Utilities, like electric power cables, gas lines, water mains, or fiber optic cables play an important role in our life. Protecting them against faults and damage is of a paramount importance. Since utilities are often buried in the ground, they are exposed to several risks which also may make them dangerous. They can be damaged during construction or agricultural activities, trenching for other utilities, or someone digging in their own backyard.
A proper protection indicates the presence of underground power cables, prevents physical damage to the cable, minimizes supply interruptions and reduces the risks of accidents and personal injury , as well as property and environmental damages.
To ensure safety, continuity and efficiency of power, gas, water and communication the underground utilities must be protected against physical damages.
Other than burying or laying the utilities deep in the ground, other precautions are taken to ensure their safety and non-interruptible operation. The method of providing protection to the cables may differ and is largely influenced by the type of utilities, terrain and activities around the installation. For example:
Visual Warnings – showing the location of underground utilities and serving as a warning to the third parties of potential hazards.
Impact Protection – using protective covers, tapes, plates, conduit pipes or other protection to provide a physical barrier and prevent damage to the utilities resulting from hand tools, excavators and any other objects that may be used while working around the underground utilities.
In some places, the utilities, especially power cables may be housed in hard conduit pipes and covered with concrete. The drawing below show the typical underground cable installation.
The most common underground utility protection products are:
– Warning tapes and markers – visual indication and warning
– Utility protection tapes (in rolls) – warning and impact protection
– Utility protection covers/plates – warning and impact protection
– Utility protection mesh – warning
The warning tapes provide the visual warning while tapes, covers and plates protect the utilities from impact such as during excavation or third party digging. The cable protection tapes, covers and plates (both light and heavy duty) are very easy to install and are used to protect low and high voltage underground power cables, gas mains, water mains and fiber optic or communication cables.
Tapes, cable covers and plates are made from plastic like PVC or HDPE. In addition to that covers can also be made of metal and concrete. Each of these has its advantages and disadvantages.
The main advantages of PVC and HDPE tapes, covers and plates are:
– lightweight
– easy to transport, store and work with
– durable with good impact resistance
– resistant to wide range of soil and weather conditions
– rot resistant
– environmentally friendly
– long life
– can be custom made with sizes to suit
– contain visual warning
The tapes, covers and plates are imprinted with warning words and signs as required by the regulatory standards.