Metallic capping on Wood Distribution Poles

[johnnyball]

The utility company that I work for routinely installs a thin piece of sheet metal that is then nailed to the tops of our wood distribution poles. This company has done this practice for many years and still continues it, with the justification of protecting the pole top from rot (by capping the top of the pole. From a B.I.L. perspective, does this cause any detriment to lightning performance?

 

[oldagpe]

End grain is susceptible to water wicking. Caps will help mitigate that.

The cap will not affect lightning. In any case, the ground wire running with the pole down to the butt protects the pole from physical damage.