​At Private Utility Locating of Central Virginia, we perform utility locating services in accordance with industry-recognized standards including ASCE 38-02 and ASCE 75-22. These standards establish best practices for identifying, designating, and communicating the quality and reliability of subsurface utility information.

 

ASCE 38-02 – Standard Guideline for the Collection and Depiction of Existing Subsurface Utility Data established the original “Quality Level” system widely used in utility engineering and subsurface utility investigations. The standard defines the confidence level of utility information gathered during a project.

 

Quality Level D (QL-D)

Information obtained from existing records, utility maps, or verbal recollection.
This is the lowest confidence level and is typically used during early planning stages.

 

Quality Level C (QL-C)

Utilities correlated with visible above-ground features such as valves, hydrants, meters, or pedestals.
This improves the reliability of record information.

 

Quality Level B (QL-B)

Utilities designated through surface geophysical methods such as:

• Electromagnetic locating

• Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)

*This is the primary level used in professional private utility locating and provides a reliable horizontal position of underground utilities.

 

Quality Level A (QL-A)

The highest confidence level. Utility location is verified through direct exposure methods such as vacuum excavation or potholing to determine the exact horizontal and vertical position of the utility.

ASCE 75-22 – Standard Guideline for Investigating and Documenting Existing Utilities

 

ASCE 75-22 modernized and expanded the original ASCE 38-02 standard by providing more detailed guidance on utility investigation practices, data management, risk reduction, and project communication.

 

This updated standard emphasizes:

• Comprehensive utility investigation planning

• Proper documentation and data quality

• Use of advanced locating technologies

• Risk mitigation during excavation and construction

• Clear communication of utility confidence levels

 

How We Apply These Standards

Our locating process is designed around these nationally recognized best practices to help reduce utility strikes, project delays, and costly excavation damage.

 

We routinely utilize:

• Electromagnetic Utility Locating Equipment

• Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)

• Surface Feature Correlation

• Utility Record Review

• Field Verification Techniques

 

Most projects are completed to a Quality Level B investigation standard, with Quality Level A verification available when required through test holes or vacuum excavation coordination.

By following ASCE utility investigation standards, we provide clients with accurate, professional, and defensible utility locating services for construction, engineering, excavation, and facility management projects.