Utility Underground Codes?. - ECN Electrical Forums

Guys,
We have just been talking about this in the Chat-Rooms.
We would like to have your colours for various services in your area.
Considering that the US is a pretty wide varying place, in terms of codes and the like, please feel free to post you area's code in this respect.

Here is a code from renosteinke:

[Linked Image]

If anyone want's to post pics to this topic, please send them over here!.

Thanks,
Mike. [Linked Image]

{Message edited to fix IMG link}

[This message has been edited by Trumpy (edited 02-28-2005).]

Here is a link from Marc (frenchelectrician)
for the Nebraska area.

[This message has been edited by Trumpy (edited 03-01-2005).]

this is state of Nebraska color codes and link for it http://www.ne-diggers.com/frameset.asp?contentFrame=color_codes.shtml

this link will go to the color code page here

[This message has been edited by frenchelectrican (edited 03-01-2005).]

this is state of wisconsin diggerhot line link http://www.diggershotline.com/

you have to click on the link here

ok here is state of wisconsin but city of Eau Claire link but just scroll down a little it will show the color code chart there
http://www.ci.eau-claire.wi.us/Departments/PW/utilities.html

thanks for your time

Guys,
Here is a list of colours used here in New Zealand, if you ever have the mis-fortune of working here.

Electrical:400V: Orange Conduit buried @ 900mm deep, marker strip @ 450mm depth
Electrical:11kV: Orange Conduit buried @ 2.2m depth, marker is solid strip @ 1metre depth.
Water: Blue pipe buried @ 600mm depth.
Telecoms: Green Conduit, buried, where-ever they like, everyone else has to work around them here.
Gas: Yellow piping, I can't say from experience how deep these are buried, as we don't have reticulated Gas here.
But I'm told it's at least 1200mm deep.
With a yellow marker strip at 300mm depth.

For the U.K.:

Electric. Direct burial cables are generally just a black sheath, and may be laid with yellow/black marker tape above. Ducting for 240V supplies to residential properties is normally black, but red is used for higher voltages.

Telecoms/Cable TV/Fiber. Ducting may be gray, green, or black, depending upon area and installation. Old telephone cable ducts have no particular color ID.

Water supply. Modern piping is light blue, older PVC supply lines may be black. There are also many old steel and lead pipes in service with no particular identification.

Gas. Modern PVC is yellow. As with water, there are plenty of unidentified steel pipes still in use.

Drainage. The old glazed clay pipes are easy to identify by their size and brown/terracota color. Modern PVC drain pipes are normally either a similar brown color, or light gray.

[This message has been edited by pauluk (edited 03-01-2005).]

From what I have seen here the underground colour marking codes in both Canada and the United States are common.

What appears not to be common is the one call program.

If digging here in Manitoba we have to call each and every utility to have them come out and give underground clearence markings.

Also the utilities don't warrenty the depth of their plant when marked. They suggest that the contractor either hand dig or hydro-vac each crossing of a utility.

For New Jersey Before you dig, or drive a ground rod. http://www.nj1-call.org/

The only time I ever called them they missed a gas line. Unfortunately the backhoe didn't.
I did save a big fine by making the call tho.
Even if they had marked it they would have been wrong since it was only about 6" down.

http://www.digsafe.com/

Marc has found the Nebraska diggers site before I even saw this topic.
Calling the one call system only makes sense.
The service is free they just need 48 hrs notice, is legally required (or you pay for any damage and may get a fine) and makes a job a bit safer.
The only cost is when you have private utilities and or power/phone across a customers property ( eg parking lot lites) and need a private locate. It's still a lot cheaper than hitting a live line and then having to fix it or pay some one to fix it. Especally when hitting some thing is going to mess up your scheduled work.

One company around here did not get a locate and hit a gas line. The Natural gas followed the line into a building under construction that was 95% complete. The building exploded when the water heater turned on. That company got to replace the building and also pay the costs for one h*** of a lawsuit.

nesparky,

We had a good one in our area, a few years back, they were upgrading a service, the neighbor works construction, and told the electrician he should get it marked before he drives a rod, the electrician told him to mind his business, he has been doing this for years without a problem, and he knows where the gas is comming into the house, ten minutes later only a foundation was left.

A house just down the street from me, is gone because the owner decided to replace his steps to the porch, so he rented a small loader, and tried to remove the steps, took one bite in the ground and moved the gas line, the house filled with gas, and before the fire trucks arrived it was gone.

[This message has been edited by LK (edited 03-03-2005).]

Coincidently, I spoke today with a representative from the Ohio Utility Protection Service (OUPS). One interesting factoid was that during the busy digging season, they handle 4000 locating calls a day!

