In the state of Colorado, a recent Senate bill has changed how subsurface utility engineering is done. The requirements related to the location of underground facilities during construction projects will now be enforced more strictly. What does this mean for your engineering project? Instead of just utility locate engineering, you might need subsurface utility engineering. When it comes to the new law, you’ll want at Colorado subsurface utility engineering company that is certified and knowledgeable. Baseline Engineering Corporation provides the necessary oversight for subsurface utility engineering (SUE) certification. We have always done subsurface utility engineering, which makes us experts in the area.
When is SUE Required?
There are a number of projects that require the expertise of a Colorado subsurface utility engineering company. Utilities need to be properly located and accounted for. This prevents delays in project timelines as well as increases in budgets. It also ensures safety for everyone involved. The specific requirements for SUE are: when there is horizontal construction with a public entity, an excavation footprint greater than 2 feet in depth and contiguous 1,000 square feet in area, and utility boring activities.
What are the Benefits of SUE?
Baseline Engineering Corporation has long believed in the benefits of subsurface utility engineering. That’s why we have been doing it all along. In the past, an engineering firm might have only needed to ask for a utility locate. Instead, Baseline Engineering Corporation goes the step above and has been performing private locates and subsurface utility engineering to ensure that our designs reflect the best available information on existing utility locations.
A Colorado subsurface utility engineering company ensures that a project runs smoothly. The application of SUE decreases potential complications in a project. Specifically, SUE reduces contractor contingencies due to utility unknowns, the need for emergency re-designs during construction, and the costly relocation of unexpected utilities. However, subsurface utility engineering doesn’t just reduce problems; it adds to the success of a project. SUE adds value, quality, and accountability to each project. You’ll be certain that all utilities have been properly located and accounted for in your project.
How is SUE Applied to a Project?
Subsurface utility engineering is applied during all phases of a construction project and graded by quality. Level D, the lowest, consists of consulting existing records and mapping of utilities. Level C involves surveying visible features and markings and then using professional judgments. With your project, you want to strive for levels A or B. Level B is comprised of horizontal position of utilities using surface geophysical methods or ground-penetrating radar to designate the existence and horizontal position of all utilities. Level A goes one step further and provides precise horizontal and vertical location using potholing or full exposure of the utility.
At the very beginning of a project, your Colorado subsurface utility engineering company will identify if a project benefits from or is required to have SUE certification. If so, SUE is then included in construction documents, during preconstruction utility conference, during construction inspection activities, and post construction in as-built documentation. Throughout this process, you can trust Baseline Engineering Corporation to be your trusted partner in subsurface utility engineering. Give us a call today to find out more.
