This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles

for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Designation: C935 − 19

Standard Specification for

General Requirements for Prestressed Concrete Poles
Statically Cast1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C935; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope Welded Wire Reinforcement, Plain and Deformed, for

1.1 This specification covers general requirements for pre- Concrete
stressed concrete poles statically cast for use as structural C31/C31M Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test
supports for lights, distribution, transmission, and dead end Specimens in the Field
poles. C33/C33M Specification for Concrete Aggregates
C39/C39M Test Method for Compressive Strength of Cylin-
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded drical Concrete Specimens
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical C42/C42M Test Method for Obtaining and Testing Drilled
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only Cores and Sawed Beams of Concrete
and are not considered standard. C94/C94M Specification for Ready-Mixed Concrete
1.3 This international standard was developed in accor- C150/C150M Specification for Portland Cement
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- C172/C172M Practice for Sampling Freshly Mixed Con-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the crete
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- C173/C173M Test Method for Air Content of Freshly Mixed
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Concrete by the Volumetric Method
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. C231/C231M Test Method for Air Content of Freshly Mixed
Concrete by the Pressure Method
2. Referenced Documents C260/C260M Specification for Air-Entraining Admixtures
2.1 ASTM Standards:2 for Concrete
A36/A36M Specification for Carbon Structural Steel C309 Specification for Liquid Membrane-Forming Com-
A370 Test Methods and Definitions for Mechanical Testing pounds for Curing Concrete
of Steel Products C330/C330M Specification for Lightweight Aggregates for
A416/A416M Specification for Low-Relaxation, Seven- Structural Concrete
Wire Steel Strand for Prestressed Concrete C403/C403M Test Method for Time of Setting of Concrete
A421/A421M Specification for Stress-Relieved Steel Wire Mixtures by Penetration Resistance
for Prestressed Concrete C494/C494M Specification for Chemical Admixtures for
A586 Specification for Metallic-Coated Parallel and Helical Concrete
Steel Wire Structural Strand C595/C595M Specification for Blended Hydraulic Cements
A615/A615M Specification for Deformed and Plain Carbon- C618 Specification for Coal Fly Ash and Raw or Calcined
Steel Bars for Concrete Reinforcement Natural Pozzolan for Use in Concrete
A722/A722M Specification for High-Strength Steel Bars for
3. Basis of Acceptance
Prestressed Concrete
A1064/A1064M Specification for Carbon-Steel Wire and 3.1 Acceptability of prestressed concrete poles produced in
accordance with this specification shall be determined by the
results of compressive strength tests of concrete cylinders and
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C27 on Precast mill certificates for the reinforcing steel. A written statement,
Concrete Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C27.20 on signed by the manufacturer, shall verify that the cement,
Architectural and Structural Products.
Current edition approved May 1, 2019. Published May 2019. Originally aggregates, admixtures, and steel conform to the applicable
approved in 1980. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as C935 – 13. DOI: specifications for the material and that the preparation of
10.1520/C0935-19.
2
equipment, mixing, conveying, placing, consolidation, and
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, [Link], or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@[Link]. For Annual Book of ASTM
curing conforms to the requirements of the applicable standard
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on specifications. Concrete strength shall be determined by the
the ASTM website. compressive strength tests of cylinders. The manufacturer’s

