Do you need underground checks before driveway excavation?

Question

We're having a new driveway dug out and I'm worried about cables or pipes underneath. Does the contractor have to check for underground services before starting or is that my job?

Blerim · Answer

Yes, underground service checks should always be carried out before any excavation work begins. As contractors, we have a duty to take reasonable steps to identify and avoid underground utilities such as electric cables, gas pipes, water mains, drainage runs, and telecommunications services.

In most cases, the contractor will arrange utility searches and assess any visible service routes before excavation starts. If there is any uncertainty, we may recommend obtaining utility plans or carrying out a cable avoidance survey to locate buried services accurately.

Homeowners are not usually expected to organise these checks themselves, although any information you have about existing services on the property can be very helpful. Safety is the priority, and no excavation should begin until the risk of striking underground services has been properly assessed.

Mike · Answer

Service pipes and cables should be at least 60mm below ground level 
....do you should be fine excavating the driveway...just do it with a little caution.!

Kaiden · Answer

Good question to ask before anyone digs. Checking for underground services is the contractor’s job, not yours — any competent groundworker does this as standard.

Before excavating they should pull utility plans from the providers (electric, gas, water, telecoms) and scan the area with a CAT and Genny — a tool that detects buried cables and pipes. It’s cheap, quick and standard practice.

You can help by pointing out where your meters, stopcock and supplies enter the property, so they know where services are likely to run.

If a contractor shrugs off underground checks and just wants to crack on, that’s a red flag — hitting a live cable or gas main is dangerous, expensive, and lands on whoever dug without checking.

Carl · Answer

Hi they should to be safe CAT scan the ground for any cables.  But in saying this theu should only be digging down about 300mm.  Cables are normanly atleast twice that depth. Drainage unless you are the 1st house on the run will also be alot deeper.   You should have no issues.

Peter · Answer

Hi Caroline 
Yes the contractor should do all exploratory works to locate all services , using a cat , cable avoidance tool , and trial holes dug by hand dig to locate them and allservices water , gas , electricity, by , cable tv should be located before any excavation with a excavator 
Regards
Pete

Dragos Daniel · Answer

Yes, it’s good practice to check for underground services before any driveway excavation. An experienced contractor will normally ask about known utilities and take reasonable steps to identify cables, water, gas or drainage before digging. If there is any doubt, utility plans and cable avoidance tools can be used to reduce the risk of damage. It’s worth discussing this with your contractor before work starts, as protecting underground services is an important part of the job.

Andrew · Answer

No , any pipes or cables should be alot deeper than they need to dig

Steven · Answer

Hi there's a hand held device called a C A T scan that will detect cables and it can detect pipework as well.

Do you need underground checks before driveway excavation?

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