Everything you need to know about utility marking

1. Everything you need to know about utility marking You must have seen some strange markings on the sidewalks, pavements, construction sites, or excavation sites. Ever wondered what they are? These markings can be coloured lines, symbols, or coloured flags and they are known as utility markings. These are placed using a utility marking paint and a utility locator on the location. Utility markings are made to avoid the chances of damage and destruction during construction and excavations. Utility markings are also crucial to keep people and workers on the site safe by warning them about the utilities located under the ground. This is the reason why utility markings need to be accurate. Accuracy of utility markings Properly marked utilities are generally located within the area of 2 feet on both sides of the utility. This implies whether you are working on a construction site or an excavation site, you are required to keep a two-foot margin around markings. If utility markings are damaged, destroyed, or not positioned well then, the person or the company putting the mark shall be liable for the harm caused because of the fault. Locating the utilities It might be difficult to mark all the materials utilized in the construction of underground utility lines as there are different kinds of materials used in them. For various materials, different locating techniques must be utilized. For instance, an electromagnet cable will be required to identify metal cables and metal pipes, whereas concrete or plastic pipes will require a radar- based locator. After locating, precise colours codes are utilized to indicate the sort of utility that lies under the mark. Common colours used for utility markings are red, yellow, orange, green, blue, pink, white, and purple. Every colour refers to a specific utility and the workers on the construction sites are supposed to be capable of decoding these colours for safety purposes. Frequently Asked Questions What is the purpose of a Utility Locator? A utility locator is expected to identify the new location for placement of utilities under the ground and also the pre-existing utilities. Examples of these utilities are power lines, gas lines, and telephone lines. Utility locators are mostly used by construction companies for utility. How are utility locators used?

2. There are three ways to use a utility locator for locating utilities, as follows: 1. Conductive method- Connecting the locator to the conductor directly using a ground stake and clips. 2. Inductive clamp method- This entails placing a clamp around the conductor. 3. Inductive method- This involves setting up a transmitter or an antenna with the conductor. It is essential to set the right frequency to get the most out of the utility locator. What is the best utility method for locating pipes? A pipe locator is used for locating pipes and it utilizes conductive or inductive techniques to detect concealed pipelines with great precision and accuracy. A pipe locator is a conductive device that sends a signal to a metallic pipe at a particular location. The sent signal then returns to the transmitter and is identified. This method can be also used to locate pipes concealed within walls, floors, and grounds before restoration or excavation. Source: https://foxvalleypaint.com/utility-marking-paints