Underground utilities

Buried services can be a significant factor when planning for your new development, and it is essential that you know the location of plant to work safely and efficiently before the construction stage.

Our range of services covers four survey category types:

• Type D – Underground utility record data only (not detected by geophysical methods).
• Type C – As per level D but with site reconnaissance to match utility record with physical utility street furniture as a best fit.
• Type B – Utilities detected by geophysical methods to obtain a horizontal position and/or vertical position an mapped on topographical base mapping
• Type A – Verification of type and positioning of buried services by visual identification, achieved by vacuum excavation, hand dug trial pitting or by visual inspection within a utility chamber.

Desktop utility records search

Obtaining utility records is the first step to help you meet your Health and Safety obligations (HSG047) to avoid utility strikes on site.

We can supply you with a utility search report for your site which is:

• compliant with PAS128, Survey Type QL-D.
• extensive; collating information from all known potential providers
• typically delivered within 15 working days
• help satisfy your obligations under HSG47

Utility CAD pack

We can provide you with a CAD drawing plotted from utility record data only, but with site reconnaissance to match utility record with physical utility street furniture as a best fit.

• Information is compliant with PAS 128, Survey Type QL-C
• Information is collated in one definitive and easy to read CAD file, saving you the time and expense having to go through each individual record available for your site.

Utility detection and mapping

Statutory utility record drawings can be incomplete and are often found to be inaccurate; privately owned apparatus may be present but no records exist.

For the designer a Utility Mapping Survey will confirm existence, determine if buried services pose a constraint to development and establish potential need for diversion works.

For site works a Utility Mapping Survey is necessary to demonstrate compliance with the best practice for Health and Safety, to ensure a safe system of work and a safe working environment prior to excavation works.

We can provide you with an accurate record of buried utilities detected using geophysical methods. The utility mapping survey types we can manage on your behalf, are:

• PAS 128 Survey Type QL-B Full Utility Mapping (including drainage connectivity) which utilises Electromagnetic Locating (EML) and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) techniques. The survey is presented with each linear section of detected utility represented with a quality code (B1;B2;B3). This enables you to plan your projects with regard to utility infrastructure and highlight any areas of concern that may require further investigation to verify the survey's findings.
• The Survey Association Higher Level Category 4, 5 and 6 specifications for Full Utility Mapping can offer a more cost effective alternative approach to PAS 128 when the horizontal/vertical accuracy isn’t as critical (typical detection accuracy is +/-0.25m)
• Utility Clearance Surveys for identification of safe areas for boreholes and trial pits using electro-magnetic and ground penetration radar locating techniques.
• Void/ buried structures detection using Ground Penetrating Radar techniques.

Verification

We have significant experience when it comes to intrusive investigations which seek to prove the location of buried services.

PAS 128 Survey Type QL-A verifies the position of buried services by physical identification and accurate recording using GPS survey techniques. This may be by strategically positioned vacuum excavation, hand dug trial pitting or by visual inspection within a utility chamber.