Spectra DG613-6 Dialgrade Pipe Laser with Large Metric Pipe Plate

Professional Fiberglass Leveling Rod for Construction and Survey Crews

The NEDO 345885 is a 16-foot fiberglass leveling rod graduated in feet and tenths — the standard decimal-foot format used across U.S. construction, civil engineering, and land surveying. When your crew is shooting grades against cut sheets, staking utility inverts, or setting finish floor elevations, you need a rod that reads clean at distance and holds its graduation accuracy job after job. The NEDO 345885 delivers that reliability in a fiberglass body engineered to resist warping, moisture absorption, and the routine abuse of active jobsites.

Overview & Jobsite Applications

Fiberglass leveling rods have become the preferred choice for contractors and surveyors who need dimensional stability without the weight penalty of aluminum or the fragility of older wood rods. The NEDO 345885 extends to 16 feet, giving crews the vertical range needed for deep utility work, bridge and retaining wall layout, and multi-lift grading operations. Its feet-and-tenths graduation integrates directly with decimal-foot plan sets and grade stakes, eliminating conversion errors in the field. The high-contrast graduation markings remain legible at the distances typical of construction site leveling runs, reducing rod-reading mistakes that cost time and money on grade-sensitive work.

Key Specifications

• Model: NEDO 345885
• Extended Length: 16 feet
• Graduation: Feet and tenths (decimal feet)
• Material: Fiberglass
• Graduation Style: High-contrast direct-reading scale
• Application: Optical and digital automatic levels, tilting levels
• Country of Origin: Germany

Key Features

• Fiberglass construction resists warping, swelling, and moisture — stays accurate through wet and humid site conditions
• Feet and tenths graduation matches decimal-foot plan sets and cut sheets used in U.S. construction and civil work
• 16-foot range covers deep utility inverts, retaining walls, and multi-lift grading without rod moves
• High-contrast graduation markings readable at typical leveling distances with standard optical or digital automatic levels
• Sectional rod design for compact transport and storage between job sites
• NEDO German engineering with tight graduation tolerances for professional-grade accuracy

Job Applications

Site Grading & Earthwork: Shoot existing ground shots and finish grade elevations using the decimal-foot scale that matches your cut-and-fill sheets directly. No mental conversion — what the level reads is what goes on the grade stake.

Utility & Pipeline Layout: Set invert elevations for storm drain, sanitary sewer, and water main installations where 16 feet of range lets you reach from established benchmarks down to deep pipe inverts in a single setup.

Concrete & Structural Work: Verify form elevations, set anchor bolt heights, and check slab pour benchmarks against structural drawings calibrated in decimal feet.

Land Surveying & Topographic Work: Run differential leveling loops, establish temporary benchmarks, and collect spot elevations for topo surveys where fiberglass stability keeps your rod consistent across changing temperatures throughout the field day.

Compatible Accessories

• NEDO Rod Level / Bull's-Eye Level for Leveling Rods
• Fiberglass Rod Carrying Case
• Rod Target / Sliding Target for Leveling Rods
• Automatic Level Tripods
• Digital Automatic Levels Compatible with Staff Rods

Related Guides

• How to Choose the Right Leveling Rod for Your Project
• Feet & Tenths vs. Feet & Inches: Which Rod Graduation Do You Need?
• Fiberglass vs. Aluminum Leveling Rods: Contractor Comparison
• Setting Up a Differential Leveling Run on a Construction Site

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "feet and tenths" graduation mean on a leveling rod?

Feet and tenths means each foot is divided into ten equal increments of 0.1 foot each, rather than inches. This decimal-foot system is standard in U.S. construction and civil engineering because plan elevations, grade stakes, and cut sheets are all expressed in decimal feet — so the rod reading goes directly onto your field book or data collector without any unit conversion.

Is the NEDO 345885 compatible with all automatic levels?

Yes. The NEDO 345885 is a standard direct-reading staff rod compatible with optical automatic levels, tilting levels, and most digital levels used in construction and surveying. If you are using a digital level with automatic staff reading, confirm that your instrument supports the rod's graduation pattern — consult your level manufacturer's specifications for staff rod compatibility.

Why choose fiberglass over aluminum for a leveling rod?

Fiberglass offers superior dimensional stability across temperature changes and is not affected by moisture absorption the way wood rods can be. Unlike aluminum, fiberglass is non-conductive, which is an important safety consideration when working near overhead utilities. Fiberglass rods also resist the denting and bending that can compromise graduation accuracy on aluminum rods over time.

Can this rod be used for laser level work?

The NEDO 345885 is designed for use with optical and digital leveling instruments that require a graduated staff rod. For rotating laser level applications, a laser rod or grade rod with a dedicated laser receiver is typically used instead. If you need guidance on matching the right rod to your leveling equipment, contact our team at Express Tools for a recommendation.