A basic guide to the density of pole-setting foam

What is the best way to set utility poles? For years, compacted soil was the only option, but pole-setting foam has shown that it can significantly outperform compacted soil. How can this be? The answer to pole-setting foam’s effectiveness lies in a single word: density.

Higher density - higher stability

GRA Services’ pole-setting solution is called Secure Set. It is a two-part foam that is easy to mix and pour and sets within an hour. The secret to its effectiveness is its density. At 5.2 pounds per cubic foot, it is the densest polyurethane foam available. It is more than three times as dense as compacted soil. This high density means that the foam sets into a hard, solid mass around a pole and fills even the tiniest gaps in the hole. This solidity translates to stability: once the foam is set, the pole has nowhere to move and remains upright and in place. Soil, on the other hand, makes allowances for areas of low density and air pockets, which can undermine the stability of the pole. 

More effective than compacted soil?

Compacted soil has been a staple of pole-setting for so long that it seems hard to believe that anything could beat it at the job. It doesn’t take much for Secure Set to prove itself, however. Aside from being much denser than compacted soil, Secure Set also forms a stronger bond with the soil in the sides and bottom of the hole, as well as the wood or metal of the pole itself, adding even more stability to the installation. 

Because Secure Set bonds with the pole, it also forms a moisture barrier that prevents rot, termite damage and corrosion. 

More effective than concrete?

While concrete is almost never used to set utility poles, it is often used to set communication towers. 

In a demonstration carried out by GRA Services, two identical communication towers were installed, one with concrete and one with SecureSet. The concrete setting required 2,480 pounds of cement. It also called for an electric mixer and many gallons of water. It took two and half hours to set and a further 24 hours to cure. The crew had to wait a day after installing the base before installing the rest of the tower.

The Secure Set installation required two five-gallon kits - 100 pounds of the product in total. No water or electric mixers were needed. The hole was filled in less than half an hour. Within an hour, the foam was completely set, providing a solid base for the tower. The crew was then able to continue with the installation, completing the project at least a day earlier than the concrete one.

To sum it up: yes, Secure Set is more effective than concrete, as well as cheaper, quicker, and less labor-intensive.

Find the best foam

GRA Services’ pole setting foam, Secure Set, is the most effective and affordable solution on the market today. As the demonstration described above makes clear, it makes the installation of transmission poles, communication towers, and other utilities much easier and quicker than the alternatives. However, this product is not just a quick fix; it is the most effective pole-setting solution there is, ensuring a more secure and sustainable set, as a result of its incredibly dense composition.



Feel free to speak to the experts at GRA Services about SecureSet and its many benefits, and find out why it is undoubtedly the best pole setting foam on the market.