This European Standard specifies the requirements for durability and preservative treatment of wood poles for overhead transmission and telecommunication lines. This standard covers only single poles under cantilever or compression loading. For example, this standard does not cover poles used as beams. The provision of poles for use in any overhead line or cable infrastructure shall take into account a range of factors not covered by this standard which will necessitate the specification by the end user of complementary and synonymous attributes to those defined in this standard. This refers to requirements for a number of factors including safety, overhead plant, handling, fittings, installation machinery and working practices including climbing. No attempt has been made to quantify the service life that may be expected from a pole as this will depend on its geographical location, the associated climate of its service environment and either the natural durability of the heartwood of the species selected, or the combination between selection of species, preservative type, and requirements of penetration and retention and any incised zones, any of which may be specified by the purchaser.