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

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 C935 − 19
statement shall also certify adherence to tolerance on dimen- lifting. The loops shall be installed with a recess in the pole the
sions. Acceptability of the concrete strength of completed depth of the required minimum concrete cover over the
prestressed concrete poles may also be determined by com- reinforcement, and a diameter no less than 11⁄4 in. (32 mm).
pression tests of concrete cores in accordance with Test Steel strand lifting loops shall be removed flush to the concrete
Method C42/C42M. in the recess. The recess shall be filled and sealed with
epoxy-based grout and the pole surface shall be troweled to
4. Materials match the finish. All repair work involved with the loops shall
4.1 Cement—Portland cement shall conform to the require- be completed before delivery.
ments of Specification C150/C150M or shall be blended 5.6 Grounding—In order to provide good electrical
hydraulic cement conforming to the requirements of Types IS continuity, the spiral steel shall be securely tied to each
or IP Specification C595/C595M. reinforcing steel member it contacts within 1 ft (0.3 m) of the
4.2 Aggregate—The concrete shall be made with fine and top and the butt of the pole. An embedded ground wire or
coarse aggregates that conform to Specification C33/C33M or provisions to attach a ground wire to the surface of the pole
C330/C330M. The nominal maximum size of the coarse may be specified. The embedded ground wire shall be copper
aggregate shall not exceed 1⁄5 the minimum dimension of the and not smaller than No. 6 AWG (4 mm). It shall be bonded
member or 3⁄4 of either the clear spacing between the reinforc- with a suitable electrical connector to the reinforcing steel
ing steel or the clear cover. within 2 ft (0.6 m) of both the top and butt of the pole.
4.3 Water—Water used for curing, for washing aggregates, Grounding pigtail wire of soft-drawn stranded copper, not
and for mixing concrete shall be free of oils, organic materials, smaller than No. 6 AWG (4 mm), shall be bonded with a
and other substances in amounts that may be deleterious to suitable compression or mechanical connector to the embedded
concrete or steel, and it shall not contain concentrations of ground wire, and shall extend from the pole surface 4 6 1 in.
chloride ions in excess of 500 ppm or sulfate ions in excess of (100 6 30 mm). Unless otherwise specified, grounding pigtails
1000 ppm. shall be located 3 ft (0.9 m) from the top and 4 ft (1.2 m) from
the butt. Provisions to attach a ground wire to the surface of the
4.4 Admixtures—Air-entraining admixtures shall conform to pole must be specified by the purchaser. The type of fastener or
Specification C260/C260M. Chemical admixtures shall con- provisions for fastening to be supplied by the pole
form to Specification C494/C494M. Fly ash or other pozzo- manufacturer, the location, the spacing, and any electrical
lanic admixtures shall conform to the requirements of Speci- connection to the reinforcing steel must be covered in the
fication C618. Admixtures shall not contain chloride ions in purchaser’s specifications.
quantities that will cause the total chloride content of the
concrete to exceed 0.06 %. 6. Manufacture
4.5 Steel—Prestressing steel shall conform to Specifications 6.1 Mixture—The aggregates shall be sized, graded,
A416/A416M, A421/A421M, A586, or A722/A722M. Auxil- proportioned, and thoroughly mixed with proportions of ce-
iary nontensioned reinforcement shall conform to Specification ment and water that will produce a concrete mixture of quality
A1064/A1064M or A615/A615M. Base plates, anchor bolts, such that the poles will conform to the test and design
and top mount couplings shall conform to ASTM specifications requirements of this specification. Concrete conforming to
designated on contract drawings. Specification C94/C94M may be used.
6.2 Placing—Concrete should be placed in the forms as
5. Requirements nearly as possible in its final position. Special care should be
5.1 Poles shall be designed to carry all forces associated taken to fill all parts of the forms, and to place concrete under
with prestressing, handling, storage, installation, loading, and and around all reinforcing steel. Reinforcement shall be ad-
other service conditions. Consideration shall be given to the equately secured so as to remain in the proper position during
level of prestress forces both before and after losses. the placing of the concrete. Tie wires, if used to fasten the
5.2 Concrete—Concrete shall have a minimum design com- reinforcing steel, shall be bent down to provide the maximum
pressive strength of 5000 psi (37.5 MPa) at 28 days. protective cover of concrete over the wires.
5.3 Concrete Cover—The minimum concrete cover over the 6.3 Curing—Poles shall be cured by one of the following
reinforcement shall be 1 in. (25 mm). Ends of prestressed steel methods or combination thereof. They shall be cured so that the
shall be recessed 1⁄4 in. (6 mm) and shall be covered with a concrete will develop the required compressive strength. The
suitable waterproofing product. temperature of the concrete shall not exceed 100°F (38°C) nor
drop below 40°F (4°C) for a minimum of 1 h after placing
5.4 Air Entrainment—Unless otherwise specified by the regardless of the curing option selected.
purchaser, all concrete shall have an air content of 5 % plus or 6.3.1 Accelerated Curing—Poles may be cured with either
minus 1 % as measured by Test Method C173/C173M or steam or radiant heat in a moist environment.
C231/C231M. 6.3.2 Water Curing—Poles may be water-cured by covering
5.5 Lifting Devices—Flush inserts may be cast into the pole with water-saturated material or by a system of perforated
at locations agreeable to the purchaser. Removable attachments pipes.
may utilize the flush inserts to provide for lifting of the pole. 6.3.3 Membrane Curing—A curing compound conforming
Steel strand loops may be used instead of flush inserts for to the requirements of Specification C309 may be applied and

