FX20VACUUM EXCAVATOR

stopimg style="padding-right: 20px;" align="left" style="padding-right: 10px; " src="/uploadedImages/Left_Nav/Press_Room/Job_Related_List/100_0358_sm_260x195.jpg" alt="VirginiaC3_1" title="VirginiaC3_1" />In little more than five years, C3 Communication & Construction Corporation (C3) has grown from a contractor specializing in underground cable television system construction to a telecommunications contractor with the capability to complete a wide range of turnkey projects.

Located in Hampton, Virginia, C3 today offers full turnkey services for outside plant construction of aerial and underground communications networks, and indoor voice/data cabling services.

In addition, C3 offers utility locating services—finding and marking existing underground utilities before construction begins. This is the important first step in preventing costly and potentially deadly accidents at construction sites.

Typically, utility locates are initiated through the nation’s One-Call system. Local One-Call agencies notify member utility owners who are responsible for marking locations of their pipe or cable on construction sites.

Many utilities contract this task to locating specialists such as C3. There also are many areas not under jurisdiction of One-Call: private property sites, educational institutions, business parks, government complexes, and military installations, for example. C3 has crews comprised of about 65 locating specialists providing locating services to clients such as these on the east coast of Virginia and in northeast North Carolina.

“The recognition of the importance of accurately locating and marking buried utilities is definitely on the rise,” says Tim Vest, C3 president. “Every year, accidental utility hits interrupt services, cause property damage, and people are injured and killed because locates were not requested or markings made were inaccurate. And every year, we see initiatives to improve accuracies of locates and better document them.”

Vest says the biggest challenges for making accurate locates are crowded easements, improper installation and bonding of utility lines, excessive depth of some utility lines, and the challenging working environments that locating personnel face on many construction sites.

stopimg style="padding-left: 20px;" align="right" style="padding-left: 10px; " src="/uploadedImages/Left_Nav/Press_Room/Job_Related_List/100_0359_260x195.jpg" alt="VirginiaC3_2" title="VirginiaC3_2" />“As is the case with most locate companies, we utilize a wide range of locating tools depending on the situation at hand,” Vest says. “Primarily, we use electromagnetic utility locators; however the use of GPR (ground penetrating radar), metal detection, sonic locators, GPS, and other technologies are necessary for any locate company to be successful.”

However, the basic locating tool remains electromagnetic equipment, and the technology is the same as introduced several years ago except for product enhancements that have improved accuracy, ease of use, and durability.

An electromagnetic locating system consists of a compact transmitter unit and lightweight, handheld receiver. The receiver locates underground lines by detecting magnetic fields created by electrical current passing through the buried lines. Receivers use different frequencies and modes to help identify different types of utilities.

A receiver alone can detect live power cables. To find telephone cable and metallic pipe, the transmitter is connected to cable or pipe and sends current through the line to create a signal that is detected by the receiver. For PVC pipe with tracer wire, the wire is energized by the transmitter to provide a signal that the receiver can pick up.

The receiver processes the information and displays an estimate of depth and other data on an easy-to-read display.

“We are currently using Ditch Witch^® 910 series locators,” says Vest. “This model was selected due to the rich features that it provides and the great customer service that we receive from our local Ditch Witch representative.”

In active mode, the 910T transmits via direct-line connection, induction clamp or induced broadcast signals. Standard models have up to three frequencies of the customer's choosing, with the option of adding frequencies, which are set at the factory when the transmitter is ordered. Each transmitter includes direct-connect leads, a ground stake, and operates on eight standard D-cell batteries.

The 910R receiver comes standard with up to four frequencies, with additional frequencies available. Simplified controls help facilitate ease of use. It operates on six standard C-cell batteries.

A more sophisticated yet easy-to-use locating system is the Ditch Witch 2150GR ground penetrating radar, which can detect metallic and non-metallic utilities to depths of 19 feet, depending on soil conditions and antenna selection. Its 5.6 mph survey speed and digitally controlled radar provide fast, clear images. Multiple frequencies permit programming to job conditions.

A relatively new but increasingly common locating technique is the use of vacuum excavator equipment’s “soft” excavation capabilities to excavate a small, precise hole to visibly confirm the exact location of buried pipe and cable, a process known as “potholing.” Soft excavation, which utilizes a stream of either high-pressure water or air, greatly reduces the risk of damaging the utilities being uncovered.

stopimg style="padding-right: 20px;" align="left" style="padding-right: 10px; " src="/uploadedImages/Left_Nav/Press_Room/Job_Related_List/100_0360_260x195.jpg" alt="VirginiaC3_3" title="VirginiaC3_3" />C3 has several Ditch Witch vacuum excavators that the company uses for potholing. But Vest knows there is something more important than having plenty of quality equipment: proper training of locating personnel is essential.

