Knowledge Base

Propper Procedure 

1. All plumbers and electricians are required to call 811 before digging service lines.
   

   1. Trade/811 is not pulling up a utility plan to locate lines. 811 is locating and marking them.
      

2. Trade partner must know and follow the tolerance zones for digging around the locators’ markers.
   

3. Trade partner must provide the Builder with the appropriate ticket or notification number prior to beginning work.
   

4. Trade partner must request a line locate at least two working days, excluding weekends and holidays, before beginning work.
   

5. Trade partner must confirm the response of the notified utilities before proceeding with any excavation.
   

6. Trade partner must notify the 811 call center after determining that one or more utilities have not responded to a locate request.
   

7. Trade partner must follow safe digging practices and maintaining equipment condition to ensure safety standards.
   

Utility Line is Hit During Construction

What will we require a trade to do when he hits a line? A hit to a line can be a complete rupture, a dent or even a scratch on the outer surface of the casing. In any of these cases, please do the following.

1. Stop work immediately. Do not resume work until a representative of the utility company gives you
   

   permission to resume work.
   

   
   

   1. If you hit a gas line and gas is leaking or spewing, call 911. But first walk a safe distance from the damage. Do not start a vehicle engine or use your cell phone until you can no longer smell gas.
      

   2. Do not attempt to repair any utility line yourself.
      

   3. Do not backfill the location of the damaged line.
      

2. Trade partner must call Builder AND CM the instant they realize they have hit a utility line.
   

3. Trade partner must call 811 to report the damage.
   

   1. It is helpful to have your ticket number, the exact location of the damage within your work area and if you know what kind of utility line is involved.
      

4. Builder/CM and trade partner must take pictures of equipment, location, site, ditch with tape measure showing depth, where other utilities were hit. Pictures should be taken by BOTH parties.
   

   1. These pictures help us document depth and location on the jobsite specifically, so in the event the utilities were put in the wrong place, we can work with utility company to get utility lines relocated in the proper place.
      

   2. These pictures could also help us determine if the utilities were too shallow or in the wrong location.
      

      1. Example: How far from the curb or property line is the utility line?
         

5. Once all steps above are completed and utility provider has authorized work to continue, trade partner may resume working.