Virginia Specifications & Guidelines

812.02 (c) ITS Conduit, Materials, Utility RFID Marker Ball and Pegs

"Utility ball markers shall conform to APWA uniform color coding for marking underground utility lines and industry standard frequency for detection. Communications (orange) 101.4 kHz marker balls shall be able to be detected at a depth of 5 feet below grade and shall be between 4 to 4.5 inches in diameter. Peg markers shall be detectable at a depth of 2 feet below grade and 3 to 4 inches in length. Marker balls and pegs shall have a passive antenna circuit and; therefore, not need an internal power source to be functional. Markers and pegs shall be a polyethylene, weather resistant enclosure, or an Engineer approved equivalent. The Contractor shall preprogram markers and pegs, and the Department will verify the contents for detection capability at least 30 days prior to the installation."

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812.02 (c) ITS Conduit, Procedures, RFID Marker Ball/Peg Installation Requirements

"Locator tape shall be installed 6 to 8 inches below finished grade. The Contractor shall furnish and install non-detectable underground locator tape with the wording 'WARNING – Fiber Optic Cable.'

RFID markers balls shall be placed in open trench operations below the locator tape, 12 inches below finished grade. RFID marker pegs shall be placed in pilot holes 18” below finished grade and above conduits that are installed by directional boring operations.

The Contractor shall use orange colored RFID markers to designate communication and telephone installations for ITS or fiber conduits.

RFID marker balls shall be placed every 100 feet in instances where minimum utility conflict is involved and where route deviation is minimal.

Standard placement of RFID marker balls is at 25 foot increments for open trench operations. RFID near surface markers are to be installed in pilot holes above the conduits at 20 foot increments or at every other rod length with directional boring applications. In areas where conduit routing significantly changes and where higher utility conflicts are potentially involved (such as at traffic intersections and interchanges), marker balls shall be placed every 25 feet unless otherwise directed by the Engineer.

RFID marker balls shall be placed at every change in direction of the conduit/cable and with 5 foot offsets to boxes and vaults. RFID near surface marker pegs may be substituted for RFID marker balls when permitted by the Engineer

The Contractor shall install a minimum of two marker balls per each utility trench.

The Contractor shall program the following data on the RFIDs: unique 10-digit serial number, utility owner designation, item description, item details, placement depth below grade, placement date, orientation, elevation, and information about item (for example, a pipe or cable lies below).

The data will be input into a standardized format as shown [SEE SPEC]

Similar technology may be used in lieu of marker balls or pegs only when preapproved by the Engineer."

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