“It is impossible for someone to come in off the street, pick up locating equipment and just go to work,” explains Vest. “In order to be successful in this business, a potential locate technician needs to be taught the local laws and practices of the state they are in, locating theory, electrical current properties, print reading, and troubleshooting techniques.”

Vest says utility operators continue to improve facility records, and the availability of accurate records allows locating technicians to be more effective and efficient at their job.

“I also believe,” Vest continues, “that if more states held the locate industry accountable for what they do—as the state of Virginia does—this would cause many contract locate companies to change their operating procedures.”

In addition to contract locating, C3 offers a complete range of aerial and telecommunications underground construction. C3 underground construction equipment includes Ditch Witch trenchers, vibratory plows, and horizontal directional drilling models. C3 personnel also prewire and post-wire voice/data/video cabling in structures of all sizes.

“Our company prides itself on providing superb customer service,” Vest says. “We have found that doing the right thing, keeping our customers happy by going that extra mile, allows us to hold on to contracts on a long-term basis.”

No matter the location anywhere in the United States, simply calling “811” reaches the nearest One-Call center.

“The 811 One-Call number and associated national campaign has simplified One-Call systems nationwide, especially for contractors working in more than one state,” says Vest. “Now instead of hunting down the phone number for the right One-Call center, all that is necessary is to dial 811 and be directed to the One-Call center serving the area where the call originates.”

stopimg style="padding-right: 20px;" align="left" style="padding-right: 10px; " src="/uploadedImages/Left_Nav/Press_Room/Job_Related_List/fx30(1).jpg" alt="FX30 - image 1" title="FX30 - image 1" border="0" />For all the high-tech, manmade gadgetry available for locating and identifying buried utilities, nothing is more reliable than what Mother Nature provides us in abundance: water. Water is the main ingredient in potholing, the act of physically uncovering a buried utility to verify its location. Potholing is widely held as the surest, safest method of determining a utility’s exact position.

And it’s probably safe to say that the more that utilities are verified in this manner, the fewer accidental utility strikes there would be each year. Estimates vary because many strikes are not reported, but accidental strikes are believed to number in the hundreds of thousands annually.

The Common Ground Alliance (CGA), the organization dedicated to preventing damage to underground infrastructure, keeps track of the strikes reported by its member organizations. The official CGA figure for 2009 (the latest currently available) is 115,232. This is a 15 percent decrease from 2008, and marks the first time since the 2003 launching of the CGA’s Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) that this figure decreased from one year to the next.

Good news, right? It depends. The CGA’s 2009 DIRT Report cautions that this “decrease may be the result of several factors, including the reality [of] economic conditions and less construction activity.”

Whatever the reason, the figure 115,232 represents a significant reduction. But it is still way, way too large a number, considering the technology we have available for preventing accidents, and considering what even one utility strike can mean: disruption of essential services, expensive and time-consuming repairs, lawsuits, injuries, and even death.

Because of accelerated efforts to prevent damage to buried utilities, potholing is becoming a standard practice on a growing number of utility jobsites. A great deal of credit goes to the CGA’s marketing efforts and its identification and dissemination of construction industry best practices, considered to be the most thorough and effective guidelines for preventing damage to underground facilities. Government agencies are adopting regulations that require potholing, and project owners and contractors are establishing their own policies specifying potholing before excavation or directional drilling begins.

Seeing Is Knowing.

stopimg border="0" style="padding-left: 20px;" align="right" style="padding-left: 10px; float: right; " src="/uploadedImages/Left_Nav/Press_Room/Job_Related_List/FX-30-7stopimg4Potholing is not new. For years, the process consisted of workers using shovels, a slow and labor-intensive job that was not without risks. Even the most skilled and experienced laborers made mistakes, often at the end of a long, hot day when fatigue had set in. To speed the process, workers began using backhoes, but in many cases this technique only reduced the time it took to cut through an electric cable or water line.

