Warning tapes have been shown to be an effective tool for locating specific areas and preventing damage to costly underground equipment. It is possible to avoid deep digging after the detection of utilities such as electricity lines, gas pipes, and communication cables that are marked with such warning tapes. When these warning tapes have been properly installed, they reduce the risk of damage, system failure, and crew hazard. Because they are easily detectable, they can also be easily located. Warning tape is helpful for ensuring accurate ground marking and digging as well as informing staff of subsurface utilities that may be present.
Exactly what do we mean when we talk about detectable warning tapes?
Assuming that you are familiar with the concept of warning tapes, it is time to investigate detectable warning tapes and get an understanding of the value they provide. Underground warning tapes that are able to be detected help in the localization, detection, identification, and protection of underground water lines, gas lines, telecommunications lines, and sewage lines. There is a wide selection of sizes and hues available for the detectable warning tapes that are used to signify the connections that lie under the surface.
It is possible to place an order for them in a range of widths ranging from three to six inches in measurement. The width may be chosen according to the circumference of the pipe as well as the depth to which it will be buried in conjunction with the underground installations.
The non-metallic pipes that are going to be buried all have warning tapes that may be found when they are dug up. This is done because nonmetallic pipes cannot be detected by metal detectors, making it very difficult to locate the sites where they were put. As a result, this requires special precautions to be taken. On the other hand, detectable tape is constructed of an aluminium film, which makes it simpler to locate using a metal detector. Therefore, detectable warning tapes, when correctly installed, lessen the risk of a catastrophic digging disaster that might put people’s lives in danger or cause damage to an expensive underground installation. Detectable warning tapes are available at most hardware stores.
A metal detector is all that is required to discover underground utilities in a timely and precise manner so that you can plan where to dig. The metal detector will pick up the foil cover even if the underground tape is invisible to the naked eye, and it will then tell you what is below.
Which form of detectable warning tape would be most appropriate for the task that you have at hand?
The underground detectable warning tape was developed specifically for covert deployment over an extended period of time. It can be read from a distance. The presence of rodents, acids, alkalis, and other potentially harmful compounds that are often discovered in soil do not present an issue. The enclosed warning sign has been stamped in order to prevent the ink from fading and to ensure that it is completely visible to the human eye.
Therefore, look about for a warning tape that can be detected, is of an industrial quality, does not include any adhesives, and is also printed with a cautionary message. The American Public Works Association (APWA) has established a standardised colour standard for warning tapes, and underground warning tapes satisfy this criteria. Several examples of colour codes are shown below:
| White | Proposed excavation |
| Red | Cables, electric power lines, conduit |
| Pink | Temporary survey markings |
| Orange | Signal lines conduit, Alarm |
| Yellow | petroleum, gas, oil, Steam, gaseous substances |
| Purple | Reclaimed water, slurry lines, irrigation |
| Blue | Potable water |
| Green | Drain lines and sewers |
What are the advantages of having caution tape that can be detected?
Underground detectable warning tape gives you the ability to locate potential damage to vital distribution systems and take preventative measures. Workers are required to first find the utilities before beginning excavation in order to reduce the likelihood of expensive mistakes and catastrophic injuries to the crew. It will also save you money since you won’t have to pay the steep costs of maintenance, penalties, or power interruptions. Reports indicate that there is property damage caused every six minutes due to the absence of any observable subsurface warning tape.
Through the use of detectable warning tape in your construction projects over time, people will be able to easily discover utilities, which will help you to prevent an occurrence that might be both dangerous and costly. Underground cables, fibres, lines, and optical cables may be more easily identified with the use of detectable caution tape.
