Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a crossarm?
A crossarm is a high quality piece of wood mounted on a utility pole used to hold up power lines or other equipment.
2. What are crossarms made from?
The majority of crossarms are made of wood (Douglas Fir or Southern Yellow Pine). Small quantities of steel or composites also are used.
3. Who uses crossarms?
Electric utilities, municipal utilities, Rural Utilities Services (RUS), Co-ops, telephone companies, cable companies, oil refineries, and railroads all use crossarms.
4. Will wood crossarms be available in the future?
Yes, Pennington does not anticipate any shortage of raw material in spite of propaganda regarding a shortage of wood resources. Crossarms are made from trees, a renewable resource.
5. How long does a crossarm last?
Utility companies tell us 40+ years is not unusual; however, crossarms get replaced for reasons other than age.
6. Why are crossarms treated?
Crossarms are treated to protect the wood from degradation by a variety of natural causes. Wood can be protected from the attack of fungi and harmful insects by applying chemical preservatives.
7. What types of treatment does Pennington Crossarm Co. offer?
Preservative treatments offered by Pennington are Pentachlorophenol (Penta), Creosote, 50-50 mix (Creosote-Penta), Chemonite (ACZA), Copper Napthanate, Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA), and fire retardant (interior and exterior).
8. Are crossarms always treated?
No, Pennington supplies untreated crossarms to various utilities who have determined they do not need treatment due to dry climates and have the same life span as treated crossarms. It is Pennington's opinion that untreated crossarms may last as long as treated crossarms if they are not subjected to high humidity or wet, rainy weather conditions.
9. Does your sawmill cut crossarm stock?
Pennington Crossarm Co. is the only manufacturer who owns and operates their own sawmill. Our Zip-O-Log sawmill provides a large portion of our distribution and transmission crossarm stock.
10. Is Pennington Crossarm Co. a Wood Quality Control (WQC) plant?
Pennington's Eugene, OR facility has been a WQC approved plant since 1986 and is qualified to participate in the WQC program. The majority of crossarms produced to service the REA/RUS market are WQC inspected.
11. What is a “standard” drilling?
“Standard” drilling is a misnomer. The most commonly used pattern would be REA/RUS M-19 (see REA drilling guide in catalog). There are as many different drilling patterns as there are utility companies.
12. Does Pennington assemble transmission products and hardware?
Yes, Pennington produces dead end assemblies, double arm assemblies, x-braces, and knee and vee braces. They come pre-assembled for easy installation in the field.
13. Do you stock finished crossarms
Yes, Pennington maintains a large inventory of REA/RUS M-19 treated crossarms in Eugene, OR and Memphis, TN ready for immediate shipment.
14. Can Pennington Crossarm Co. respond to emergency needs?
Yes, we are proud of our response time in past emergency situations. When there is a natural disaster, storm emergency needs will take precedence.
15. Does Pennington Crossarm Co. kiln dry crossarms?
Yes, in Eugene, OR, Pennington has three large dehumidification systems to kiln dry crossarms and timbers. In Holly Hill, SC, Pennington utilizes a steam kiln system to dry crossarms.

For more information, call 866-722-9276