Vacuum excavators revolutionized the potholing process. When they were introduced, vacs were primarily used for removing fluids and spoils from horizontal directional drilling sites, and various municipal tasks such as water-leak repair and cleaning out storm drains, valve boxes, and utility vaults. Then vac systems’ “soft” excavation (or hydro excavation) capabilities began to catch on. Digging postholes for new fence installation was a snap with a high-pressure stream of water. And if postholes, why not potholes?

Most vacuum excavators are equipped with high-pressure air or water, which is directed by a wand with a special tip to displace soil. With high-pressure water, a vac system can quickly create small, precisely controlled potholes to uncover buried utilities. Using proper techniques, the risk of damage inherent with a backhoe, excavator, or other mechanical tool can be reduced. Depending on soil conditions, a vacuum excavator can complete a 12-inch-square, five-foot-deep pothole in fewer than 30 minutes. Spoil from the potholing process then can be simultaneously vacuumed to a holding tank for reuse or disposal.

Vacuum excavators are capable of “digging” much deeper than six feet, but utility potholes seldom need to be more than that. And the small excavation is easier, faster, and less expensive to repair.

Reducing Risk Also Reduces Expense.

That’s right: done properly, potholing is not only safer, but the actual process of potholing with a vacuum excavator is also less expensive. Santa Clarita Valley, California, is among the growing number of municipalities that have discovered the economic benefits of potholing.

Like most American communities, Santa Clarita has a utility infrastructure that is showing its age, and the city has no choice but to replace it, section by section, as funds allow. In 2008, the City of Santa Clarita made the decision to invest nearly $50,000 in a state-of-the-art vacuum excavation system to perform, among other things, the task of potholing to safely determine where and where not to excavate.

After looking at the costs of potholing with a vacuum excavator versus the traditional, labor-intensive method, the decision was easy. Crunching the numbers, city officials estimated that the typical cost of digging 10 potholes with a backhoe was $7185, itemized this way:

• $2400 for paving roughly 200 square feet
• $3885 for 30 hours of labor
• $900 for 30 hours of equipment use

stopimg border="0" style="padding-right: 20px;" align="left" style="padding-right: 10px; float: left; " src="/uploadedImages/Left_Nav/Press_Room/Job_Related_List/FX30-4stopimg4The same job with a new vacuum excavation machine, however, was estimated at only $1875, or roughly a quarter of the cost of potholing the old-fashioned way. Only 40 square feet of paving would be required, and only 10 hours of labor and 10 hours of equipment use costs.

Needless to say, the vacuum excavator was a smart investment for the City of Santa Clarita, and would be for any community or company interested in locating utilities with minimal risk and expense. This would seem to include everyone in the underground construction industry, and there is a vacuum excavator for every budget—from the portable vac that can fit in the back of a standard-size pickup truck, to the trailer-mounted systems, to the large, diesel-powered, skid-mounted vacs with 1200-gallon water tanks, hydraulic booms, and many other options and accessories.

For those not ready to buy, an affordable strategy is rental, and many equipment rental companies carry vac systems. Whether you buy or rent, be forewarned: after trying the potholing method to expose utilities, after experiencing its speed, efficiency, economic and safety benefits, you might not want to go back to the old way of doing things.

Sources for this article:  

• Common Ground Alliance 2009 DIRT Report  
• Commongroundalliance.com  
• Compact Equipment article, April 2009: “Hydro Excavation Systems Provide Precise, Safe Utility Location,” by Barb Cooper.
• Santa Clarita Valley Signal article, November 2008: “Water Retailer Finds A ‘Hole New Way To Work,” by Jim Holt.
• Ditchwitch.com pressroom articles: “Vacuum Excavators,” “The ABCs of Utility Damage Prevention,” and “Best Practices For Damage Prevention.”  

stopimg title="keepCool_img1" style="padding-right: 20px;" align="left" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px solid; BORDER-LEFT: 0px solid; WIDTH: 260px; PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; HEIGHT: 195px; BORDER-TOP: 0px solid; align: left" alt="keepCool_img1" src="/uploadedImages/Left_Nav/Press_Room/Job_Related_List/1_KeepCool_260x195(1).jpg" border="0" />Catastrophic tornadoes and floods have grabbed recent headlines, but each year one weather phenomenon kills more people than tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, and lightning combined: heat.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an average of more than 1,500 people in the U.S. die each year from excessive heat—yet it is the most preventable of weather-related deaths.

If you work in construction, summer is one of your busiest times of the year because it’s typically the driest season and offers the most hours of daylight. But the sun providing all that productive daylight can be the biggest jobsite hazard you face all year. No matter how tough you are or how used to the heat you think you are, excessive heat can bring down anyone who doesn’t take the necessary precautions.

