Service Detection Solutions
Giving our clients the edge on that next project
With 20 years combined experience in the industry we have assisted our clients in accomplishing their projects safely and on time from design phase through to final completion.
Breaking ground?
play it safe by utilising a certified underground service locator - Call:
Request A Free Quote
Before You Dig Australia's (BYDA) 5 P'S - Safe Digging Practices
The 5 P’s: Plan ➯ Prepare ➯ Pothole ➯ Protect ➯ Proceed
The 5 P’s are a critical tool in ensuring that you’ve taken all the necessary steps to prevent damage and harm when performing excavations. Below is a summary of each of the 5 P’s, click view all to know your responsibilities when breaking ground.
Plan
- You must have current plans and information via the DBYD process.
Prepare
- Prepare for your works by reviewing the plans and contacting each Utility member if you
need assistance. - It is then recommended to engage a DBYD Certified Locator
Pothole
- When assets are in the vicinity of the excavation site then potholing must be carried out prior to excavation to validate the position of existing services.
- The use of a DBYD Certified Locator when potholing will minimise potholing and save costs
Protect
- Located asset information should be communicated to all on site, and the assets must be clearly marked or flagged and if necessary, have protective barriers, supports erected or
other methods in accordance with the DBYD Utility members’ requirements.
Proceed
You should only proceed with your excavation work after:
- The first four steps above have been completed;
- You have verified that all the information in the preceding steps is still current.
Servicing South Australia and Western Victoria
Underground utility location Services
01.
Commercial Engineering Projects
Whether placing new footings, adding a building extension or developing a large scale sub-surface infrastructure project we offer timely and trusted advice to find the safest path through underground networks.
02.
Commercial Landscaping Projects
Starting that tree planting program, installing a new playground or upgrading irrigation lines? We can help in finding verge side utilities or that stray solenoid.
03.
Survey and Mapping Projects
To ensure our clients can offer precision measurements and highly informative site mapping to their customers we strive for that next level of detail needed for a complete picture above and below ground.
04.
Domestic Projects
Digging in a water line, installing a retaining wall or excavating for a new pool? Prevent damage to your property and hip pocket. We scan for all domestic utility services.
05.
Agricultural Projects
Setting that new fence line, running extra trough lines or excavating a dam? We can help in avoiding critical underground fibre optic telecommunication lines and high voltage power cables.
06.
Construction Projects
With that new project being greenlit and materials en route, stay ahead of the game and have a certified underground service locator scan for utilities prior to breaking ground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions and useful information from the field when preparing to break ground.
Questions and Info from the Field
Minimise the risk of damaging underground services
The 5 P's from DBYD offers a great place start in developing your project and preventing unexpected damage to underground utilities and infrastructure.
Having a certified Pine Lime Designs field consultant perform a utility detection scan and provide guidance on the best way to proceed can significantly reduce the risk of utility damage and expensive repairs.
Depthing of underground utilities
Assuming the depth of services can be costly and stressful if things don't go to plan.
In many instances it is possible to provide an approximate depth to better inform our clients of the nature of service alignments within their work areas.
However, service depths can vary significantly due to the nature of materials used, how they were installed or how the landscape has changed over time.
A general guide based on field experience for each service is shown below, but if you rather not leave it up to guess work then request a booking:
- Communications: 200mm - 600mm for domestic cabling and 500mm - 800mm for mains cabling
- Water: 150mm - 400mm for domestic pipes and 800mm - 1200mm for mains pipe lines
- Gas: 200mm - 600mm for domestic pipes and 600mm - 1200mm for high pressure pipe lines
- Power: 600mm - 900mm for low voltage domestic cabling and 800mm - 1300mm for higher voltage cabling
When to make a booking
Too often having a consultant perform a scan to detect potentially hazardous services is a last minute to-do item or in some instances a post damage call.
So depending on the type of project and the nature of works to be undertaken there are several times whereby an USL should visit to provide a consultation:
- If undertaking design and engineering works then it is usually best to make a booking as one of the very first investigative steps of your project so that your design can accurately reflect and quickly adapt to instances where design components conflict with existing infrastructure.
- If undertaking a new construction project then have an USL attend site once a general mark out and above surface clearing of the area has been performed to allow access for a USL to perform an assessment of existing underground site utilities and prevent delays, blind spots or overlap with too many contractors on site.
- If installing a new feature in your yard then having an USL visit your home prior to contractors arriving or breaking ground yourself will save on delay costs and offer peace of mind when installing that new pool or granny flat.
- As a simple guide, if you are unsure what might lie below the surface then have Pine Lime Designs scan your site for services that may be present.
Underground Service Locator (USL) vs. Superman
As much as we wish we had Superman's abilities to see through soil and other physical layers, Superman would likely take this win.
However, Pine Lime Designs offers a practical next best solution with our field consultants utilising purpose built EMF and GPR technologies and our extensive experience to build a clearer picture that better informs our clients of the number and nature of services within their work area.
With this information we can provide a general risk assessment and advise our clients on how best to proceed in order to prevent harm and to minimise damage to critical sub-surface assets.
Why you should use Pine Lime Designs
Our field operators have acquired extensive experience in the industry helping to deliver many large and small scale projects across South Australia and Western Victoria from small back yard installations through to city wide infrastructure upgrades.
We are fully certified and have completed works for providers such as the APA, SA Power Networks, SA Water, National Broadband Network and Telstra. We also regularly locate for local council and state government projects to upgrade transportation networks and support city beautification programs.
Our field operators are friendly and dedicated to providing a trusted and reliable service that our clients can count on when it matters (which when breaking ground, it always matters).
So if you have a project that could use some attention to detail then give us a call to make a booking!
Our Family
About Us
Pine Lime Designs found its start in the South East of South Australia with Jared providing a much needed utility detection service throughout this region and across western Victoria.
Meanwhile, Luke having worked in the industry for over a decade has helped to deliver many of South Australia’s largest infrastructure projects.
As luck would have it brothers Jared and Luke, are now working alongside each other once again with the opening of a new branch in Adelaide, allowing us to better meet the needs of our clients across South Australia and Western Victoria while providing a safer work environment.
(Source: Iseekplant, 2021)