Compliance with Safety Requirements

Measurement in the Context of Sustainability

The municipality is responsible for all light poles it owns. According to the manager, some of them have sustained significant damage—for example, from cars colliding with them. To ensure that poles that need to be replaced are identified, the City of Utrecht has its poles inspected. Having the poles inspected can also result in substantial financial savings for the city.

Inspection

Prior to the measurement, the poles are visually inspected. Then, using a measurement unit, a pre-calculated, gradual compressive force is applied to the light pole. Every movement of the pole is recorded and captured using a 3D camera specially developed for this purpose. The measurement can then be played back in slow motion for analysis purposes. The findings of the inspection are ultimately presented in the measurement report and, if necessary, accompanied by photographic evidence. The measurement report is accessible online and is also made available in both digital and hard-copy formats.

100 percent non-destructive measurement

The measurements are performed by Normec Rei-Lux B.V., the market leader in this field. The streetlight poles in the municipality of Utrecht are measured in two ways: 3D static and 3D dynamic. An important feature of these measurements is that they are non-destructive. This means that the light poles being measured do not sustain any damage as a result of the measurements. During the measurements, the condition of the poles is assessed both above and below ground level. After all, their condition can deteriorate due to various causes, such as weather conditions, damage from mowing equipment, and dog urine.

Six-Year Warranty

The inspections can yield various results. For example, it may be determined that the quality of the light poles is good and that they do not need to be replaced in the near future. However, it may also be the case that the recommendation is to have them replaced. Sometimes, however, poles are found to be so unsafe that they must be removed immediately. Normec Rei-Lux B.V. provides a warranty for public lighting poles for a period of up to six years. This means that Normec Rei-Lux B.V. can be held liable if anything happens to the pole within that period. In addition, Normec Rei-Lux B.V. provides a well-founded life expectancy estimate, enabling the operator to plan their (replacement) budget effectively over a longer period.