The following information applies to anyone who is employed in an outdoor profession—construction workers in particular—but also applies to those who work in hot factories and anyone who spends time outdoors exercising, gardening, or laboring in any capacity during the summer months. (This is general information. More specific information can be found in the sources cited below.)

Know Your Chemistry

Our bodies dissipate heat by varying the rate and depth of blood circulation, and by expelling water through the skin and sweat glands. When we reach the danger zone, when our blood is heated above 98.6 degrees, we begin to pant—we’re literally “working like a dog.”

Sweating alone does little to cool the body, unless the sweat is removed by evaporation. But high relative humidity inhibits evaporation. When you’re checking the forecast for tomorrow, pay close attention to the heat index: the combination of relative humidity and air temperature. For example, if the air temperature is 96° F and the relative humidity is 65 percent, the heat index is 121° F. This is the heat your body really feels.

Heat disorders involve a reduction or collapse of our bodies’ ability to shed heat by circulatory changes and sweating, or a chemical (salt) imbalance caused by too much sweating. When heat gain exceeds the level the body can remove, or when the body cannot compensate for fluids and salt lost through perspiration, the temperature of the body's inner core begins to rise, bringing on various degrees of heat-related illnesses.

stopimg title="keepCool_img2" style="padding-left: 20px;" align="right" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px solid; BORDER-LEFT: 0px solid; WIDTH: 260px; PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; HEIGHT: 195px; BORDER-TOP: 0px solid; align: right" alt="keepCool_img2" src="/uploadedImages/Left_Nav/Press_Room/Job_Related_List/2_KeepCool_260x195.jpg" border="0" />Ranking Heat Disorders

The severity of heat disorders is relative to a person’s age, weight, fitness, medical condition, and degree of acclimatization to the heat. For example, heat cramps in a 17-year-old may translate as heat exhaustion in someone who is 40, and heat stroke in a person over 60. Common heat disorders include:

• Sunburn. Along with being painful and irritating, sunburn can significantly retard the skin’s ability to shed excess heat. The best solution for sunburn is prevention, by applying sunscreen throughout the day.
• Heat cramps. Symptoms are painful spasms, usually in the muscles of the legs and abdomen, often preceded by profuse sweating.
• Heat rash. Also known as prickly heat, heat rash can occur in hot, humid environments where sweat is not easily removed from the surface of the skin by evaporation. Serious heat rash can be so uncomfortable that it inhibits sleep and impedes a worker’s performance.
• Heat exhaustion. Symptoms include heavy sweating, weakness, headache, fainting, vomiting, and skin that is cold, pale and clammy. It is possible to have a normal temperature with heat exhaustion.
• Heat stroke or sunstroke. This is the most serious health problem for workers in hot environments. Heat stroke occurs when sweating stops and the body can no longer rid itself of excess heat. Symptoms include an excessively high body temperature (106° F or higher); mental confusion or delirium; convulsions; hot, dry skin; strong and rapid pulse; and possible unconsciousness. Make no mistake: heat stroke can be fatal, and victims need immediate medical attention.

Prevention: The Best Solution

The number one method of avoiding heat disorders: avoiding heat. But for construction workers in the summer, this is simply not possible. So, here are some tips for staying cool and staying alive, beginning with the most obvious:

• Drink plenty of fluids. Your body needs water to keep cool. Drink water even if you don't feel thirsty. Proper hydration actually begins the day before a long, strenuous day in the sun. Before increasing your fluid consumption, consult a physician if you (1) have epilepsy or heart, kidney, or liver disease; (2) are on a fluid-restrictive diet; or (3) have a problem with fluid retention.
• Do not drink alcoholic beverages. Alcohol dehydrates your body. Enough said.
• Limit caffeine intake.
• Do not take salt tablets unless specified by a physician.
• Put less fuel on your inner fires. Foods that are heavy in protein increase metabolic heat production and also increase water loss.
• Dress as lightly as possible. You need protective clothing, of course, but consider light-colored fabrics, such as cotton, that breathe.
• When possible, take longer breaks than normal in a cool, shaded area. A rested worker is a more productive worker.
• Know the symptoms of heat illnesses. Use a buddy system to keep tabs on your fellow workers.
• Acclimate yourself to the heat. You can “get used to” the heat, to some degree. Workers, especially those who follow the advice above, can eventually develop some degree of tolerance. However, new employees and workers returning from an absence of two weeks or more should have a five-day period of acclimatization: 50 percent of the normal workload and time exposure the first day, gradually building up to 100 percent on the fifth day.

