§ 86-172. Facility marking by or for utilities.

(a)

Utility markings. Facility owners or their locate contractors shall indicate utility facilities by placing their UPC alpha code, along with the type material (if known) that the facility consists of, at the beginning and end of locates. Also, arrows should be placed at the ends of markings to indicate that the underground facility continues. In accomplishing the locate task, the line locator shall use industry-approved and generally accepted methods of locating. The tolerance zone shall be 18 inches measured horizontally from the outer edge of either side of such marked utility facilities.

(1)

To avoid confusion on long runs, the marks shall be frequent enough to identify the owner.

(2)

The marks shall indicate the approximate center-line of the underground lines. For example, the middle of the cable, line or pipe shall be at the center of the dashed marks.

(3)

Location marks shall be four to 12 inches in length and at intervals of five to ten feet. If the facility to be marked has a greater diameter than 12 inches, the size of the facility shall be indicated if known. If size is not known, then the mark shall indicate greater than 12 inches.

(4)

The line locator (person marking the lines) shall extend marks outside the proposed work area by 20 to 30 feet if those facilities extend outside the proposed excavation area.

(5)

In areas such as flower beds, rock gardens, etc., flags or stakes may be an alternative to paint. The decision to use flags, paint, or stakes shall be based on the terrain and job conditions. For instance, flags or stakes in wet areas, offsets in dirt construction zones that have a high volume of traffic crossing their line location marks.

(6)

Dead ends, stub-outs, termination points, etc., shall be marked as follows:

(7)

Lines that have connections (e.g., T's or Y's) or changes in directions shall be clearly indicated. Marks indicating lines or connections shall clearly show the intersection and path of the line or connection. Marks that show changes in direction shall be placed closer together for more clarity and accuracy.

(8)

Manholes and valves shall be identified by using a circle and letters if they are not visible (dirt covering valve boxes or pavement covering manhole cover).

(9)

Facilities that cross but do not intersect shall be marked as described to indicate such installation manner.

(10)

Unlocatable sewer laterals shall be marked by placing a green triangle on the sewer main and, if the location of the tap for such unlocatable sewer lateral is known, by placing a green "T" or "Y" or other appropriate symbol at the tap pointing generally toward the address served by such unlocatable sewer lateral.

(11)

When facilities share the same trench, they shall be heavily identified and separated enough so that they can be readily identified. This would apply to lines that share the same color code. For example, cable television and telephone lines:

(12)

If the facility to be marked has a diameter greater than 12 inches, the size of the facility shall be indicated if known. If the size is not known, then the mark shall indicate greater than 12 inches.

(13)

Duct structures shall be marked by using a dot with parallel boundary on each side of the dot.

(14)

In areas where there is a strong likelihood that any or all marker types showing line location would be destroyed, offsets shall be placed on a permanent surface. However, offsets should be used only in conjunction with marks placed above a facility. Offset spacing should be every third or fourth mark. For example, the following mark would indicate the line is 16 feet from the end of the arrow.

(15)

In areas where cables are spliced, the facilities should be located individually as far as possible on both sides of the splice. When the signal is distorted due to the near proximity to the splice a circle with "SP" should indicate the area of distortion or "splice pit".

( Ord. No. 0-15-15, art. I , 8-6-15)

Note— Authority: O.C.G.A. §§ 25-9-3, 25-9-6, 25-9-7 (a) (2), 25-9-12, 25-9-13 (f), 46-2-20 (i) and 46-2-30 and GPSC Utility Rule 515-9-1-.01.