Product · United Lighting Standards · a SESCO line
United Lighting Standards Poles: What the Published Data Actually Supports in South Florida
United Lighting Standards has been in the industry since 1971 and publishes that all of its products are designed and manufactured at its facility in Warren, Michigan. Nine steel lines and eight aluminum lines, anchor base, direct burial and hinged. On this coast the pole is usually the part of the exterior package that gets rejected, so this page is built around what ULS publishes about wind and corrosion — and around the several things it does not.
Have a pole schedule, an EPA to check, or an existing bolt circle to match?
The lines, and what they are made of
ULS publishes steel and aluminum only. There is no fiberglass, composite or concrete pole in the catalog.
| Group | Lines as ULS names them | Published material |
|---|---|---|
| Straight steel | Round Straight (RSP), Round Straight Embedded (RSP-EMB), Square Straight (RPSQ), Square Straight Embedded (RPSQ-EMB), Pyramid Base Square Straight (RPSQ-PY), Square Straight Hinged (SSHP) | ASTM A500 Grade B, minimum yield 46,000 psi |
| Tapered steel | Round Tapered (RTS), Round Tapered Embedded (RTS-EMB), Square Tapered (STP) | Weldable-grade hot-rolled commercial quality carbon steel, ASTM A595 Grade A, guaranteed minimum yield 55,000 psi after fabrication. RTS taper rate 0.14 in. per foot, one piece, full-length longitudinal weld |
| Aluminum | Square Straight (SSA), Square Straight Embedded (SSA-EMB), Square Straight Hinged (SSHA), Round Straight (RSA), Round Straight Embedded (RSA-EMB), Round Straight Hinged (RSHA), Round Tapered (RTA), Round Tapered Hinged (RTHA) | Shaft 6063 alloy aluminum tubing, heat treated to T6 temper. Anchor base A356 alloy aluminum, heat treated to T6 condition |
| Bases and hardware | Anchor base standard on all non-EMB lines; direct burial on the EMB lines; hinged base on SSHP, SSHA, RSHA and RTHA | Four anchor bolts included with every pole. 3/4 in. anchor bolts fully galvanized; all other sizes galvanized on the threaded side only. Base plates on steel poles can be modified to a larger bolt circle to match existing anchor bolts, never a smaller one |
Wind: three published bases, and only one of them reaches Florida
ULS publishes EPA in three places and they do not agree, so this is the part to get right before anything goes on a submittal.
| Where it is published | Wind speed columns published | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Product web pages | 80, 90, 100, 120 mph, with the note that EPA ratings include a 1.3 gust factor | Every line, including tapered steel and all aluminum. Does not reach Florida design wind speeds |
| 2013 AASHTO LTS-6 block | 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140 mph | Steel. Gives different numbers for the same part numbers than the product pages, with no published reconciliation |
| 2020 FBC / ASCE-7 block | 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180 mph | Round Straight (RSP) and Square Straight (RPSQ) only. This is the block to use in Florida |
| AASHTO LRFD LTS-1 block | 115, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180 mph | Published alongside the other two on the merged EPA table |
One worked example of the disagreement: for RPSQ 10-4-11 the product page publishes 25.7 sq ft at 80 mph, while the 2013 AASHTO LTS-6 block publishes 35.7 sq ft at the same speed. ULS publishes no explanation. Use the 2020 FBC / ASCE-7 block for Florida and confirm the sheet in writing with the factory before it is sealed.
Square Straight Steel, the 2020 FBC / ASCE-7 table
Published EPA in square feet at 200 lb maximum luminaire weight. ULS also publishes a 500 lb row for every part number, which runs about 3 to 6 percent lower. Columns are ULS’s own.
