BSI brings industry together to develop pioneering standard for Subsurface Utility Engineering.

It is well recognised within the construction industry that existing underground utilities and their related structures pose considerable risks to new projects and hinder the development of new activity.

Last month the British Standards Institution (BSI) brought together a number of influential decision makers from the built-environment sector to determine the requirement for a new standard for collecting and depicting existing underground utility data. This workshop took place on January 4th at BSI's group headquarters in Chiswick.

The interest in BSI's workshop demonstrates the significant role of underground utility mapping. It also indicates that the industry still suffers from a lack of clarity and a consistency of approach. It is apparent that clients have an ongoing need for assurance with respect to reliability of data and consistent services levels.

The detection and mapping of underground utilities is a rapidly growing industry. It has evolved over the last 30 years from almost a 'cottage industry' with only a few companies to an extensive network of providers collectively turning over around £30 million a year in survey fees.

As the construction industry faces ever more complicated and congested utility networks, extensive Brownfield redevelopment, increased legislation, tighter budgets and timescales, it is easy to see why any potential project needs accurate underground utility survey data.

The workshop identified an industry need for a standard on Sub Surface Engineering (SUE) within the UK. Since the market is largely unregulated, the development of a best practice standard would help increase market confidence regarding not just the definition and delivery of the SUE process but also the further professionalization of the industry.

BSI is currently consulting industry on the best route to develop such a standard or standards and it is hoped and anticipated that standardization work will start in the coming months.

The scope of the standard is yet to be determined and is likely to be developed through an initial launch workshop with all sponsors and key stakeholders in attendance.

If you are interested in being involved or informed of future developments, please contact Jonathan Moyce at BSI: Jonathan.moyce@bsigroup.com