stopimg title="keepCool_img3" style="padding-left: 20px;" align="right" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px solid; BORDER-LEFT: 0px solid; WIDTH: 260px; PADDING-LEFT: 10px; HEIGHT: 195px; BORDER-TOP: 0px solid; align: left" alt="keepCool_img3" src="/uploadedImages/Left_Nav/Press_Room/Job_Related_List/3_KeepCool_260x195.jpg" border="0" />Supervisor Obligations

There are precautions every employer should take when temperatures are high and the job involves physical work.

• Understand the signs of heat stress and permit workers to interrupt their work if they are extremely uncomfortable.
• Provide training about the hazards leading to heat stress and how to prevent them.
• If possible, schedule the heaviest workload for the coolest part of the day: early morning or late evening, when the sun is less intense.
• Make sure your workers have easy access to cool water—a minimum of one quart of water per hour, per worker.
• Schedule frequent rest periods with water breaks in shaded or air- conditioned areas.
• Routinely check on workers who are at risk of heat stress due to protective clothing and high temperature. Pay close attention to those who are at risk because of age and physical condition (including obesity and diabetes).

When A Fellow Worker Is Ill From The Heat

• Call a supervisor for help. If the supervisor is not available, call 911.
• Have someone stay with the worker until help arrives.
• Move the worker to a cooler/shaded area.
• Remove outer clothing.
• Fan and mist the worker with water; apply ice (ice bags or ice towels).
• Provide cool drinking water, if the worker is able to drink.

For more information about preventing and treating heat-related illness, consult these articles:

• “Heat Wave: A Major Summer Killer,” [http://www.noaawatch.gov/themes/heat.php] by the NOAA
• “Protecting Workers From Heat Stress,” [http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3154.pdf] by OSHA
• “Protecting Workers In Hot Environments,” [http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=FACT_SHEETS&p_id=167] by OSHA

Sources for this article:

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (noaawatch.gov)
• Occupational and Safety Health Administration (osha.gov)

stopimg title="19a" style="padding-right: 20px;" align="left" alt="19a" src="/uploadedImages/Left_Nav/Press_Room/Job_Related_List/19astopimg4Take the time to winterize your equipment this year. A few minutes spent could save you time and money in the months to come. The amount of winter care your equipment needs depends both on the climate and how it is used. Check your service manual guidelines, and keep the following tips in mind:

1. Check coolant. Provide protection by using the recommended antifreeze/water mixture for the lowest temperature expected during operations.

2. Change the oil and filter before cold weather arrives. In addition, use lubricants recommended for low temperature applications.

3. Maintain the battery. Remove cables, clean cable ends and posts, and clean and tighten terminals on the cranking motor. And remember never to charge a frozen battery.

4. Check tire inflation. Tires inflated in a warm shop will be under-inflated when used in cold temperatures.

5. Give hydraulic components time to warm up before beginning work. If you’re running diesel equipment, be sure to idle the engine a few minutes before shutting down to properly lubricate internal components. Your local Ditch Witch^® service technicians can help you make the most of your cold-weather equipment productivity, and can suggest winterizing techniques that are perfectly suited to your operation.

stopimg style="padding-right: 20px;" align="left" title="FX20_1" alt="FX20_1" src="/uploadedImages/Left_Nav/Press_Room/Job_Related_List/FX20_1stopimg4Although the Ditch Witch® organization offers many different types of vacuum excavators, there is one thing they all have in common: routine maintenance. Make that daily maintenance. Just as with any piece of equipment, the better you treat it, the better it will treat you. Kind of like the Golden Rule with a twist.

The engine contains several different components that you should monitor before each day's operation. When the air filter restriction indicator reaches the red zone, it's time to change the elements. The engine's oil level should also be checked while the engine is warm. If the coolant level is headed toward low, add coolant as needed to maintain the optimal level for your vacuum excavator. Be sure to consult the operator's manual for the right fluid and filling procedures for your model.

stopimg style="padding-left: 20px;" align="right" title="FX20_2" alt="FX20_2" src="/uploadedImages/Left_Nav/Press_Room/Job_Related_List/FX20_2stopimg4Every vacuum excavator also contains some sort of hydraulic system. If pressurized fluid is allowed to escape, it can cause injury or pierce skin and poison. The culprit could be hydraulic hose leaks, so add those to your daily checklist. Also check the hydraulic fluid level when the engine is off and the fluid is cool. Simply add hydraulic fluid to the proper levels according to the instructions in the operator's manual.

