Page 81 - BCCGA Best Practices Version 3.0

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British Columbia Common Ground Alliance

4-26

BACKFILLING

PRACTICE STATEMENT:

The ground disturber protects all facilities from

damage when backfilling an excavation.

PRACTICE DESCRIPTION:

THE EXCAVATOR SHOULD PROVIDE SUITABLE

BEDDING MATERIAL TO SURROUND AND PROTECT THE FACILITY(S).

The ground

disturber ensures to take extra caution to remove large rocks, sharp objects,

and large chunks of hard packed clay or dirt. Refuse or pieces of abandoned

lines are not to be backfilled into the trench. Ground disturbers should also be

placing and compacting bedding material to the facility owner or municipal

authority's requirements. This practice is to help avoid damaging a facility

during the backfill process.

REFERENCE:

Existing federal and provincial regulations and existing practices

among ground disturbers.

4-27

AS-BUILT DOCUMENTATION

PRACTICE STATEMENT:

The contractor who installs an underground facility

notifies the facility owner or operator if the actual placement of the facility is

different from the placement identified in the plans.

PRACTICE DESCRIPTION:

Facility owners and operators must maintain

accurate records of the locations of their facilities. As such, the contractor that

installs a new facility that deviates from the planned installation will be

required to notify the facility owner or operator of this change. After receiving

this notification, the facility owner or operator has the responsibility of

updating their records. This update is to allow for an accurate locate of the

facility in the future.

The changes in the plan can be either or both horizontal and vertical distances

from the specified plans. In either case, the facility owner or operator should

establish standards, which require notification if the change is beyond specific

tolerances; for example, a change in depth of 150 millimetres or more and a

lateral measurement change of more than 300 millimetres.

REFERENCE:

Existing practices among diligent and responsible ground

disturbers and facility owners/operators.