2
 C935 − 19
should be left intact until strength requirements are met. The made on standard concrete cylinders. Test cylinders shall be
concrete at the time of application shall be within 10°F (6°C) identified with poles. Two cylinders will be required for each
of the ambient air temperature. All surfaces shall be kept moist 10 yd3 (8 m3) with a minimum of two cylinders for each
prior to the application of the compounds and shall be damp casting bed, whichever is the greater number of cylinders, and
when the compound is applied. shall be made at random from different batches. Compression
6.3.4 Steam Curing—Steam chamber shall be so con- test specimens for satisfying minimum specified concrete
structed to retain the live steam, to minimize moisture and heat strength requirement shall be made in accordance with Practice
losses, to allow free air circulation of the steam around the C31/C31M except that curing shall be in accordance with 7.2.
pole. The steam jets shall be positioned so they do not 7.2 Curing Compression Test Specimens—Test specimens
discharge directly on the forms or test cylinders. The cycle of shall be cured in a manner similar to the poles if they are
steam curing shall conform to the following: steam-cured. If poles are cured at normal ambient
[Link] After placing and vibration, the concrete shall be temperatures, the specimens shall be cured in accordance with
allowed to attain an initial set (approximately 500 psi (3.5 Practice C31/C31M.
MPa), determined by Test Method C403/C403M) before start-
ing to raise the temperature of concrete with the steam. If the 7.3 Compression Test—Cylinders shall be tested in accor-
ambient temperature is below 50°F (10°C) enough heat shall dance with Test Method C39/C39M. The average compressive
be applied to maintain the concrete at its placing temperature. strength of all cylinders tested for each days production shall
[Link] The temperature rise in the curing enclosure shall be be equal to or greater than specified design strength of the
uniform with a rate of rise between 30°F (17°C) and 60°F concrete. In no case shall any cylinder tested fall below 80 %
(33°C) per hour. The concrete shall be cured at a steam of the design strength.
temperature of 130°F (54°C) to 165°F (74°C) until the concrete 7.4 Core Compression Tests—If the criteria of 7.3 are not
reaches the detensioning strength specified in 6.4. met or as an alternative to 7.3, the producer or purchaser may
[Link] The concrete test cylinders shall be subject to the agree to use cores taken from the poles in accordance with Test
same curing as the poles. Method C42/C42M. The number of tests required shall be as
[Link] Recording thermometers shall be used to record the specified in 7.1. Test results shall conform to 7.3 except that if
time-temperature relationship through the curing period from cores are used, the average compressive strength of the test
placing concrete to the transfer of the prestressing. specimens shall be equal to or greater than 4250 psi (29 MPa)
6.3.5 Curing Option—Other methods of curing may be used or 85 % of f'c, whichever is less. No single core shall have a
if approved by the purchaser. compressive strength of less than 3750 psi (27 MPa). If the
6.4 Prestressing: tests fail each pole or pole segment may be individually cored
6.4.1 Initial prestress shall not be applied until the concrete for acceptance.
strength has reached the greater of 3500 psi (24 MPa) or 1.67
times the maximum expected stress in the concrete due to the 8. Tolerances and Permissible Variations
prestressing forces immediately after transfer and before losses 8.1 Cross Sectional Dimensions—Cross-sectional dimen-
occur. sions shall not deviate from design dimensions by more than 1⁄4
6.4.2 Detensioning sequence of strands and wires shall be in. (6 mm).
predetermined to avoid undesired temporary stresses.
8.2 Longitudinal Dimensions—Longitudinal dimensions
6.5 Reinforcement—Steel reinforcement shall conform to shall not deviate from the design dimensions by more than 1 in.
the requirements set forth in this specification and shall be (25 mm) from the nominal design dimensions.
placed in position in the form within specified tolerances.
8.3 Location of Hardware and Holes—The hardware and
6.6 Forms—Forms shall be rigid and sufficiently strong to hole locations on the pole shall not deviate more than 3⁄8 in. (9
support the weight of the concrete without deformation or mm) from the nominal design dimensions. The hole spacing
deflection exceeding specified tolerances. Seepage of water shall not deviate more than 1⁄8 in. (3 mm) from the nominal
from the form shall be minimal. All forms shall be constructed design dimensions where there is a pattern of holes where
so that they can be removed without damaging the concrete. material will be bolted in at a later date.
All exposed concrete edges at an angle of 100° or less shall be
beveled. 8.4 Surface Straightness—When checked with a 10-ft (3-m)
6.6.1 Cleaning and Oiling—Forms shall be cleaned before straightedge, irregularities measuring more than 1⁄4 in. (6 mm)
each use. New forms shall be free of paint or other protective shall be corrected as the purchaser may order or approve.
coatings that might cling to the surface of the members. Forms
shall have a suitable release agent applied as necessary to aid 9. Inspection
in breaking bond between form wall and concrete. 9.1 The quality of materials, the process of manufacture,
6.7 Concrete Finish—Concrete finishing shall be as speci- and the finished poles shall be subject to inspection and
fied by the purchaser. approval by a representative of the purchaser. If the manufac-
turer is required to obtain the services of an independent testing
7. Physical Requirements laboratory, the cost shall be borne by the purchaser. The
7.1 Compression Test Specimens—Compression tests for manufacturer shall afford the inspector all reasonable access
satisfying the design concrete strength requirements shall be for making necessary checks of the production facilities and for