Here is a link to the excavator manual for the Ohio Utility Protection Service, the "one call" organization in Ohio. The last page has the current color scheme used in Ohio.
http://www.oups.org/docs/Excavator%20Manual.pdf

Although by Ohio law, technically not all of the colors in the above manual are required (go figure). [Linked Image]

The required colors are:
Red... Electric
Orange... Communications
Blue..... Water
Green.... Sewer
Yellow.... Gas/Oil
White.... Proposed Excavation

Here is a link to the Ohio law on identifying underground utilities: http://www.oups.org/thelaw.asp

There is also another interesting site on this subject that is a nationwide effort in the US to standardize all underground utility work. The organization promoting this is called the Common Ground Alliance. Here is a link to their website: http://www.commongroundalliance.com/

[This message has been edited by safetygem (edited 03-04-2005).]

Reclamed water is purple here in So Cal.

These gas line things (blowing up a building)seem strange to me. The standard practice in Md (where I cut mine) was to bring the line out of the ground before it entered the building so gas following the line would vent before it got inside. They had the regulator on the side of the house and low pressure went inside. I had all this explained while the gang was there fixing the line we hit.
I had lots of WGL people there since they were as shocked as we were that we hit a line. It wasn't on their engineering drawings.

"These gas line things (blowing up a building)seem strange to me."

--------------------------------------------
Another building bites the dust, PETCO here in Middletown,NJ is gone, they were digging in the parking lot, NOT MARKED, as i post they are still trying to rescue pets trapped in the remains, employees 10 injured, 2 in critical condition, at time of this post.

We have low pressure in our house, with regulator outside, but it did not help from our house filling up with gas, when a main high pressure line 2 blocks away broke, the gas finds it's way in, any gas company employee that tells you there is no danger involved, should be taken to the wood shead.

In this area you will find high pressure lines, running along the side of homes, if this line is ruptured is may be only minutes for the house to fill with gas.

The large pipeline companies, run a half day safety program for contractors, a large number of contractors from every field attend these programs.

[This message has been edited by LK (edited 03-04-2005).]

Here is where you can find more information on dig accidents, this is the PETCO Explosion, http://newscenter.ninn.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9100

I guess I don't understand the path the gas takes to get in the house. It is outside, the house is supposed to be somewhat air tight and the subterranean walls should be sealed. How do you get any significant amount of gas through the walls?

wow now it do show the instering about the safety here .

Gfretwell :

the gas will seep the any dricetion in the ground it can go down or up or sideway or go near the sewer pipe or water pipe or any other cable etc and it can go thru the hole like very small pin hole and can fill up the basement pretty fast somecase it only take few minutes to do it.

few years ago i did see one house blow up pretty fast this guy was lucky he came out and talk to one of the crew guys and their underground boring machine hit the gas pipe and somehow it found the sewer pipe and filled up the basement up full of natrual gas and something ingited it and blew the house up all it left is the basement everything else in the house flew out and can find debires everywhere including few items that hit the power line and cut the power off. so you get the idea how strong and fast the blast can do it.

this event it only took less than 5 min that all the time it took to fill the house basement that what i heard

major high pressure gas line useally run more than 60 PSIG and they have local branch which it run somehow lower pressure like 20 PSIG and the gas regulator for the house will drop from med pressure to down to 7 inch water colloum which that is 1/4 PSIG

PSIG = Pound Square Inch Gauge

P.S. i am not sure about european and other area do run the simuiar pressure or not if not please do post it here

Now you know as we like to remind that the spring time is comming and we like to remind each other that the underground uilites will like your help to work together to advoid anymore tragic event around any area

[ i will remind the same thing in few other forums to remind this event too ]

Merci, Marc

[This message has been edited by frenchelectrican (edited 03-05-2005).]

Marc,

I consider my house well sealed, and when the line ruptured 2 blocks away, it only took a few minutes, for my house to reach explosive levels, We still have a lot of contractors driving rods, and digging trenches, without mark-outs, they use every excuse, from it's just a ground rod, to it's only a 18" trench, or i know where all the utilities come in, they most likely thought, that the pipe was deeper, or in another location at the job site of todays explosion.

When we were doing a lot of cell tower builds, we had locates on all sites. I would guess that at least 15% had water/gas/power or comm lines that were not at the proper depth. We also found 2 or 3 cases/ month of the utility not where the locates indicated or we found something not marked or not on a utilities plans.
We also have pot holed in places to expose a line and found nothing near the locate marks. [Linked Image]

Some times this got scary. Fortunatly we had no injuries or property damage other than a cut com or cable TV line-Quikly repaired.
Gas lines are the ones that scare me because gas will follow lines and go thru voids in the ground ending up who knows where. [Linked Image]

The use of plastic lines just make locates harder to do and much easier to cut with a digging tool. Had one water line cut by a man with a shovel. The water line was only 18" deep. [Linked Image]

Ed,
You don't even need a very big tool to rupture a HP Gas (Propane) line.
There were 2 Cable jointers working on an 11kV cable here in NZ and were using a Hot air gun powered from a generator outside of the hole that the guys were working in.
They were finishing the Heatshrinking of a joint on a previously broken cable, cut by a Digger, what they didn't know was that a sliver had also been taken out of the Gas pipe that was not shown on the plans.
When the Hot Air gun was switched on......
I don't need to tell you guys the results.