| Part number | Shaft and wall | Bolt circle | Anchor bolt | 120 mph | 150 mph | 180 mph |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RPSQ 10-4-11 | 4 in. sq., 11 ga. | 8.0/9.0 in. | .75 x 17 x 3 | 31.1 | 18.9 | 12.2 |
| RPSQ 12-4-11 | 4 in. sq., 11 ga. | 8.0/9.0 in. | .75 x 17 x 3 | 24.8 | 14.7 | 9.2 |
| RPSQ 14-4-11 | 4 in. sq., 11 ga. | 8.0/9.0 in. | .75 x 17 x 3 | 20.3 | 11.5 | 6.8 |
| RPSQ 16-4-11 | 4 in. sq., 11 ga. | 8.0/9.0 in. | .75 x 17 x 3 | 16.5 | 8.9 | 4.8 |
| RPSQ 18-4-11 | 4 in. sq., 11 ga. | 8.0/9.0 in. | .75 x 17 x 3 | 13.3 | 6.7 | 3.2 |
| RPSQ 20-4-11 | 4 in. sq., 11 ga. | 8.0/9.0 in. | .75 x 17 x 3 | 10.6 | 4.9 | 1.7 |
| RPSQ 20-4-7 | 4 in. sq., 7 ga. | 8.0/9.0 in. | .75 x 17 x 3 | 11.2 | 5.4 | 2.3 |
| RPSQ 20-5-7 | 5 in. sq., 7 ga. | 10.5/11.5 in. | 1 x 36 x 4 | 33.2 | 19.0 | 11.2 |
| RPSQ 25-5-7 | 5 in. sq., 7 ga. | 10.5/11.5 in. | 1 x 36 x 4 | 22.5 | 11.6 | 5.7 |
| RPSQ 25-6-7 | 6 in. sq., 7 ga. | 11.0/12.0 in. | 1 x 36 x 4 | 22.0 | 10.5 | 4.3 |
| RPSQ 30-5-7 | 5 in. sq., 7 ga. | 10.5/11.5 in. | 1 x 36 x 4 | 15.1 | 6.3 | 1.6 |
| RPSQ 30-6-7 | 6 in. sq., 7 ga. | 11.0/12.0 in. | 1 x 36 x 4 | 13.9 | 4.7 | not published at this speed |
| RPSQ 35-5-7 | 5 in. sq., 7 ga. | 10.5/11.5 in. | 1 x 36 x 4 | 9.5 | 2.3 | not published at this speed |
| RPSQ 35-6-7 | 6 in. sq., 7 ga. | 11.0/12.0 in. | 1 x 36 x 4 | 7.8 | not published at this speed | not published at this speed |
| RPSQ 39-6-7 | 6 in. sq., 7 ga. | 11.0/12.0 in. | 1 x 36 x 4 | 3.7 | not published at this speed | not published at this speed |
Round Straight (RSP) is published in the same 2020 FBC / ASCE-7 table across the same speeds; ask me for the current RSP page rather than working from a copy. Read these as the manufacturer’s published values, not as a wind rating for the assembly — the fixture EPA, the bracket, the tenon and the foundation all still have to be checked. There is an EPA calculator on this site if you want to add up the head load first.
What ULS publishes about the wind basis, and what it leaves out
This is the section a Florida threshold reviewer goes to first.
| Standards named | 2013 AASHTO LTS-6, 2020 FBC / ASCE-7, AASHTO LRFD LTS-1 |
|---|---|
| Gust factor | Published as a 1.3 gust factor — but only stated for the 80/90/100/120 mph product-page tables, not for the FBC block |
| ASCE 7 edition | Not published. The heading says only “2020 FBC / ASCE-7” |
| Risk Category | Not published |
| Exposure Category | Not published. On a coastal Broward or Miami-Dade site this is usually the first question asked, and the published table does not answer it |
| Importance factor, Kzt, Ke | Not published |
| Deflection limit | Not published |
| Allowable stress or LRFD method per table | Not published beyond the standard names |
| Aluminum and tapered lines | No 2020 FBC / ASCE-7 EPA is published for RTS, STP, SSA, RSA or RTA. Round Tapered Aluminum publishes no EPA at all, only dimensional data |
| Vibration | A dampener is offered and typically recommended at 25 ft and taller, but no specification is published for it, and the terms of sale expressly disclaim warranty for damage caused by wind-induced Aeolian vibration |
Finish and corrosion — the part ULS publishes well
The finish data is the strongest published position ULS has for this coast.
| Coating | Triglycidyl isocyanurate (TGIC) polyester, formulated for ULS, applied electrostatically |
|---|---|
| Pretreatment | Four-wheel steel-shot blast, then compressed-air cleanup. Steel additionally gets an iron phosphate coat, creating an iron oxide base with a flat amorphous metal phosphate topcoat |
| Cure | A combination of infrared and convection heat at temperatures exceeding 450 °F |
| Salt spray, ASTM B117 | 2,500+ hours in a 5 percent solution |
| Humidity | 1,000 hours at 110 °F and 100 percent relative humidity |
| Pencil hardness | 2H minimum |
| Impact | 150 inch-pounds direct and reverse |
| Film thickness | 6 mils of powder coating |
| Finish systems offered | Powder coat, galvanized, or powder coat over galvanized on steel; powder coat or anodized on aluminum. No ASTM designation is published for the galvanizing, and no class or thickness is published for the anodizing |
| Standard colors | Graphite Metallic, Dark Platinum, Moss Green, White, Textured White, Dark Bronze, Harvest Bronze, Textured Medium Bronze, New Bronze, Silver, Medium Gray, Gray, Textured Gray, Matte Aluminum, Platinum Silver, Black, Textured Black. Custom colors on request |
| Warranty on finish | Three years standard, against cracking, peeling, excessive fading and corrosion defects, from date of shipping. Five-year and ten-year options published, the ten-year for steel poles with a galvanized finish |
| Warranty on the pole itself | Twelve months from shipment against substantial defects in material and workmanship, remedied by field repair or a replacement part, liability capped at the purchase price of the unit |
| Shipping protection | UV and tear-resistant vinyl bubble wrap |
Details that come up on a South Florida submittal
| Handhole | 3 by 5 in., centered 14 in. above grade, standard on all straight steel poles. Orientation specified at 0, 90, 180 or 270 degrees. Handhole size for the tapered and aluminum lines is not published, and no cover material, gasket or fastener specification is published |
|---|---|
| Direct burial | Embedded poles are supplied with a 2 by 4 in. wiring slot below grade. An alkali-resistant coal tar epoxy can be applied to the buried portion as an option. Published burial depths run 3 ft at 8 to 12 ft mounting height, 4 ft at 14 to 20 ft, and 5 ft at 25 ft |
| Grounding | No ground lug or ground nut is published as furnished. The published installation guidance puts grounding on the purchaser and installer, per applicable codes |
| Base covers | ABS plastic with a UV inhibitor on 5 to 9 in. diameter poles; a two-piece formed sheet-steel cover on 10 to 12 in. diameter poles |
| UL or CSA listing | Optional, published at 35 dollars per pole, and it has to be specified at order time. It applies to catalog poles, not brackets, and no file number is published |
| Engineering support | ULS publishes a wind-load and foundation calculation service for steel and aluminum poles in all states except Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Montana, Mississippi, New Jersey and Vermont. Florida is not on the excluded list. Foundation calculations are valid only for anchor-based poles ordered through ULS. No code basis, fee, turnaround or professional-engineer seal state is published |
| Foundation design | Not provided as a published standard. ULS recommends a professional engineer familiar with local soil conditions. No caisson diameters, depths, rebar schedules or soil-bearing assumptions are published |
What ULS does not publish, and what I do about it
Every one of these is a real gap on a Miami-Dade or Broward job. None of them is a reason to walk away from the line — they are the questions I take to the factory before the pole goes on a schedule.