Keeping the blower in good working order is imperative to keeping your vacuum excavator running strong, so be sure to check the blower oil every day. Add oil as necessary, but do not overfill. If your blower is belt-driven, check blower belt tension and adjust according to the operator's manual.

stopimg style="padding-right: 20px;" align="left" title="FX20_3" alt="FX20_3" src="/uploadedImages/Left_Nav/Press_Room/Job_Related_List/FX20_3stopimg4Keeping the air filter clean is one of the most important ways to get the best possible performance out of your vacuum excavation system. Ditch Witch vacuum excavator air filters should be removed and rinsed with water before each day's job. It is important to use low water pressure so you don't damage the filter. Also, be sure to drain the filter canister if necessary.

Last but certainly not least, check to make sure the water sprays from nozzle into a fan pattern. Clean or replace the nozzle if necessary.

With these tips, you should enjoy the best production from your vacuum excavator—no matter what job you're asking it to tackle. And remember, your local Ditch Witch dealer is your only source for expert advice and genuine Ditch Witch parts to keep your vacuum excavator running strong. Your Ditch Witch service department can also take the worry out of vacuum excavator maintenance for the long-term with value-added services like Orange Armor planned maintenance agreements and extended warranties. 

The most versatile construction machine available for rental stores?

Many would vote for the loader-backhoe, for years a proven workhorse. Others would say the honor belongs to the skid-steer loader and its array of multi-purpose attachments.

stopimg style="padding-right: 20px;" align="left" src="/uploadedImages/Left_Nav/Press_Room/Job_Related_List/FX30_1.jpg" alt="FX30_1" title="FX30_1" />But before making a decision for any most-versatile-rental-machine award, consider the credentials of a new contender: the vacuum excavator.

      A vacuum excavator is two machines in one:

•      A "soft" digging tool that can make small, precisely controlled excavations for virtually any purpose; and
•      A powerful, portable vacuum suitable for a multitude of work-site cleanup tasks.

"Because they can do so many different jobs, they appeal to a very broad range of equipment renters," says Greg Adkins, product manager at The Charles Machine Works, Inc., manufacturer of Ditch Witch underground construction equipment. "So it is not surprising that more and more rental stores are adding vacuum excavators to their fleets of equipment."

What sets vacuum excavators apart from other machines that dig is their "soft" excavation technology, which, depending on make and model, displaces soil using either pressurized water or pressurized air delivered by a hose to a nozzle held by the machine's operator. As digging progresses, the unit's vacuum removes spoils that can be used to refill the hole later or be transported offsite.

stopimg style="padding-left: 20px;" align="right" src="/uploadedImages/Left_Nav/Press_Room/Job_Related_List/FX30_2.jpg" alt="FX30_2" title="FX30_2" />Adkins says that most of the vacuum excavators in rental stores are compact models that dig with water and are mounted on trailers that can be pulled by pickup trucks.

For digging, one of the primary assignments for vacuum excavators is "potholing," or uncovering buried utilities to visibly confirm their locations before construction involving any type of excavating. Depending on the machine used and soil conditions, a 12-inch-square, 5-foot-deep pothole can be completed in 20 minutes or less. The equipment's soft excavation technology excavates around buried pipe or cable without the risk of damage inherent with backhoes, excavators, or other mechanical tools. Also, excavating with vacuum excavation equipment usually causes less disruption of traffic and other surface activities.

But a vacuum excavator's digging capabilities are not limited to potholing.

"They are used to dig short segments of trench in areas where larger equipment can't be used, and in easements crowded with buried pipe and cable," says Adkins. "They are effective for digging holes to set utility and light poles and poles to support signs. They are also used to make small excavations to repair pipe and pipe joints, to cut off service lines, to plug unused pipelines, and to attach anodes for cathodic corrosion protection systems. Jetting attachments are useful in cleaning out conduit and sanitary and storm sewer lines."

stopimg style="padding-right: 20px;" align="left" src="/uploadedImages/Left_Nav/Press_Room/Job_Related_List/FX30_3.jpg" alt="FX30_3" title="FX30_3" />Small excavations made by the machines are easier and less expensive to fill and repair than the larger ones made by mechanical equipment.

