As of July 1, 2008, the Law on Information Exchange via Underground Networks (WION), commonly known as the Earth Movers Regulation, has come into force. These regulations have been introduced to reduce damage to underground cables and pipe lines during digging. The administrators of these networks, such as councils and public service corporations, are obliged to register their complete networks at the Land Registry. The 'earth movers', that is, the contractors that carry out the excavation, are required to do so with care. This means that they have to report all excavation activities beforehand with the Land Registry. The Land Registry gathers the date of registered cables and pipe lines in the area in question and supplies the contractor with drawings of these networks. The contractor is expected to investigate beforehand how the cables and pipes are situated. This can be done by digging a test trench or by means of a tube detector. The Ridgid SR-20 and SR-60 in ROM's range of products are the ideal tools to chart cables and pipe lines. In the past, the party ultimately responsible was the (sub)contractor, who actually caused the damage as a result of excavation. With the introduction of the Earth Movers Regulation, the chief contractor remains the responsible party for damage as a result of digging at all times. If the anticipated risk of damage through excavation is high, such as, for instance, at a busy intersection, it may be useful to conduct excavation activities with a KOKS PowerVac. This vehicle is able to remove the earth around cables and pipe lines by means of suction at a very high speed and with little risk. The PowerVac can also be used to dig a test trench prior to the start of large-scale excavation. |
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