My grinder ate a gas pipe!

[codlasher]

In answer to the Q about CAT scanners tracing plastic pipe. The answer is NO.

If there was a wire trace it may have picked that up.

 

On the other hand I did dig up a very thick 'phone cable buried less than 8'' down a while ago. I took pics similar to the OP, argued my case and won, ie, NO bill!

Codlasher.

[bigdave]

touch wood i have never gone through a gas pipe or electric cable

 

fiber optic cables (for cable tv ect in the green ducting) water pipes & drains are the things i destroy on a regular basis with the mini digger!!!!! i repair the water pipes & drains myself but for the fiber optic i get virgin out to repair them!! i have never been charged for this as there cables are only just under the surface & they seem to rather just get them repaired & keep there customer happy!

 

if i am doing ground works for people i have them sign that they are responsible for any underground cables & pipes & it is up to them to locate & mark where they are! and even then if i dig through them i will not be held liable!!

[Chris Sheppard]

Dad went through one of the yellow plastic gas pipes when digging out for his driveway. It was something like 15 years or so ago so don't know if it's changed since, but they repaired it FOC as it was fairly shallow (less than a spade's depth).

 

First bloke came out and wrapped the gunky tape round it and a few hours later another van came out and stuck a join in in about 10 min.

[bob]

if you dont have stats or a cat your stuffed mate.

now you know it,s there would it of been able guess it was in the vicinity ie where was it in relation to it going into the house.

[LGP Eddie]

A bit of real bad luck there, looks like the classic shoddy installation with the mole and absolutely no chance unless you had dug trial holes around the stump first.

 

For a gas service it should in theory be 450mm of cover with sand and marker tape, but unless it's open cut trench installation there's no way that can happen.

 

You have done the correct thing by gaining as much evidence as you can, and in reality you should get away at around the £250 mark I'd expect after appealing.

 

I have usually got away without any charge by doing a little legwork on site for them and actually digging in a new service to the correct depth after digging a few more trial holes to show how poor the installation currently is.

Obviously easy with a mini digger on site to get a trench out to the correct depth and install the service properly, which can end up as a result all round.

 

Most Gangs are usually decent lads who'll help you out if you're decent enough with them.

 

I strongly suggest you consider getting some terms/conditions for customers to sign as this can easily be passed on to their Insurance if you are just hired to provide the service at an hour/day rate.

Hard to argue if you gave an all inclusive price for the work, as it then in reality becomes your job and risk.

 

You'll not find plastic pipes with a CAT, but in some instances the marker tape (if installed) has a piece of wire running along it that a signal generator can be attached to.

This signal can then be traced by to CAT tool allowing the pipe route to be traced.

 

A lot of people panic when they hit one, but just do the same as you would for a water service and kink it back on itself (sometimes a couple of kinks is required) before taping it up which usually stops the flow.

Never be tempted by any bodge repairs and trust me I've seen plenty from water fittings to compressor hose with jubilee clips!

[Pat Ferrett]

if you dont have stats or a cat your stuffed mate.

now you know it,s there would it of been able guess it was in the vicinity ie where was it in relation to it going into the house.

 

No Bob not even the owner knew it was there, he planted a tree over the top and the stake was driven down beside it a few years ago but the tree died hence me grinding the stump so he could replant.

[Pat Ferrett]

A bit of real bad luck there, looks like the classic shoddy installation with the mole and absolutely no chance unless you had dug trial holes around the stump first.

 

For a gas service it should in theory be 450mm of cover with sand and marker tape, but unless it's open cut trench installation there's no way that can happen.

 

You have done the correct thing by gaining as much evidence as you can, and in reality you should get away at around the £250 mark I'd expect after appealing.

 

I have usually got away without any charge by doing a little legwork on site for them and actually digging in a new service to the correct depth after digging a few more trial holes to show how poor the installation currently is.

Obviously easy with a mini digger on site to get a trench out to the correct depth and install the service properly, which can end up as a result all round.

 

Most Gangs are usually decent lads who'll help you out if you're decent enough with them.

 

I strongly suggest you consider getting some terms/conditions for customers to sign as this can easily be passed on to their Insurance if you are just hired to provide the service at an hour/day rate.

Hard to argue if you gave an all inclusive price for the work, as it then in reality becomes your job and risk.

 

You'll not find plastic pipes with a CAT, but in some instances the marker tape (if installed) has a piece of wire running along it that a signal generator can be attached to.

This signal can then be traced by to CAT tool allowing the pipe route to be traced.

 

A lot of people panic when they hit one, but just do the same as you would for a water service and kink it back on itself (sometimes a couple of kinks is required) before taping it up which usually stops the flow.

Never be tempted by any bodge repairs and trust me I've seen plenty from water fittings to compressor hose with jubilee clips!

 

Good post Eddie thanks for taking the time is very much appreciated

[bob]

can generally find plastic pipes as they have a marker strip in them that gives off a magnetic field with a cat.

Last gas we went through was a main and had gas billowing out:blushing:

once did 360 house phones due to one phone cable but it was a couple of inches wide:blushing: and i dragged it down the road so needed a lump splicing in.

Now that was expensive:thumbdown:

[Dean Lofthouse]

Something I always do is look for the services out on the pavement and from the house to try and see the line they follow after a close shave once

[renewablejohn]

One of the main gas pipes from the North Sea goes across my parents land so when we started ditching we where reported and stopped within 2 hours of starting work. Apparently we have to get permission from the Gas board prior to taking a digger on site and then a banksman will be supplied to avoid damaging the pipe.