Utlilities Verification and Marking

DOE-HDBK-1092-2004

Controlled length of validation time period after which a revisit and remarking of the site

becomes necessary.

11.4 UTILITIES VERIFICATION AND MARKING

It is important to establish and maintain policies and procedures to assure accurate and

effective methods are used to verify and mark utilities to support various facility excavation

activities. Once the configuration control resources have been exhausted, there are a number

of locator equipment methods which can be used to help identify utilities not previously

identified. Once identified, all utilities must be marked at the field work location in order to

establish effective communication with the excavation work group. Some facilities use survey

paints sprayed on the ground or on the concrete walls/slabs. Some facilities use whiskers, flags

or postings. Whatever the methods used, they must be effective. Most DOE facilities have

some form of utilities verification and marking system. Here are a few examples of effective

methods used :

a. Field walk-downs of excavation site by approved subject matter experts.

b. Testing to validate identified utilities.

c. Testing to identify utilities not yet identified

- Ground penetrating radar method.

- Passive/active frequency method.

d. Survey paint markings

- must be durable and timed to effectively coincide with the work group mobilization.

These markings should be made no more than two or three days prior to the actual

excavation work. They should be verified immediately prior to the beginning of the

excavation work.

e. Survey flags

- must be durable and timed to effectively coincide with the work group mobilization.

These flags should be installed no more than two or three days prior to the actual

excavation work. They should be verified immediately prior to the beginning of the

excavation work.

Utilities color coding

- same Utilities & Transportation Commission (UTC) color coding as municipalities

use.

- offsite subcontractors are very familiar with this work practice.

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