3
 C935 − 19
performing any tests the purchaser may direct his inspector to Sections may be repaired if necessary, because of occasional
conduct. All tests and inspection shall be so conducted as not imperfections in manufacture or damage during handling, such
to interfere unnecessarily with the manufacture and delivery of repairs may be made only after authorization by the purchaser.
the pole. The manufacturer shall have poles out of the forms They will be acceptable if, in the opinion of the purchaser, the
available for inspection. repairs are sound, properly finished, and cured. The repaired
sections shall conform to the requirements of this specification.
10. Rejection
10.1 Poles shall be subject to rejection for failure to con- 12. Marking
form to any of the specifications requirements. Individual poles
may also be rejected because of any of the following: 12.1 The following information shall be clearly marked on
10.1.1 Defects that indicate incorrect proportioning, mixing each pole:
and molding. 12.1.1 The date of manufacture of the pole.
10.1.2 Surface defects that indicate honeycombed or open 12.1.2 The name of manufacturer of the pole located on a
texture.
plate or plaque or cast in the pole.
10.1.3 Damaged or cracked areas where such damage would
cause the member not to perform as designed. 12.1.3 Any additional information as required by the pur-
10.1.4 Loss of prestress. chaser.
12.1.4 The bottom of the plate or plaque shall appear on the
11. Repair pole at a point 10 ft (3.1 m) from the butt end of the pole on
11.1 The manufacturer shall not apply any cosmetic treat- poles 50 ft (15.2 m) long or less and at a point 14 ft (4.2 m)
ment to the poles without written approval by the purchaser. from the butt end of the pole on poles over 50 ft (15.2 m).

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