| Florida Product Approval | No statewide FL number published |
|---|---|
| Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance | No NOA number published. In the High Velocity Hurricane Zone this is the item that stops a submittal |
| HVHZ statement | None published. ULS names 2020 FBC / ASCE-7 as an EPA basis but makes no HVHZ claim and publishes no missile-impact data |
| High-wind EPA for most of the catalog | The FBC block covers RSP and RPSQ only. For a 150 mph or faster site, the tapered and aluminum lines cannot be specified from published data |
| Stainless hardware | No stainless option or code published. Within a mile of the Atlantic this is worth asking about in writing |
| Galvanizing and anodizing standards | No ASTM A123 or A153 designation and no anodizing class or thickness published, so a galvanized or anodized callout cannot be written against a published ULS standard |
| Anchor bolt grade | No ASTM designation or yield published, which the foundation anchorage design and special inspection both need |
| Breakaway bases | Offered under accessory code BAC with no published rating and no NCHRP 350 or MASH statement |
| Buy American and BABA | “Made in Michigan” is published; no Buy American Act, Build America Buy America or domestic-content statement is |
| Mill certs, weld procedure, NDT | Not published |
Questions I get
Who represents United Lighting Standards in South Florida?
I do, through SESCO Lighting, in Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Monroe.
Which ULS EPA table should I use for a Florida job?
The 2020 FBC / ASCE-7 block, which runs 120 to 180 mph. The product-page tables stop at 120 mph and use a 1.3 gust factor, and the 2013 AASHTO LTS-6 block gives different numbers for the same part numbers. ULS publishes no reconciliation between them, so confirm the sheet with the factory before it is sealed.
Does ULS have a Miami-Dade NOA or a Florida Product Approval?
Neither is published. If your AHJ is in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone and wants an NOA on the pole, tell me early and I will either get a position in writing from the factory or move you to a line that publishes one.
Can I get a ULS aluminum pole for a 150 mph site?
Not from published data. The 2020 FBC / ASCE-7 EPA table covers the round straight and square straight steel lines only. Every aluminum line, and both tapered steel lines, publish EPA to 120 mph at most, and Round Tapered Aluminum publishes no EPA at all.
What salt-spray performance does ULS publish?
2,500 or more hours of ASTM B117 in a 5 percent solution, at 6 mils of powder coating, plus 1,000 hours at 110 °F and 100 percent relative humidity. That is a strong published number for this coast. What is not published is a galvanizing ASTM designation, a stainless hardware option, or any distance-from-saltwater limit in the warranty.
How long is the ULS warranty?
Three years on the standard finish from date of shipping, with five-year and ten-year options, the ten-year for steel poles with a galvanized finish. The pole itself carries twelve months from shipment against defects in material and workmanship. The terms of sale expressly disclaim warranty for damage caused by wind-induced Aeolian vibration, which is why the dampener is worth ordering on anything 25 ft and taller.
Can ULS match an existing bolt circle?
On steel poles the base plate can be modified to a larger bolt circle to fit an existing anchor bolt pattern. It cannot be made smaller than the pole’s standard bolt circle. Send me the existing pattern and the fixture and I will tell you whether it works.
Where the numbers come from, and where to go next
Every figure on this page is read off United Lighting Standards’ own product pages, spec sheets, EPA tables, finishing page, warranty documents and terms of sale. Where ULS publishes nothing, this page says so rather than filling the gap. ULS distributes the same EPA data in more than one place and the sets do not agree, so ask me for the current sheet on a specific part number before it goes in a submittal. · BABA and Buy America for lighting
Related: The United Lighting Standards brand page · Light poles and structures · Pole EPA calculator · HVHZ exterior lighting · Coastal lighting guide · All product pages