Dial Before You Dig

Underground Service Locating in Perth

Here at Holdens Electrical Contracting we are proud of our ability to utilise the latest, most modern technology to make electrical work safer and more efficient. One of our most valuable tools is Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), which allows us to locate underground cables, pipes and other structures.

Whenever we are planning on conducting work in an area, we use all the underground service locating technology we have available to minimize the risk of damage to vital infrastructure. Digging in a built up area without knowing exactly what’s below the surface is a recipe for disaster. Just a few of the consequences include:

  • Significant damage to mains water, electricity or gas pipes which could cause customer outages for both you and other people living in the area.
  • Damage like this can also be costly, and time consuming to fix, resulting in delays in the completion of your work.
  • There is also the danger of both electrocution and gas leaks if infrastructure is damaged while you’re digging.

As you can see, it never hurts to be careful, especially when it comes to electricity. All of our underground service locating is done by trained professionals who can provide accurate and quick results. They use a combination of two techniques, which are outlined further below:

Ground Penetrating Radar

GPR is an accurate, efficient tool which makes locating underground cables, pipes and other important features easier than ever before. When used by a professional operator who knows what they’re doing, GRP allows you to map out the vital infrastructure of an area. This, in turn, allows you to either conduct work on the infrastructure in question or to install new pipes or cabling without harming existing structures.

Electromagnetic Locating

Although GPR is great, a more complete picture is obtained when it is used in combination with electromagnetic, or radio frequency locating. Again, when it is used by an experienced operator, electromagnetic locating allows you to find and identify a range of underground features, including:

  • Electrical and internet cables
  • Gas pipes
  • Water mains and sewerage outlets
  • Underground tanks and other voids
  • Tree roots

As you can imagine, this sort of work is essential for anyone who wants to perform maintenance on any sort of underground infrastructure – if you don’t know where it is, you can’t fix it!

Why Is Underground Locating Important For Electricians?

A lot of electrical work involves the installation of new circuits and cables. Often, doing this requires new cabling to be buried, especially when in a rural or semi-rural area. However, it’s important to know exactly what’s under the ground before you bury a new cable. Otherwise you could damage existing infrastructure while you are digging a trench.

Underground locating is also useful when there is a fault in an underground cable. It allows the cable to be identified and located quickly and efficiently. This means that repairs can go ahead sooner and the problem can be fixed faster and more efficiently.

Get In Touch

If you would like to find out more about our underground locating service, get in touch with our friendly customer service team today. We can answer any questions you might have and help you put together an action plan to solve all your problems. Call or email now!