Services water, gas, electric

[sucker69]

Whilst excavating the drive I noticed that some of the incoming services are not at the required depth.

What is the normal action:

1. Keep services at current depth and cover with Type 1
2. Re lay to the required depth

Thanks

[Tony McC]

Depends on how shallow they are, and what they are. If they're going to be within the laying course or paving, then they'll need dropping, and in the case of gas and lecky, then that should be done by the utility company, as they are responsible for services up until they reach your meter.

Cable telly is another matter and is rarely more than 50mm deep. There's not a cat in hell's chance of getting the cable telly blokes back, so you'll need to drop it yourself, being exceptionally careful.

Telephone is similar to cable telly, but there's a chance BT will agree to re-locate/drop any cable that's at risk.

Water should be at least 750mm deep, and if you come across that while excavating for a drive, I'd be worried. You're either too deep with your digging or there's summat seriously wrong. If it's a blue or black alkathene pipe, then contact your utility co: if it's lead pipe, the utility co should replace it with modern plastic at a suitable depth and at no cost to yourself.

If you are obliged to leave any service in situ, cover with sand, then with marker tape (or geo-textile), and then with the sub-base material. Don't put sub-base material in direct contact with services.

[matt h]

if you have exposed old mains gas pipes, it's good to get them changed before you lay drive, same as water mains, if iron,lead, or black alkathene. any pipe must now be sleeved where it enters the property.Water board will replace if you dig your own trench, and gas supplier should replace pipe up to meter, but may charge for upgrade. they charge for any digging they have to do, and there is about a three week wait normally before they'll do anything anyway:(

[Dave_L]

if you have exposed old mains gas pipes, it's good to get them changed before you lay drive

Agreed, they'll sleeve them internally.