Standards and qualifications
What Whitech is accredited to do, the standard the work is measured against, and how the reliability of every element is stated.
CertLoc accreditation
Whitech Utility Locates is a CertLoc accredited locating company.
AS 5488-2013 Subsurface Utility Information
AS 5488 is the Australian Standard that classifies how well a buried service is actually known. Our vacuum excavation work is carried out to confirm and identify underground assets in compliance with AS 5488-2013 Quality Level A, and we attribute quality levels element by element rather than making one blanket claim across a job.
AS 5488 quality levels.
The standard gives a common language for how well a buried service is actually known. We attribute a level element by element, so a designer can see which alignments were proven and which were located from the surface.
| Quality level | Detailed description | Typical Whitech work |
|---|---|---|
| QL-A | Exposed and verifiedThe service is physically exposed, positively identified and directly measured in three dimensions. This gives the highest confidence in its position at the point of exposure. A pothole does not make the entire length of the service QL-A; the sections between exposed points need their own classification. | Vacuum excavating a potential clash, recording the service type, size and measured position, then surveying the exposed point. |
| QL-B | Detected and tracedThe service is detected from the surface using suitable methods, such as electromagnetic locating (EML) or GPR. Its traced alignment and depth are recorded and surveyed in three dimensions. The service has not been physically exposed, so its identity, depth and position remain subject to the limits of the detection method and site conditions. | Reviewing BYDA plans, tracing with EML and GPR, marking the alignment and completing survey pickup. |
| QL-C | Correlated with surface featuresThe service’s approximate underground alignment is interpreted by comparing records with visible features on site, such as pits, valves, meters or manholes. The route between those features is inferred rather than traced or exposed. | Surveying visible pits and interpreting a likely pipe route from the asset plans and site layout. |
| QL-D | Records-based informationThe service is shown using existing plans, records or other available information without field verification of its underground position. It provides an indication that a service may be present, but its alignment and depth should not be treated as confirmed. | Plotting a service from BYDA or historical plans before field locating begins. |
Before excavation starts, know what’s below.
Underground service locating, GPR scanning, physical verification, survey pickup and detailed reporting across Western Australia.