Class 5.8
Pole Step Bolt
Hex washer head pole step bolts for steel and timber poles, hot dip galvanised.
About the Pole Step Bolt
Pole steps are the climbing steps bolted into timber and steel utility poles, fitted to the pole owner's or engineer's spec. They are hot dip galvanised, M16, ISO property class 5.8, in packs of 50: a 250mm version with a 90mm wood screw thread for timber poles, and a 180mm version with a 40mm M16 x 2.0 thread for steel poles. Hobson publishes no load rating or standard for them. Choose the version above; the guide below covers what Hobson does and does not publish, and timber or steel.
Also called step bolts, pole step bolts or hex washer head pole steps.
Features
- Hex washer head
- Hot dip galvanised
- Long shank forms a pole step
- For steel and timber poles
- M16 x 180mm (steel) and 250mm (timber)
Applications
- Climbing steps on steel and timber poles (to the pole owner's or engineer's spec)
What pole steps are
A pole step is a long bolt fixed into a pole so that it stands out from the side, giving a foothold on poles that are climbed. Hobson lists two hex washer head pole steps in its commercial range, both M16, hot dip galvanised and ISO property class 5.8, and files them under power transmission. One is made for timber poles and one for steel poles.
Pole steps are a safety item: what Hobson publishes
Hobson's Did You Know sheet for these pole steps gives the size, length, thread length, property class, finish and pack quantity, and nothing more. Hobson publishes no load rating, no standard and no climbing approval for them, and no fixing details (pilot hole, embedment, spacing or minimum pole size).
So use them only where the pole owner or an engineer has specified this pole step for that pole, and follow their drawings for fixing and spacing. Climbing systems, fall protection and access methods for poles are set by the pole owner or engineer and by work health and safety rules for working at heights (Safe Work Australia publishes a code of practice on managing the risk of falls). Do not use a pole step as an anchor point for a harness, lanyard or any other load: Hobson publishes no rating for that.
Timber pole or steel pole version?
- Timber poles: M16 x 250mm overall, with a 90mm wood screw thread at the end that fixes into the timber.
- Steel poles: M16 x 180mm overall, with a 40mm M16 x 2.0 metric coarse machine thread.
- Both have a hex washer head (a hex with an integral washer face) for driving and tightening with a spanner or socket.
- How the step fixes into the pole, and at what spacing, comes from the pole owner's or engineer's design, not from Hobson.
Pole step sizes
Both pole steps we carry. Select a row to open it.
From Hobson's Did You Know sheet 1707101DYK and stocklist. Diameter x overall length in mm; thread length in mm. Packs of 50 are the minimum order. Tap a number to show it in the selector above.
| Version | Size | Thread | Thread length | Class | Finish | Pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steel pole | M16 x 180mm | M16 x 2.0 metric coarse | 40mm | 5.8 | Hot dip galvanised | Packs of 50 |
| Timber pole | M16 x 250mm | M16 wood screw | 90mm | 5.8 | Hot dip galvanised | Packs of 50 |
Hot dip galvanised finish and exposure
Both pole steps are hot dip galvanised. Hobson's finish comparison describes hot dip galvanising (AS/NZS 1214) as about 50 microns of zinc with high corrosion resistance, recommended for long-term outdoor use.
Pole steps are outdoors and exposed. Hobson's corrosion guide for metal connectors gives hot dip galvanising or stainless steel as the minimum protection for exposed use in low, coastal (C3/C4) and high industrial zones, but stainless steel 304 or 316 only in the seaspray zone (C4/C5/CX) and 316 within 2m of a pool edge. We carry these pole steps in hot dip galvanised only, so on a seaspray site ask the pole owner or engineer what they specify.
New hot dip galvanising can look matt grey rather than bright. Hobson notes that the brightness has no effect on performance; corrosion life depends on the coating mass.
Pole steps in Adelaide
Allmat supplies hot dip galvanised pole steps, bolts and nuts to asset owners, contractors and fabricators across Adelaide and South Australia. Send us the specification you are working to and the quantity, and we will price the lot.
Pole steps to order
Hot dip galvanised pole steps, bolts and nuts are available to order from Allmat for asset owners, electrical and communications contractors, fabricators and trade across Adelaide and South Australia. Order through Allmat, we pick and pack it, then click and collect from the Allmat yard or have it delivered to site.
Goes with
Questions
What are pole steps?
Long bolts fixed into a pole so they stand out from the side as footholds. Ours are Hobson hex washer head pole steps, M16, hot dip galvanised, class 5.8: a 250mm version for timber poles and a 180mm version for steel poles.
What load are these pole steps rated for?
Hobson publishes no load rating, standard or climbing approval for them. Use them only where the pole owner or an engineer has specified them, to their fixing and spacing details and work at heights rules.
Which pole step for a timber pole?
The M16 x 250mm, which has a 90mm wood screw thread. Hobson publishes no pilot hole or embedment for it, so follow the pole owner's or engineer's drawing.
Which pole step for a steel pole?
The M16 x 180mm, with a 40mm M16 x 2.0 metric coarse thread. How it fixes into the pole comes from the pole design.
Are galvanised pole steps OK near the coast?
Hobson's corrosion guide accepts hot dip galvanising for exposed use in low, coastal and high industrial zones, but calls for stainless steel 304 or 316 in the seaspray zone. Ours are hot dip galvanised only, so ask the pole owner or engineer what to use on a seaspray site.
Can I clip a harness to a pole step?
No. Hobson publishes no rating for pole steps as anchor points. Fall protection on poles must follow the pole owner's or engineer's system and work at heights rules.
How many come in a pack?
Packs of 50, for both versions.
Where can I buy pole steps in Adelaide?
Order through Allmat. Order ahead by phone on 1300 03 03 63 or send your list for a quote, then click and collect from 25 Kapara Road, Gillman, or have them delivered to site.
Pole Step Bolt: sizes and finishes we supply
2 lines by type and finish. Pick one above for its product code and pack sizes.
| Type | Finish | Sizes | Lengths | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hex washer head | Galvanised | M16 | 180, 250 | 2 |
Data sheets and documents
The documents for the product you choose are listed with the selector above. Here is every Pole Step Bolt document from Hobson Engineering.
All Pole Step Bolt documents (5)
Data sheets and technical data (2)
Did You Know flyers (1)
Guides and articles (2)
Need them in bulk?
Add the sizes you need to your quote, or send us your list and we’ll price the lot and supply it with the rest of your order.
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