
6. What if I still
have unanswered questions?
How does the system work?
The Tri-Anchor® system is really quite simple. Rather than blasting or core drilling a large hole
in the rock in which to set a pole, we suggest you use the strength of the rock to your
advantage, and anchor your pole ONTO THE ROCK. By
drilling 3 to 5 holes, 2” in diameter, to a depth of 2 feet, you can actually set
your pole securely on the rock surface.
The galvanized steel legs of the
Tri-Anchor® system hold the pole in place with the
pole bands and lag bolts, while the tapered anchor bolt expands an expansion shell at the
bottom of each hole. It’s that simple.
How do I know how many legs I need for
the pole?
The only information you need is the
pole diameter, at the butt. For diameters
between 8 and 12 inches, three anchors will do the job.
From 11 to 16 inches, four anchors can be used, and from 15 to 20 inches,
you
use five anchors. (Hint: measure the circumference and divide by 3.14, which will give
you an average diameter)
The
anchor
modules of the Tri-Anchor® system are sold in bulk, so you do not
have to know all of your pole sizes before
ordering.
What if the rock surface isn’t
flat?
When the rock is sloped, you can still
install the pole using the Tri-Anchor® system, provided the slope is not too
great. That is, the pole must sit on the
highest part of the rock surface, and the maximum allowable gap between the pole butt and
the rock surface is 3 inches. If the slope is greater, an alternate site or
method should be used.
Do I need to use the
rock-drilling template?
Most new users appreciate the drilling
template when they first install poles using the Tri-Anchor system. Because the holes are drilled on an angle, the
template’s drilling guide is quite helpful. However,
many experienced users develop their own methods and quickly begin to the job
without using the template.
Do I need to install
the lag bolts?
This is not actually a frequently asked
question, but an opportunity for us to remind people that the lag bolts are an important
part of the entire Tri-Anchor® system assembly. Years of field experience and observation have
shown us that sometimes those who install poles using the Tri-Anchor® system leave out this final
installation step.
While it may be comforting to us to
know that some users feel confident in the system even when it is not yet fully installed,
we like to remind everyone that the lag bolts are not just for decoration.
What if the rock is below the surface?
For a pole to be properly installed using the Tri-Anchor® system, the pole must sit directly on the rock surface. Therefore, it is actually quite common for installations to require the removal of several feet of overburden to get down to the rock surface, where the drilling and installation then actually take place.
What if the rock
breaks easily?
The Tri-Anchor® system works best in solid rock. In fact, the harder the rock, the stronger the
anchor assembly. In cases where the rock
breaks easily with a shovel, jackhammer, pick, or backhoe, it is best to use an
alternative installation method to the Tri-Anchor® system.
Other indications of poor rock conditions are the inability to drill a clean
hole to the
24 inch depth required, or rock that can be drilled too quickly and easily
(e.g. 24
inches in under 5 minutes using a jackhammer type drill).
How do I know when the
anchor nuts are tight?
The tighter the anchor nuts, the
stronger the bond between the expansion shell and the
rock. If you run out of thread before
the nut is tight, then the rock is not strong enough, and an alternative installation
method to the Tri-Anchor® system should be used, or an
alternate
location should
be found.
Crews installing poles using the
Tri-Anchor® system generally use their longest
wrench, sometimes with a pipe extender for added length and leverage, and sometimes use
two people pulling together for the final few turns of the nuts that expand the expansion
shell.
What if my pole is
greater than 20 inches in
diameter?
The No.9 Tri-Anchor® model is designed for use on distribution poles. When poles exceed this diameter, we recommend the use of our No. 12 model. Please contact us for pricing and availability.
Is freight included in
the price?
Yes, the prices on the price list include shipping to the
48 contiguous States.
How long will it take
for my order to arrive?
The anchors are normally in stock and
generally take a week to ten days to arrive by truck.
Where is the product
shipped from? Where is it made?
The anchors are shipped from Syracuse
NY. Poltec handles the
shipping for Tri-Steel USA.
The anchors are manufactured in Canada
under license from Tri-Steel Industries Inc. and is the exclusive Canadian manufacturer of
the Tri-Anchor® system.
What is included with the product?
Each module comes complete with all necessary hardware and installation instructions. This includes all the nuts, studs, lag bolts, etc. necessary for the installation. Three to five anchor modules are required to install one pole, depending on the diameter at the butt.
