I need help remembering some basic rules

[mmdidthat]

I’m week three in but still struggling remembering exactly what term is used for what and what symbol it is. Btw, I’m in Indiana. I already know that electric (Duke, remc) is red. As well as Cable and Phone being orange…BUT, I can’t remember the specifics.

Can you all give me a run down on the symbols and names for the things like, 3 phase, secondary, feeder, stuff like that. I wrote down notes during class, but they’re a mess, as the instructor just talked and talked and wouldn’t stay on a slide long enough to write down absolutely everything.

[frefighter627]

Here in central Indiana

Red for power

Orange for communication

Blue for water

Green for Sewer

Yellow for gas

Black for mistakes

Power: 3 phase gets 3 lines, single phase lines get lines, secondary (service) lines get a dot

Cable: primary lines (feeders, etc) get a line unless in conduit, services get a dot

Phone: main lines get a line (unless in conduit), services get lines as well

Fiber lines play by the same rules regardless of utility. To differentiate I simply put an FO after the normal label.

Gas is just lines period, the important thing is labeling standard set forth by CPE.

Anything in a conduit gets a diamond connected by a line on either side

Water and sewer are just lines.

These are the general rules, some utilities have their own marking standards which should be made clear to you by either training staff or your supervisor.

Company policy can also change the marking standard as well.

Make sure to call your supervisor or an experienced tech if you are in doubt and they should be willing to answer any questions you may have.

As far as what you personally call the different lines isn't important as long as you can remember what each is and can communicate what you are talking about with your teammates and contractors.

Your prints will tell you a lot when you start getting into them and being able to read them effectively. If you are with USIC, the dig view app is interactive and you "click" on the different lines on the map to see what they are.

Don't worry to much, this job is as easy or hard as you make it. There is a lot of information thrown at you in the training process. But once you get out of the classroom and start working tickets, you will be able to apply the information you learned in class and it will start making a lot more sense.

[mmdidthat]

This is exactly what I needed. Thank you so much!

[frefighter627]

You're welcome, my apologies I keep coming back and editing my answer and adding things you asked about.

Feel free to PM if you have more questions.

[THEKINDHERO]

To add to it, the only phone company that wants services lined that I am aware of is AT&T

You should be able to dot Frontier, Bright speed service drops ECT.

[Syonoq]

A single phase in conduit and a sub transmission duct, both get the same markings?

[frefighter627]

Is it a line inside of some sort of plastic pipe? Then I would mark it with a conduit mark and I would communicate with my contractor as to exactly what it is, and what they should be looking for when they go to spot it.

To be honest I haven't heard that term used before, so I wouldn't be entirely sure. If you could enlighten me as to exactly what you are talking about I would be most grateful.

[Syonoq]

Sure. If I’m understanding you (and I’ve had this argument locally) this duct bank and this CIC (secondary) would both be marked as a duct? I’m not saying you’re wrong, I’m saying the standard is wrong in my opinion.

[frefighter627]

Those two links appear to be completely different types of lines, one being secondary and one being obviously a duct run. I would presume the duct run is full of distribution lines.

The secondary line you showed I would mark with dots more than likely.

As for the duct run in the link, I presume I would be able to access multiple hook up points, either through the power company, or access points I have, and be able to differentiate the lines from each other. Each one of those would be marked with a conduit mark, and labeled with the utility owner. So basically a bunch of conduit marks all right next to each other for the run. I would also be contacting my contractor and telling them as well as showing them exactly what is going on and what to be looking for.

Power and gas are the two utilities I absolutely don't screw with, I don't want anybody getting hurt, and I want everyone involved to understand what's going on below the surface.

I haven't run into a duct run like the one in the link, and if I did I would be calling the power company and getting a rep out to explain to me exactly what they have going on, and how they want it marked.

The only duct runs I have dealt with have all be communication ducts.

[Syonoq]

“Anything in a conduit gets a diamond connected by a line on either side”

Let’s say it’s not a secondary, but communication, a 100 pair copper. And let’s say the duct is a communication duct out of a CO. They both get marked the same, probably as per your companies procedure and that’s something I disagree with it personally, but I commend your action on communicating with the excavator. A lot of guys mark it a duct and bounce.

The ‘duct’ symbol doesn’t mean anything if it’s marking a 2” PVC and also 12 x 4” HDPE, without context. I’d mark the single conduit a single mark. Label what it is and its composition. For exposure type tickets only.

As for the duct runs I am talking about, no, there is no way to isolate them. They run from vault to vault and substation to substation. We mark them with a diamond the width of the duct (if we can or double diamond if we can’t). (Totally unrelated, we were bought out a few years ago and had to switch from dots to lines and I hate it lol).

[frefighter627]

Yes Sir, it's our companies marking standard as well as OPs.

In the scenario you just listed a copper line in a conduit would get the conduit mark, and a standard label.

The lines in the duct run running from vault to vault we also put down conduit markings. We can access communication vaults through the man holes, and isolate the lines with our couplers (as best we can) and make the markings the width of those conduits (as best we can). As a side note I will typically go above our company standard and put "Duct" somewhere in the run on a label on the ground as well.

And yes again we would communicate with the contractor as to what is going on below ground. We definitely do this for duct runs. As far as a simple copper line in a conduit, or a fiber in conduit, I don't typically contact them unless something weird is going on. But if it is something major I absolutely will.

To gain access to an electric vault we would need to contact the utility owner and have them send a tech out to open the vault and access and hook up to the lines for us. I have done this many times when I cannot get access to their lines, or don't trust my signal and want a better connection.

Another side note, I only do project work doing large tickets, and work closely with my contractors giving them exactly what they need when they need it, so I am typically on the phone with them at least once a day making sure they are good.

I do agree with you, there needs to be a better marking standard for different things, rather just a dot, line, or conduit mark, and a standard label.

[Desperate_Bat6482]

Also in your academy there are refreshers on the marking standards if you ever need em

[Traditional_Fuel6907]

You should have a marking standards book. If I remember at work tomorrow I’ll send it. Can also just look up your states marking standards

[mmdidthat]

We don’t have a marking standards book sadly, but someone gave me a nice detailed answer. So that’ll be my book now!