​Underground cables provide a network of connecting power supply. However, as cables are buried underground, cable locating and fault finding is usually difficult.

Moreover, cable systems are exposed to a lot of risks, which may lead to dangerous consequences. For instance, if cable systems are damaged, people digging the ground for utilities or property construction may suffer electrocution. Similarly, underground cable faults may happen because of the flood, excavators, and various other activities.

In order to ensure uninterrupted and continuous power distribution, it is very important to detect underground cable faults in time and protect against cable faults.

Tips to Protect Cable Systems against Underground Cable Faults

​Underground cable locating is the first and foremost challenge. Thereafter, it is possible to detect cable fault. The network of power cables under the ground includes switches, switch gear, and fuses housed together. The network of cables is contained in air insulated steel jars to prevent contaminants, wildlife, humans and other live parts from coming in contact. In addition, it reduced exposure to live parts.

The process of assembling cables is called pad-mounted gear. It can be supervised either remotely or manually.

Due to rising concerns over cable fault finding and locating, three common methods were coined to protect the cable system against major faults:

• Pad-mounted fused switches: This is a very common technique used for cable detection. It is a simple and inexpensive method
• Pad-mounted vacuum fault interrupters: Easy to operate and offers quick cable detection

Tips to Protect Cable Systems from Physical Damage

Underground cables have proper infrastructure and withstanding capacity. These cable networks are not vulnerable to environmental hazards or challenges. They are designed with the ability to protect and prevent corrosion, water ingress, and certain mechanical damage as well.
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However, in the event of extensive damage or challenging conditions, cables may suffer damage. Especially while digging trenches or executing property excavation work, there is a high risk of damage. Besides laying cable network deeper under the ground, some other precautionary measures should be taken to make sure it is safe. Different methods are used to provide protection to cables, which is highly influenced by the terrain, activity level, and voltage. Protection systems use various mechanisms such as:

• Impact Protection: Used to protect cables and make cable fault finding easier. The method uses tapes, pipes, covers, and other items to create a physical barrier and protect cables from damage.
• Visual Warning Signs: The process of cable locating becomes easier when you have visuals showing power cables, manholes, cable paths, and passage. This method is useful.

Products for Cable Protection

• Warning Tapes: Warning tapes work like markers and provide a visual warning or indication to people working near underground cables. Likewise, tiles, covers, heavy duty tapes, and mesh protect cables from sudden impact like digging or property excavation.
• Cable Protection Tapes: These tapes protect against impact. These are easy to use and install, in both high and low voltage underground cable systems.
• Mesh: Mesh also provides a warning to workers.

Similarly, some common materials are also used for cable protection systems such as reinforced concrete, plastic, and metal.

• Sheets and tiles are made up of polyethylene material that withstands damage from various objects, including hand tools.
• Reinforced concrete is used to design covers with imprinted warning signs and words as per regulatory standards.

​Conclusion​
The underground cable network is the most convenient power distribution system in the urban areas where overhead cables cannot be used. For continuous service and ensure, underground cable systems should be protected against damage and cable fault conditions. Only proper protection ensures uninterrupted service and reduces the risk of personal injury and accidents.

Author Bio: Jon Armstrong specialises in cable location and pipe scanning. He has several years of experience and expertise in utility location services. His exemplary service record makes him a recognized personality in the field of cable fault finding and utility services.

At any point of time, if you need to excavate or drill into the ground, there is risk of hitting utility pipelines and wires.

This may not only be extremely costly but can also be very dangerous if you happen to damage the underground pipes and cables. This is where you need utility location services to precisely locate the placement and depth of a utility system beneath.

 ​What is a Utility Locator Service?

When you are preparing to excavate or dig, make sure you hire reliable utility locator service. Utility lines are not always there where they seem to exist.

Therefore, hiring an underground cable locator service is important. It not only helps to locate underground as well as hidden utilities, but you can also inspect how deep they are installed.

