Standard Colors for Your Underground Utilities
It is now easier to know what an underground utility line is for. However, a long time ago, it was difficult to identify these utility lines and so when people try to dig there were many risks involved. Today, the risks have been lessened although not completely eliminated. If there is a need to dig the ground, it is very important that the utility lines first be identified. Before digging through a certain piece of land, the OSHA requires that the underground utilities be located. You dont want something disastrous to occur. If you hit any of the underground utility lines while digging then you can be fatally injured. It can also interrupt services in your area where the line is located. People can call 811 to prevent these incidents, before they proceed with digging their property. When the number is called, you can let the utility companies come out and mark their respective lines.
But, despite the marks, there will sill be accidents. The reality is that there is an incident almost every 6 minutes where utility line are struck. When this happens, it affects traffic lights, wastewater pipes, telecommunication lines and more. These incidents affect public health and safety.
With the use of GPR or Ground Penetrating Radar, companies can locate utility lines. This has made it easier to locate utility lies underground and other important things. Calling 811 is enough for the property owner to let companies located their lines.
It is easier to identify underground utility lines today because they now use different colors for each utility. The colors below indicate the kind of utility uses it.
If you see white lines, then these are proposed excavation sites. Area that will be excavated in the future are marked.
Temporary survey markings use pink lines. Surveyors use pink lines to mark off legal property boundaries.
Red lines are used to mark electric power lines, cable, conduit, and lighting cable. The color red is associated with fire and danger so it is just appropriate to use it for electrical works.
Yellow lines are used for gas, oil, steam, petroleum, and gaseous materials. Bright yellow is an appropriate warning color since it is very disastrous to have a natural gas leak.
Orange lines are used for communication, alarm, signal lines, cable or conduit. Blue lines are used for potable water. Reclaimed water, irrigation, and slurry lines used purple lines. Sewer and drain lines use the color green. You can derail any project for a long time if you hit these lines.
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