This European Standard covers requirements for single untreated or preservative treated wood poles for overhead lines under cantilever or compression loading (it does not cover poles used as beams). It covers test methods, determination of characteristic values and methods of specifying durability and sizes. It also establishes principles for visual grading. This European Standard applies to both softwood and hardwood poles. This European Standard specifies the evaluation of conformity requirements and the marking of wood poles. This European Standard does not specify wood poles treated against fire to improve their fire performance. This European Standard does not quantify the service life that may be expected from a wood pole. NOTE The service life of a wood pole depends 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 retention and any incised zones.