Why the Canadian address?
Tri-Steel USA is an affiliate of Tri-Steel Industries Inc., and shares offices at their Montreal facility. Tri-Steel USA was set up exclusively to handle the US marketing of the Tri-Anchor® system. Our current arrangement allows us to ship the product quickly from the warehouse in Syracuse NY, which eliminates any possible shipping delays due to customs. Our toll free number is reachable from the USA and Canada.
3.How do I know this really works?
Is this a new product / system?
No, the original Tri-Anchor® system dates back to 1976. The system has been improved upon several times since then. The present version, Model No.9, has many advantages over the original design. It is now stronger and lighter, and easier to stock since it is modular.
Who uses the Tri-Anchor system?
The largest Canadian utility companies, Hydro-Quebec, Bell Canada, and Ontario Hydro have been using The Tri-Anchor system for over two decades. These companies have erected over 50,000 poles using the Tri-Anchor system, and they continue to use it today.
Our market has expanded to the USA, where Niagara-Mohawk and Black Hills Power, were among the early adopters. More recently, SNET, Alaska Power and Telephone, Central Hudson and various REA Co-ops in Minnesota, Colorado, New England, and Washington State have become customers.
Has it been tested?
The Tri-Anchor system has been tested both by Tri-Steel Industries Inc. and various customers over the years, most notably Bell Canada. The ground line moments presented in our Selection Chart were derived from tests conducted at our facilities in 1992. In the intervening years, customers have conducted their own tests and continue to rely on the Tri-Anchor system based on our figures.
4.Is this the same anchoring system I remember seeing...?
The Tri-Anchor® system has a long history and has gone through some changes over the past 25 years. You may have seen or heard about previous versions of the anchoring system and the different marketing efforts we have used over the years. Here is a recap:
Late 1970’ s
– Late 1980’s:
The Tri-Anchor system was sold in sets of three legs. There
were different sizes depending on the pole size. E.g.: If the pole was between 7 and 11
inches in diameter, you ordered one set called the 8 -18 –28. Poles 11 to 15
inches were covered by the 10-28-38 set, and those 15 to 19 inches used the
12-38-48 set.
The anchor legs were then vertical and came up right alongside the pole. The product was available only from Tri-Steel Industries directly, and we shipped each order directly from our Montreal plant.
Early 1990’s:
During the early 1990’s we expanded our marketing
effort to the USA. We hired independent manufacturers reps in 19 different sales
territories. The product was still being sold
in sets at this time. The marketing and sales
were handled by a US subsidiary of Tri-Steel Industries Inc., called Tri-Anchor Inc., based
in Malone NY.
1993-1996:
In 1992 we redesigned the Tri-Anchor system to use a
modular universal anchor leg, no matter what the pole diameter. We also spaced the anchor leg away from the pole
and inclined the anchor, for added strength with less weight and cost.
In 1993 we signed an exclusive license agreement with the
A.B.Chance Company. Chance was the exclusive
manufacturer and marketer of a product they called the
POLE ROCK ANCHOR. Chance was
taken over by Hubbell, and the arrangement was terminated by mutual agreement.
1996-Present:
The current arrangement has now been functioning well for a few years. The No.9 Inclined Universal Model of the Tri-Anchor® system is manufactured by the Canadian exclusive licensee of Tri-Steel Industries Inc. and has been manufacturing the product line under license since 1991.
Tri-Steel USA, a division of S.G.Legler Entreprises Inc., buys in bulk and ships the anchors to Syracuse NY, where they are held on consignment. Customer orders come to the Montreal office of Tri-Steel USA , which results in an immediate shipping release being sent to Poltec. The product is normally on its way within 24 hours of the receipt of the order, with no border crossing delays possible. Invoices are sent from the Montreal office after delivery has been confirmed through the carrier.
5.What if I am not located in the USA?
While this website is geared towards our US-Based customers, we welcome product enquiries from everywhere else in the world, with the exception of Canada.
Canadian customers, please contact our master distributor Poltec Industries Inc. at (514) 326-6030.
Outside of the USA and Canada, please contact us by email for availability and pricing.
6.What if I still have unanswered questions?
E-mail us info@tri-anchor.com
Or call toll free, from the USA 1-888-ONROCK8 1-888-667-6258