Page 41 - CCGA Best Practices Version English

repair or abandonment of facilities and delays in posting new records. Failure
to note errors or omissions when found could result in damages to the facility
at a later date. Additionally, 3.1, Use of Records must be considered in
conjunction with this Best Practice.

3-3: Colour Code

Practice Statement: Buried utilities should be marked using the APWA
Uniform Colour Code.
Practice Description: The uniform colour code developed by the American
Public Works Association (APWA) for marking buried utilities is used and
understood by contractors, locators and utility owners throughout the North
American Continent. These colours are endorsed by the Canadian Standards
Association in CSA S250-11 and specified by Ontario's Electrical Safety
Authority (ESA) and should be used to mark all buried utilities.

These colours are related to specific types of underground facilities as
follows:

Colour Type of Facility/Indicator

Red - Electric power lines, cables, conduits
and lighting cables
Yellow - Gas, oil, steam, petroleum
or gaseous materials
Orange - Communication, alarm or signal lines,
cables or conduit

Blue - Potable Water

Green - Sewers and drain lines

Pink - Temporary survey markings
Purple - Reclaimed water, irrigation
and slurry lines

White - Proposed excavation

3-4: Locating Multiple Facilities

Practice Statement: A single, qualified locator used for multiple facilities.
Practice Description: It should be noted that this best practice does
not suggest that all facilities be located by a single locator, but rather that
conditions may exist in which locating multiple facilities with a single locator
may reduce the likelihood of errors and resulting damage (e.g., multiple
facilities with the same owner or multiple facilities that are marked with the
same or similar colour codes).

Canadian Common Ground Alliance
Best Practices Version 3.0 – October 2018
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