As vacuums, vacuum excavators are versatile, all-purpose machines for cleaning out manholes, catch basins, conduit and pipe, vehicle wash pits, and grease traps; keeping directional drilling jobs free of excess drilling fluids; and virtually any cleanup job.

Vacuum excavators appear to have great appeal as a rental machine, but to date they have not been widely available in equipment rental centers. This appears to be changing, as rental customers are discovering more and more innovative ways to use this versatile equipment.

by George McGuire
R&D Project Manager
The Charles Machine Works, Inc.

Replacing our nation's aging copper communications infrastructure is a monumental task. This is one thing all of the experts agree upon. The disagreements begin when the discussion turns to the most efficient and cost-effective way to tackle the challenge.

There are two main areas related to FTTH (Fiber to The Home) installation: the "homes passed" loops, essentially the main fiber circuit that runs along the streets in neighborhoods and business districts; and "house drops," or service directly to the home or business from the network loops. Equipment manufacturers and installation contractors are strongly focused on bringing more cost-effective solutions into play to make the FTTH network more affordable for owners and consumers.

The solutions vary, and all have their merits.

"Stitch" boring with pneumatic boring tools is a favorite of contractors because of the low operating cost per foot of installation, very reasonable equipment investment, and the low level of expertise necessary for equipment operation. One drawback to stitch boring is its limited guidance or steering capability. Directional drilling is a popular application because of the minimal damage to the surface areas of lawns and landscapes and the ability to drill underneath roads, streets, driveways, and other surface obstacles. In addition, the cost of surface restoration, compared to open-cut excavation, is eliminated with the directional drilling technique.

Compact utility equipment with attachments—either vibratory plows or special disc plows—is especially useful in house-drop situations. Vibratory plows can go six to twelve inches deep and are extremely cost-effective in running services of 70 to 100 feet to houses. Double-disc plow attachments are designed to minimize the impact to lawn sprinkler systems and can bury the cable about six to eight inches deep.

Yet another FTTH-installation technique involves the use of vacuum excavation systems. This type of equipment is advantageous for use in congested areas around other buried utilities because of the reduced likelihood to cut or damage other lines or cables.

FTTH construction projects are bid and awarded on the basis of cost per foot, the type of soil conditions involved, and costs per house passed, among other things. To learn more about the types of equipment and methods most frequently used in network loops and house drops and the cost-effectiveness of each type, you can download the full article.

By Christina Fisher—Construction, 6/9/2008

With 47,000 vehicles a day traveling down Warwick Boulevard, a number that is expected to grow to 54,000 a day by 2026, this major transportation artery in Newport News, Virginia, was in desperate need of widening from four lanes to six lanes. In order to complete the two-mile project as quickly as possible, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and officials from Newport News worked together to split construction into three phases.

Phase I — Intersection Improvements

Local contractor Basic Construction Co. started work on Phase I in February 2006. This phase of the project, which totaled $10.2 million, involved extensive improvements to the intersection of Warwick and J. Clyde Morris boulevards, an extremely busy intersection due to traffic from the Mariners Museum, the main entrance to Christopher Newport University and the local hospital.

Extensive improvements to this intersection included:

•      New dedicated right-turn lanes from every direction
•      Upgraded utilities
•      Widening the road to three lanes in each direction
•      New lighting
•      New Opticom emergency vehicle-sensitive traffic signals

"Because it was so heavily congested, it was imperative to get this intersection finished as quickly as possible," says Thomas Druhot, VDOT project manager. "We didn't want this intersection to be under construction for the duration of the entire project. We wanted to get everything completed in that area first, then we could concentrate on other areas."

Phase I was completed in October 2007 on time and on budget.

Phase II — Utility Relocation And Upgrades

In September 2006, Suburban Grading and Utilities Inc. began work on Phase II of the project. This phase incorporated storm water, sewer and water supply line relocations and upgrades on Warwick Blvd. from Nutmeg Quarter to Nettles Drive. At the request of the city, an additional $900,000 of work was added to this phase of the project to replace completely deteriorated portions of the sewer system.

Phase II, which came within its budget of $14.5 million, was completed almost six months ahead of schedule.

