Are you a telecomms designer/contractor looking for utility searches?
As a telecomms designer or contractor, utility searches are essential to cover your safe dig Health and Safety obligations.
Understanding what lies beneath the ground on their project can also give designers insight into the constraints imposed by existing underground utilities – they can have major influences on the design and layout of their masts and fibre deployments.
Not all telecomms designers and contractors are geared up to administrate the plans internally so they call upon Cornerstone to take care of this.
Outsourcing can improve cost efficiencies, speed up the completion of utility reports, improve the quality of your searches and free your staff up to focus on higher value jobs.
How Cornerstone can help
- Cornerstone supply a basic search that will cover the requirements of the Health and Safety Executive.
- We can also supply a full cable search if required in city/urban areas.
- Basic searches are generally returned within 1-5 working days and cable searches within 7-10 working days.
- Completed searches are presented in a simple to read and accessible .pdf format.
- No obligation quotes are available instantly on-line and confirmed back via email within 20 minutes.
- We can also provide a CAD drawing service to enable the utilities to be added to other CAD reports and providing an overview of the site showing all the utilities present.
- We can now also produce a smart.PDF from the CAD drawing that enables you to see an overview in .pdf and turn different utility layers on and off.
What does a basic search cover?
- Our basic search covers the main utilities, however, you can opt to remove services if you already have plans.
- Cable and Independent Utilities options are available if required.
- Our standard search covers up to 200m around a point.
- We cover projects of any size.
Why use Cornerstone?
- Speed is of the essence to ensure there are NO delays to your projects.
- The way we process our searches, there will be no one quicker than us.
- Some basic searches will be back within 1 working day, with a UK average of 3 working days.
- We provide the fastest search possible and will not entice you with promises of more expensive, faster searches when they are simply NOT achievable.
- We offer an additional “Instant Access plans” service where we will share individual plans as they come in.
- With a cable search (that tends to take longer), for a small fee of £5+VAT, you can order an ‘interim pack’ containing the main utilities once they have been received.
- For high volume users, we even offer a GIS mapping library for managing and posting searches to improve access for your employees when in the field.
Easy to use
The key to the success is the speed and efficiency of reporting and making sure that the right information is given to the right person in the correct format.
- Our online ordering system allows quotes and orders to be processed within minutes
- The system is secure and has fail-safe checks to ensure the right search location is covered.
Costs
We understand that keeping costs to a minimum is extremely important.
- Our fees start at £58.00+Vat plus disbursements.
- All disbursements are charged at cost (we are transparent in our pricing and only make our margin from our fees).
- We do also offer volume discounts.
- For statutory undertakers (or those working on their behalf), we may be able to request plans for free with the appropriate letters of authority.
- Comparing the cost of outsourcing to us vs. the resource required in-house may surprise you!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are utility searches for telecomms designers/contractors?
A utility search for telecomms designers and contractors is a process to identify the location of underground utilities, such as gas, water, electric, and telecommunication cables, within a specific project area. This information is crucial for planning and executing telecommunication infrastructure projects safely and efficiently.
Why are utility searches important for telecomms designers/contractors?
Utility searches are paramount for telecomms designers and contractors for several reasons:
- Safety: Hitting an underground utility can cause significant damage, injuries, and even fatalities. A utility search helps to identify potential hazards and implement safety measures accordingly.
- Efficiency: Knowing the location of existing utilities allows designers to plan the optimal route for new telecommunication cables, avoiding conflicts and minimising disruption.
- Cost-effectiveness: By avoiding damage to existing utilities, telecoms contractors can prevent costly repairs and delays.
- Compliance: Many regulatory bodies require utility searches before starting any excavation work. Adhering to these regulations is essential for legal compliance.
In what situations would telecomms designers/contractors require utility searches?
Telecomms designers and contractors would require utility searches in the following situations:
- New network installations: When deploying new fiber optic cables or other telecommunication infrastructure.
- Network upgrades: When expanding or improving existing networks.
- Fault repairs: When locating and repairing damaged cables.
- Site surveys: When planning new telecommunication towers or base stations.
- Wayleave applications: When seeking permission to install equipment on private or public land.
By conducting thorough utility searches, telecomms designers and contractors can mitigate risks, optimise project planning, and ensure the successful delivery of telecommunication services.