Municipal Responsibility

Municipal authorities are responsible for ensuring the road safety of buildings and structures.

Back in 1991, the Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf already put the public authorities under the obligation to "perform tests...when inspecting streetlamps" (file number 180105/91).

But how can an authority decide, with legal certainty, which poles and masts are (still) technically safe, and which already pose a hazard? Basic visual inspections, ultrasonic wall thickness measurements, or simple site inspections and surveys are by no means sufficient for meeting the duty to ensure road safety and to definitely preclude any potential claims for damage (Section 823 (I) of the German Civil Code).

Replacing poles and masts at regular intervals irrespective of their condition (e.g. based on year/date of construction) entails unnecessarily high costs and puts a massive burden on the municipal budgets. The principle of economic feasibility is ignored if intact poles and masts are replaced on a rigid schedule in order to eliminate potential risks.

However, there is a safe, uncomplicated, and cost-efficient solution to this dilemma that plagues almost every municipal administration!

Legally Verifiable Stability Testing

Roch Services GmbH is a test laboratory accredited under DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005 and certified in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9001. The company has proven that it has the pertinent technical expertise required to conduct structural stability tests on poles and masts. The Roch method is an internationally patented test technique used worldwide for the non-destructive testing of pole and mast systems, and facilitates economically feasible stability tests in accordance with all legal requirements ? fast, uncomplicated, effective, and cost-efficient.

Cost-saving and Efficient

The stability test for pole and mast systems comprises two components: structural safety and position stability. During the Roch stability testing process, an artificially generated wind load stresses poles and masts to the point of bending. The test is then evaluated by means of an electrosensory force-deflection graph, like the ones used for material testing in laboratories all around the globe. The Roch stability testing method analyses both the structural safety (material) as well as the position stability (anchoring). This type of testing is particularly flexible, quickly performed, and guarantees reliable, clearly defined, and verifiable measurement results with minimal resource utilisation and expense. The test protocols and reports of Roch Services GmbH therefore verify that the duty to ensure road safety has been fully met ?efficiently, cost-effectively, and in line with the budget. Tests can be conducted any time, anywhere. They are performed solely by trained Roch Services employees.

The testing procedure and technology used (1 million poles and masts tested worldwide!) are unique selling propositions that set Roch Services apart from the competition.

The Roch Testing Method