How do Utility Location Services help Determine Location of Buried Utilities?

For cable fault finding, utility location or pipe detection, technicians use Ground Penetrating Radar system and electromagnetic sensors that penetrate the surface non-invasively. The signals generated by the device help locate underground pipes and cables, and allows the technician to create an accurate image or map of the exact location and depth of the utility system, no matter if it is buried.

With professional utility location services, you can have accurate information about underground utility lines without having to disrupt the existing structure. State-of-the-art equipment can be used to find buried lines, conduits and voids, and also provides exact location of the same and depth. It is the ideal choice before you perform a digging or excavation project.  

When should you hire Utility Locating Service?

The right time to hire utility location services is long before you start excavating or designing. Often, it is vital to detect the exact location and depth of utility lines during early stages of planning.

Having this crucial data will help to properly place the foundations, structures, trees, post support and other items. Moreover, it may be needed to relocate utilities. Utility locator companies help determine where the lines can be moved to minimise threat.
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What are the Equipment Used for Utility Location?

Utility locator companies use electromagnetic cable and pipe locator equipment that allows the technicians to seamlessly adjust different cable and line conditions as well as detect unexpected soil conditions.

Such devices provide up to 97% accuracy and depth reading up to 13+ feet. Underground cable locator equipment is most beneficial in detecting utility cables and pipelines.   

Conclusion

Utility location services are the best option to detect an underground utility line or cable. Modern electromagnetic equipment is used to identify the exact location and depth of each utility system. Make sure you hire an expert utility location company before you start with the project.

Digging up or drilling a concrete can be a laborious task, especially if you do not know what is in there. What if there is an obstruction beneath the concrete which may hinder the drilling or coring process? Do you precisely know which is the safe area to dig into? To find out what is in the concrete without digging it up, get the help of concrete X-ray or concrete scanning technique. 

When excavating or drilling into asphalt or concrete, it is important to determine whether there is any potential obstruction such as utility lines, conduits, storage tanks or re-bar beneath the surface. After all, one cannot take the risk of breaking through an existing pipeline system tucked beneath a concrete. concrete X-ray in Melbourne, also referred to as concrete scanning, is a modern and innovative technology that uses GPRS system to inspect the subsurface of asphalt or concrete, and identify any dangerous element or potential obstructions.

The cutting-edge device harnesses electromagnetic ground penetrating radar technology, with the highest possible resolution, to easily locate what is beneath a concrete. It measures the electrical conductivity of different types of materials to determine what is located below a specific area of the asphalt or concrete. GPRS concrete X-ray provides reliable, safe and accurate Ground Penetrating Radar assessment before drilling or excavating. The technique is extremely functional and versatile in a large number of work conditions and environments, particularly for engineering, construction and industrial purposes.  
 
Benefits of Concrete X-Ray
 
There are numerous benefits of concrete x-ray Melbourne as highlighted below:

• The technique is very simple and provides accurate and reliable diagnosis of what is beneath the concrete without having to dig it up, Place the device on the specific work site, and perform a grid scan to locate whether there is post tension cables, re-bar or other obstructions or dangerous elements below.  
• concrete scanning is completely non-invasive and do not cause any harm to the structural integrity of the work site or building. It is ideal for healthcare facilities, power plants, shopping malls, big factories and maintenance facilities which cannot be kept shut. Since GPR devices prevent damage to the embedded utility, it does not impact day-to-day operations.  
• Identify potential obstructions or dangerous elements without having to dig or drill into the concrete.
• It minimizes patch or repair work because any potential obstacle can be located before the drilling or excavation work is executed.
• concrete x-ray Melbourne reduces unnecessary delay in work, and potential on-the-job hazards and accidents, particularly if there are electrical conduits embedded in the concrete
• concrete scanning device also helps to identify the empty spaces beneath the floors of industrial buildings at the time of concrete This can help to prevent accidents in future.