There are lots of cables,
pipes and material pathways running under us, some of them run the length of
the country, while others run deeper. These cables run for the supply of
services and utility throughout the whole country. Therefore, they must remain
safe underground.
When you want to install
an underground utility or any job that involves opening up the soil like; a
pool, electric lines, building structures, it is essential to confirm that no
utilities are obstructing or running through that area. The best way to confirm
is by contacting a utility location service.
Benefits of engaging a pipe location service
“Lives of workers should
never be placed at risk from guesswork and preventable accidents.”
If you accidentally hit a
utility service while digging, not only do you incur losses from replacing the
damaged utility, you also cause discomfort to your neighbours. Damaged electric
lines, for example, will mean your neighbourhood will lose access to power
supply for some periods; this will not make you especially popular among your
neighbours.
- The use of modern and
developed tools for efficient results
Pipe location companies
make use of high tech and industrial machines to locate utilities buried
underground. Most of them use Electromagnetic locators, Ground-penetrating
radar units, and Survey grade instrumentation; these instruments can detect
precise positions and material types of underground utilities, and are more
efficient in detecting utilities.
- Saves you from incurring
unwanted costs
When you dig ‘blindly’,
there is every possibility that you will damage a buried utility that runs
under (these days, they are everywhere). If you accidentally damage a buried
utility, you will have no choice but to repair it; to avoid stiff penalties
from the government or from the institution that owns it.
- Provides specific and
accurate information for onsite workers
Pipe locating service not
only tells you that there is a utility lying there, but it also tells you the
type of product/material and what may be running in the pipes. This information
is beneficial to the onsite engineers, as they can make informed decisions on
the utility that should be placed compatibly in the same area.
- Pipe location services are
very invaluable for future planning
You can create maps that
will help for future references, in case an excavation work is to be carried
out in the future. Information from the pipe location service will help you
formulate a rough sketch of utilities that run underneath your property,
worksite, and other locations to avoid accidents in the future.
Industries and government
agencies can use this information in the future to develop maps on underground
utilities.
- Safety measures while
working
If workers continue to
dig blindly at a spot, there is a high probability that accidentally they will
hit a ‘not too friendly’ utility pipe; like gas pipes or chemical utility
pipes. Accidents to workers will put a suspension or total abandon of your
work, and lead to penalties from the authorities.
Conclusion
Before you start digging,
contacting a pipe locating service
should be your top option, do not rely on maps given by the agency alone. Some
of these maps will not contain the latest utilities buried underground.
Also, you might think it
is more expensive engaging a locating service, but you will save more in future
costs that will arise from being ignorant of utility services underground.