Structure Scan Private Utility Locates

• Pipe and Cable
• Gas
• Phone
• Water
• Sewer
• Fibre Optic
• Fault Locating

Why Locate Buried Pipes and Cables?
Theory of Electromagnetic Location
Please Remember

Why Locate Buried Pipes and Cables?

• Due diligence.
• Help prevent injury and death to workers.
• Avoid additional and unnecessary costs.
• Possibility of law suit or problems following negligence.
• Possibility of the insurance excess limit threshold being raised.
• Loss of reputation.
• Reduce public inconvenience.

Theory of Electromagnetic Location

• Electromagnetic location is based on the principles of electromagnetic induction.
• An alternating current (A.C.) flowing along a conductor creates a magnetic field around it,
   this field is known as the signal.
• Unlike electricity, the field of the signal is not affected by cable insulation or soil.
• The fundamental principle this illustrates is that of electromagnetic induction;
   any change of magnetic flux linking a conductor will induce a voltage in it.
• Alternating flux is constantly changing, and so induces a corresponding alternating voltage.
   This principle can be used in two ways:
    A) To impose a signal onto a buried conductor by subjecting it to a magnetic field set up by an A.C.
         signal transmitter in the vicinity.
    B) To detect a signal in a buried conductor by amplifying the tiny voltages induced by its field in
         the aerials of a receiver.
• The rate of change of an alternating voltage is its frequency.
    Example: Number of positive and negative pulsation's, or cycles per second.
• Frequency is measured in Hertz (Hz).
• One Hz is a frequency of one cycle per second.
• Slow cycles have low frequencies.
• Fast cycles have high frequencies.

Please Remember

• Locators do not find pipes and cables, they find magnetic fields.
• There are limitations in the use of all equipment and pipe and cable locators are no exception.
• They are not magic devices.

Contact Structure Scan Inc.

Tony Brunette
Phone: 204-777-6590
E-mail: tony@structurescan.ca