What Sized Anchor Bolts are Used for Light Poles?

Anchor bolts for light poles are configured in several ways. Ordering them can often be confusing and this FAQ will attempt to simplify that process.

Light poles each have specific designs and the anchor bolts are designed to the exact specifications of each light pole to match the strength properties and pullout resistance needed to keep the pole standing.

Light Pole Bases      

Light pole bases are most commonly designed with a 4-anchor bolt pattern, however, that is not always the case. Bases also often consist of a 3-anchor bolt or 8-anchor bolt pattern.

The anchor bolts typically come with steel templates that match the bolt circle pattern of the light pole base which ensures the pole will fit perfectly over the anchor bolts for installation. If a steel template is not required for the pole, contractors will often create templates on the construction site using wood.

Anchor Bolt Style

The anchor bolts for street light poles vary depending on the pole requirements. The two most common light pole anchor bolts are straight rods with threads on each end or “L” shaped bent anchor bolts.

Other styles consist of fully threaded rods and on very rare occasions, headed anchor bolts. Each of these styles offers different types of pull-out resistance from concrete so pole manufacturers design the anchor bolts specifically to each pole type’s specific needs.

Typically, thread-each-end rods and fully threaded rods require 6 nuts and 6 washers per rod. This allows for a nut and washer to sandwich the base plate and two templates embedded in the concrete. Bent anchor bolts and headed anchor bolts require 2 nuts and 2 washers each to sandwich the base plate, with one nut installed under the base plate for leveling purposes.

Anchor bolt embedded in concrete.

Plates

Every light pole anchor rod requires some form of nut-plate or template combination on the embedded end. If a steel template is not being used, a nut-plate combo is required to provide pull-out resistance.

The plates are most commonly square or rectangular but they can also be round. These plates are manufactured to the exact specifications of the pole and can be made in any size.

The plates are attached to the nut by tack welding or sandwiching the plate between two nuts.

Templates

Templates are often used with light pole anchor rods to ensure correct alignment with the light pole base after the anchor rods are poured into the concrete. Assuming the anchor bolts have been set properly, once the concrete has been set, the base of the pole will perfectly fit over the bolt pattern due to the template alignment.

Templates usually are made in three distinct patterns: round, square, or rectangular. The rectangular plates are used in a triangular pattern to create the 3-anchor bolt pattern.

Diagram of anchor bolt templates.

The position of the holes in the anchor bolt templates is determined by the bolt circle diameter. The term “bolt circle diameter” or “BC” refers to the measurement based on an imaginary circle that passes through the center of the bolts in a circular pattern.

The bolt circle, like everything else associated with light pole anchor bolts, is determined by the light pole type being used. The pole base plate and the template will have matching bolt circle diameters to ensure proper alignment.

Galvanizing

Light pole anchor bolts are almost always exposed to natural elements so a corrosion-resistant coating is required. This is why almost all light pole anchor bolts are required to be hot-dip galvanized. This coating style offers superior corrosion resistance compared to other types of coatings. Hot-dip galvanizing provides durability and longevity for the anchor bolts when they are exposed to natural elements.

Sets vs. Each

One of the most confusing things that come up when ordering light pole epoxy anchor bolts is the quantity. Often light pole anchors are designated as sets. One set is equivalent to the total number of anchor bolts required for a single light pole base.

For example, if the light pole bolt base requires 4 anchor rods, one set would equal 4 anchor rods so if you needed 8 total pole bases, you could order 8 sets of 4 anchor rods. The other way to designate the light pole anchors is by total quantity so using the same example if you had 8 total light poles, you would need 32 anchor rods.

Either form of quantity is perfectly acceptable to designate. The most important factor is to clearly state whether you need “sets” or “total” anchor rods.

Stock

Portland Bolt carries a wide variety of light pole anchor bolts in stock. Different light pole manufacturers require different sizes, grades, and configurations for their anchor rods.

For state department of transportation projects, the light pole anchor rod requirements may vary by state. The tables below give an idea of what sizes and configurations of light pole anchor bolts are commonly available at Portland Bolt.