Phase III — Under Construction

Currently Virginia Beach, Virginia-based E.V. Williams, Inc. is five months into Phase III of the project, which includes additional underground utility work, widening Warwick Blvd. to three lanes in each direction, upgrades to traffic signals, pedestrian crosswalks, lighting and landscaping, and median and drainage improvements. E.V. Williams is at work installing storm drain, sanitary sewer, force main sanitary sewer, and a city of Newport News water line.

Throughout the entire Warwick Boulevard project, utility work has been a major challenge. "Part of the problem with the underground construction is all of the existing utilities," says Dennis Miller, vice president of Operations with E.V. Williams. "Even though they are abandoned we have to deal with them as if they are alive because nobody knows what's abandoned and what isn't under the road. We are continually moving electrical work to get in and around where we need to place other underground utilities.

"The most critical part of dealing with existing utilities is finding them in advance, determining if there is going to be conflict with the work you're doing, and giving everybody as much lead time as possible to resolve those conflicts," says Miller.

To help locate utility lines prior to excavation, E.V. Williams is using a Ditch Witch vacuum excavator for potholing utilities. High-pressure jets of water are directed at the ground through a 6-inch-diameter pipe. The water loosens the soil, and then a vacuum sucks up the dirt and water, creating a 6-inch-diameter hole that exposes the utilities. Because only water and air are involved, there is no damage to the utilities.

Traffic management has been another huge challenge. The team is trying to maintain two lanes of traffic in each direction throughout the project, often diverting traffic onto the road's former median.

Major work is scheduled between the hours of 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. There are significant restrictions during peak rush hours and only a short window between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to work during the day.

Once the utility relocations and upgrades are complete, preparing the road bed and grading will begin. Preconstruction test bores and the previous two phases of the project have revealed unsuitable material for the road bed.

"The peninsula is very flat, so it is subject to a lot of silt and blue marle clay, which is a terrible bearing surface," says Druhot. "Therefore the project was designed with geotextile fabric and in some places geogrid underneath the roadway. A typical response to unsuitable material on the job would be to undercut and backfill, but with the amount of utilities in this area undercutting is not a feasible option. The geogrid material will provide us a solution with a zero elevation differential."

Phase III, which has a budget of $17 million, is scheduled for completion in the winter of 2009-2010.

Editor's note: Additional material provided by the Virginia Department of Transportation.

"Vacuum excavation systems have been better known for their association with directional drilling," says Kevin Smith, Ditch Witch product manager. "But over time, customers have continued to find new opportunities to put them to work."

stopimg title="63a" style="padding-right: 20px;" align="left" alt="63a" src="/uploadedImages/Left_Nav/Press_Room/Job_Related_List/63astopimg4Smith says that today it is not uncommon to see vac systems used for everything from utility verification to grain elevators. "The market for these units continues to expand, and the list of applications where they can be used just gets longer and longer," he says.

Ditch Witch of Central California's Kevin Campbell would concur—to a point. While he acknowledges that "the possibilities are nearly endless" for vacuum excavation systems—he recalled one account of a Ditch Witch FX30 being used to clean and process carrots—he also says that the majority of his customers use these units for soft excavation tasks such as potholing and utility locating, road construction, and wastewater treatment.

"Municipalities probably experience the most application diversity with our vac systems," says Campbell. "They use them to not only expose utilities but also to repair and maintain their underground valve boxes and meters. Some of these meters are in alleys, and they used to have to be cleaned out by hand. With an FX30 or FX60, you can run a hose into the alley and clean them out faster and more effectively." Municipalities also use vac systems for removing leaves from storm systems, cleaning out street and building gutters, preparing roads for repaving, and keeping expenses manageable. "Before vac systems, municipalities only had these huge machines that require a team of skilled laborers to operate," Campbell explains. "With our machines, you can us general labor because they are simpler to operate, and they can go places the big machines can't."

California utility companies are choosing vac systems for a variety of reasons. PG&E San Francisco purchased several Ditch Witch FX60 1,200-gallon systems partially because the unit meets the noise-pollution requirements of the environmentally sensitive Bay Area. And the construction industry, a major driver of the state's economy, is finding new applications for vac systems, says Campbell. "When a company digs concrete footings for a new building, they leave a trench," he says. "If it rains, construction has to stop until the trench dries out. Instead of waiting, companies can now suck the water out with a vac system."

California's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory owns a Ditch Witch FX30. The top-secret research and development institution is responsible for ensuring that our nuclear weapons remain safe, secure, and reliable. So, for reasons of national security, we may never know everything that a vacuum excavation system can do.

Published in the Spring 2006 issue of The Underground.