Foreword

This PAS was sponsored by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). The development of this PAS was facilitated by BSI Standards Limited and it was published under licence from The British Standards Institution. It came into effect on 30 June 2014.

Acknowledgement is given to Ian Bush (Black & Veatch, ICE, ICES) as the technical lead and to Peter Barker (SUMO Services Ltd, The Survey Association), John Robinson (Subscan Technology Ltd) and Nick Zembillas (Subsurface Utility Engineering LLC) as the drafting panel.

Acknowledgement is also given to the following organizations that were involved in the development of this PAS as members of the Steering Group:

• Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors
• EuroGPR
• Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited
• Highways Agency
• Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee
• Institution of Civil Engineers
• National Joint Utilities Group
• National Underground Assets Group
• Ordnance Survey
• The Geological Society
• The Survey Association
• Transport for London
• University of Birmingham, School of Civil Engineering
• Utility Mapping Association
• Co-opted members

The following funders of this PAS are also acknowledged:

• Atkins plc
• Cardno TBE
• EuroGPR
• Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited
• Met Geo Environmental Ltd
• Nick Zembillas (Subsurface Utility Engineering)
• Premier Energy Services Ltd
• RSK Group plc
• Subscan Technology Ltd
• SUMO Services Ltd
• The Geological Society
• The Survey Association
• Transport for London

The British Standards Institution retains ownership and copyright of this PAS. BSI Standards Limited as the publisher of this PAS reserves the right to withdraw or amend this PAS on receipt of authoritative advice that it is appropriate to do so. This PAS will be reviewed at intervals not exceeding two years, and any amendments arising from the review will be published as an amended PAS and publicized in Update Standards.

The PAS process enables a specification to be rapidly developed in order to fulfil an immediate need in industry. A PAS may be considered for further development as a British Standard, or constitute part of the UK input into the development of a European or International Standard.

This PAS is not to be regarded as a British Standard. It will be withdrawn upon publication of its content in, or as, a British Standard.

Hazard warnings

WARNING 1 This PAS calls for the use of procedures that can be injurious to health if adequate precautions are not taken. It refers only to technical suitability and does not absolve the user from legal obligations relating to health and safety at any stage.

WARNING 2 For all excavations, assume that underground utilities are present and act accordingly. Attention is drawn to laws, rules and regulations applicable to vacuum excavating or hand digging near or atop dangerous utilities such as electric, gas, fuel or petroleum.

WARNING 3 This PAS refers to physical entry into confined spaces, which is not to be attempted without suitably trained operatives and safety equipment. Attention is drawn to HSE’s publication, Confined space – A brief guide to working safely (INDG258) [1].

Presentational conventions

The provisions of this standard are presented in roman (i.e. upright) type. Its requirements are expressed in sentences in which the principal auxiliary verb is “shall”.

Commentary, explanation and general informative material is presented in italic type, and does not constitute a normative element. The word “should” is used to express recommendations, the word “may” is used to express permissibility and the word “can” is used to express possibility, e.g. a consequence of an action or an event.

Spelling conforms to The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary. If a word has more than one spelling, the first spelling in the dictionary is used.

Use of this document

It has been assumed in the preparation of this PAS that the execution of its provisions will be entrusted to appropriately qualified and experienced people, for whose use it has been produced.

Contractual and legal considerations

This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a PAS cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

PAS 128:2014

Specification for underground utility detection, verification and location

Published:

30 Jun 2014

Withdrawn:

26 Apr 2022