Nonstandard anchor bolts can easily be manufactured in any size, ASTM grade, and configuration.

 

Anchor Rods (thread each end)

Length Diameter
1/2" 5/8" 3/4" 7/8" 1"
Plain Galv. Plain Galv. Plain Galv. Plain Galv. Plain Galv.
8 - 17490 - 17997 18035 18036 - - - -
10 - 17492 - 17999 18007 18008 - - - -
12 - 17494 18000 18001 18009 18010 - - 18049 18050
14 - - - - 18013 18014 - - 18051 -
16 - - - - 18017 18018 - 18040* - 18054
18 - 17496 18002 18003 18021 18022 18046* 18041* 18055 18056
20 - - - - 18023 18024 - 18042* - 18058
22 - - - - - 18026 - - - -
24 - - - 18005 18027 18028 18047* 18043* 18061 18062
26 - - - - 18029 18030 - - - -
30 - - - - - 18034 - 18045* 18871 18872
36 - - - - - - - - 18876 18877
Other sizes and finishes available on request.
* These products supplied as F1554 Grade 55

 

All Thread Rods

Diameter F1554 Grade 36 (12' lengths) F1554 Grade 55 (10') F1554 Grade 105 (12')
Plain Galvanized Plain Galvanized Plain Galvanized
12 13889* 13900 17626 17660 13937 14061
58 13890* 13901 17627 17661 13938 14062
34 13891* 13902 17628 17662 13939 14063
78 13892* 13903 17629 17663 13940 14064
1 13893* 13904 17630 17664 13941 14065
118 13894 - 17631 - 13942 14066
114 13895 - 17632 17669 13943 14067
138 13896 - 17633 - 13944 14068
112 13897 - 17634 17670 13945 14069
134 13898 - - - 13946 14070
2 13899 - 17636 - 13947 14071
214 - - - - 14119 -
212 - - - - 14120 -
* Also available in 6' lengths

 

Bent Anchor Bolts

F1554 Grade 36 & Grade 55

Click table to show drawing
Anchor Bolt Size (D x L x C x T) Plain Finish Part # Hot-Dip Galvanized Part #
Diam. Length Hook Thread
12 8 2 4 12357 12358
12 10 2 4 12029 12030
12 12 2 4 12618 12619
12 18 4 4 Made to Order 19579
58 8 2 4 17752 17753
58 10 2 4 17754 17755
58 12 3 4 17735 17689
58 18 4 6 Made to Order 17658
58 20 4 6 Made to Order 17982
34 6 3 4 14122 14123
34 8 3 4 16599 16600
34 10 3 4 16601 16602
34 12 4 4 16603 16604
34 14 4 6 18918 18919
34 15 4 6 15980 15981
34 16 4 6 18920 18921
34 18 4 6 15982 15983
34 18 4 8 Made to Order 17980
34 24 4 6 16629 16630
34 24 4 7 Made to Order 17970
34 30 4 6 Made to Order 15989
34 30 4 7 Made to Order 17981
34 36 4 7 Made to Order 19301
78 18 4 6 Made to Order 15985
1 12 4 4 18930 19305
1 18 4 6 15986 15987
1 24 4 6 18933 19298
1 36 4 6 15978 15979
1 36 4 7 Made to Order 17729
1 36 4 12 Made to Order 15976
114 36 5 12 Made to Order 19594
114 42 6 7 Made to Order 17064
  • Black - Indicates stock ASTM F1554 grade 36A307 grade C*, and AASHTO M314 grade 36 anchor bolts.
  • Red - Indicates stock ASTM F1554 grade 55 and AASHTO M314 grade 55 anchor bolts. Grade 55 anchor bolts meet supplementary requirement S1 for weldability.

 

 

In conclusion, light pole anchor bolts can be confusing to order but Portland Bolt can make it easy for you. We have experts standing by who can help with any light pole anchor bolt needs you may have. Give us a call and we will be happy to help you with your next lighting project!

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