Eco-Friendly Contractors Must Make Locating Pipelines a Top Priority

There are many things that you have to do when you are trying to construct an eco-friendly building. You need to make sure the work is performed in the most energy efficient way possible, the materials don’t contain lead or other elements that will damage the environment and that your employees use the eco-friendliest transportation to get to the job site.

However, there are more important factors that eco-friendly construction companies have to think about. They have to make sure that they don’t leech oil or dangerous natural gases into the environment. This can cause serious environmental damage, which you can’t even begin to offset with eco-friendly practices like using sustainable building materials. This means that you must take steps to avoid hitting a pipeline.

Eco-Friendly Contractors Must Avoid Hitting Pipelines at All Costs

You’ve planned this project for months now and you’ve considered everything that could go wrong. But, one study found over 5,500 pipeline incidents between 2010 and 2018! It’s important to know what lies beneath the soil you’re digging in.

Before you break ground on your construction project, you want to make sure you know what kinds of pipes you have and where they run. But, how do you find them?

We put together a quick guide about different pipes underground and how to locate them. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know before you dig.

Passive vs Active Locating Methods

When you need to see what’s under the ground before you dig, there are two main methods of searching: active and passive. If you know where the utility lines emerge from the ground, you can use an active location method to get an accurate idea of where the lines run.

For unknown pipes, you’ll want to use a passive location method. You won’t know what kind of utility line is running there, but you’ll know where it is. You may want to use a form of passive location as well as an active one to ensure you find everything before you break ground.

Locating Different Kinds of Pipes Underground

Utility pipes come in a variety of materials and arrangements. So, you’ll need to use several techniques to find all the pipes that could run underground. These are the most common methods you’ll use to locate different types of pipes.

Water Pipes

Waterlines are tricky to find because they can come in either metal or plastic form. To make sure you cover all your bases, look for an underground pipe locator that can detect both kinds of materials. 

Natural Gas Pipes

Almost all gas pipelines use some kind of metal. This is good because you can often use a magnetic locator device like the Underground Magnetics Mag 5s to help you find the pipes! 

Start from the above-ground meter and trace backward until it leaves your construction site. Make sure to mark with flags or paint of some kind so you know where the pipe is at all times. 

What to Do if You Hit a Pipeline

The most dangerous kinds of pipelines to hit are natural gas. If you hear a hissing sound after hitting a pipe, leave the area as fast as possible. Try to leave heading towards the wind. Once in a safe location, call 911 to report the incident.

Safe Digging Is No Accident

When you get ready to do a major construction project, it’s important to have everything planned out before you start. That way, you can avoid as many accidents as possible. 

Keep this article in mind when you go to find pipes running underground on your worksite. That way, you don’t risk rupturing a pipe and causing massive environmental damage, serious injury or death!

We hope you learned all about how to find pipes underground from this article. If you’re looking for other helpful articles about construction and more, check out the rest of our blog today!