[This message has been edited by Trumpy (edited 03-06-2005).]

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Before you start diggin' for your pot' o' gold, call that "one-call" number in your area.

In my previous post I mentioned the "Common Ground Alliance" organization that has been working on standarizing utility locates in the US. Well, this past week, they released this very interesting statement:

Quote

FCC Adopts 811 As National Call-Before-You-Dig-Number

CGA WELCOMES NATIONAL CALL-BEFORE-YOU-DIG NUMBER

Alexandria, VA – March 10, 2005 – The Common Ground Alliance (CGA), a 1,200 member inter-industry group that promotes the safety of pipelines, power and telecommunications cables and other underground facilities, praised the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for its adoption today of a national call-before-you-dig 3-digit telephone number – 8-1-1.

"We commend the FCC. This simple, convenient number will encourage safe excavation, protecting the nation's vital energy and telecommunications infrastructure and those living nearby," said CGA President Bob Kipp. "The next step is to get the number online as expeditiously as possible and make it as familiar as 9-1-1."

Careless digging poses a threat to underground facilities and to people. According to CGA board Chairman Paul Preketes, (Senior Vice President of Gas Operations for Consumers Energy); "There are about 400,000 excavation incidents each year resulting in substantial damage to facilities and about 50 fatalities."

Most states have established "one call centers" for people to call before they dig. These centers handle between fifteen and twenty million calls annually and, along with other initiatives, have increased safety. Accidents still occur, however, because some people who dig around underground facilities still do not make the call. "When companies or individuals plan to dig, the first thing they must do is contact a one-call center. This will help ensure that underground facilities are properly located and marked," Preketes said.

Representative Joe Barton (R-TX), chair of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality provided key support to help enact the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002, which mandated a 3-digit number. Besides Representative Barton, the FCC and its chairman Michael Powell, other important advocates for a 3-digit call-before-you-dig number include U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta, Ms. Stacey Gerard of the Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, and Commissioner Linda Kelly, Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control and Vice-Chair Gas Committee of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners.

It will take time – perhaps a year or more – for the telecom industry, the FCC and others to fully implement the new number across the United States. The designation of this new 3-digit number by the FCC will better facilitate the call-before-you-dig process and add to the national Dig Safely program. The CGA looks forward to assisting this effort through its membership and public awareness campaigns. For more information about this and other campaigns in damage prevention, visit our website at <A HREF="http://www.commongroundalliance.com. " TARGET=_blank>www.commongroundalliance.com. </A>

For Additional Information:
Common Ground Alliance
1421 Prince Street, Suite 410
Alexandria, VA 22314

The CGA has posted this press release as well as the FCC press release on their website. Check it out!

Since Spring will be Sprung on Sunday in the Northern Hemisphere (sorry Mike and Kiwi)... the diggin' is bound to pick up.

Stay safe out there. And don't drink too much green beer today. [Linked Image]

Glenn

[This message has been edited by safetygem (edited 03-17-2005).]

Seems close to universal... this is from northern IL's JULIE (Joint Utility Locating Information for Excavators) service.
http://www.safeelectricity.org/images/julie.gif

[Linked Image from safeelectricity.org]

Edited to add - we had a house "get blowed up good" [Linked Image]

a few years ago (Jan 2003). Turns out they were remod-ing, and while digging the water line nicked the gas, which was supposed to have been 24" lower than where it was.

The painters inside the (luckily vacant) house came out to complain of a gas smell, when it either hit the standing pilot or the heat kicked on. Eihter way, it found an ignition source and KA-FREAKIN' BOOM!

Instant chunks-O-house.

The guy down in the water pit had the house blow over him. Not sure if he needed to change his drawers afterwards.

[Linked Image from oak.cats.ohiou.edu]

[This message has been edited by DougW (edited 03-19-2005).]

Trumpy, They do a good job in the South Island.

In Auckland 11 kV cable depth is in general 900 mm. and low voltage 230 / 400 V is 600 mm as per regs.

Colour coding: The new fibre optics being installed here in greater Auckland for Scada and new digital systems is put in purple conduit. Not sure how deep there most is drilled for

Should have seen it a few years ago at my X girlfriends apartment bldg.. The gas locate was a meter off, they hit it while removing the old fuel-oil tanks.. No biggie the supers of the building ( her mom actually and one other person) shut off power and evacuated everyone "just in case"... Nothing bad happened until they now hit the unmarked 3" water main to the place and flooded everything!!!1
And then we had the " big blackout" that very same day but thats another story..
[Linked Image]

A.D