Site Disclaimer

What Utility Locating Can and Cannot Detect

Electromagnetic (EM) locating is a proven and widely used method for finding conductive underground utilities — electric lines, gas pipes, water mains, and metal-jacketed communication cables. However, the results of any locate depend on site conditions that vary from job to job:

• Signal quality: EM locating requires a conductive path. Lines with no active signal, damaged tracer wire, corroded connections, or non-metallic construction (PVC, HDPE, clay, concrete) may be difficult or impossible to locate with EM equipment alone.
• Soil and interference: Soil type, moisture content, underground congestion, nearby metal structures, and electromagnetic interference can all affect the clarity of a signal and the confidence level of a locate.
• Documentation gaps: Private utilities are frequently undocumented, moved, or abandoned without record. A locate reflects what the equipment detects under conditions present at the time of service — not a guaranteed inventory of everything underground.
• Depth accuracy: Depth readings are estimates based on signal behavior and are subject to variation. They should be treated as guidance, not exact measurements.

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) can detect non-metallic objects and features that EM cannot find, but GPR also has limitations. Depth of penetration, object size, soil conditions, and signal attenuation all affect what GPR can reliably identify.

When conditions limit what we can confirm, we say so. Areas of unclear signal are flagged, and hand-dig verification is recommended before any mechanized excavation in those zones.

Safe Digging Is a Shared Process

Professional utility locating is one important layer of a safe excavation — not the only layer. The full process includes:

1. Call 811 before any dig. 811 marks public utility lines at no cost. This is required by law and must be done regardless of whether private locating is also performed.
2. Arrange private utility locating for any utilities on private property beyond the public meter — the lines that 811 does not mark.
3. Treat all marks as guides. Ohio's underground utility protection law requires hand digging (potholing) within the tolerance zone before mechanized excavation, and Common Ground Alliance Best Practices recommend the same. Marks indicate approximate location; the actual utility may be slightly offset due to natural settling, previous disturbances, or signal variation.
4. Follow safe excavation practices at all times, including OSHA requirements for protective systems and the applicable state and local excavation regulations.

No utility locating service — private or public — eliminates the responsibility to excavate carefully. Locating reduces risk by providing better information; it does not eliminate the need for careful digging.

Limitation of Liability

Finder Utility Locating's total liability arising out of or related to any locate service is limited to the amount paid by the client for that specific service. Finder Utility Locating is not liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages, including lost profits, project delays, service interruption costs, or business interruption, regardless of the legal theory asserted, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

For Client Use Only

Locate services and any resulting markings or documentation are provided solely for the use of the client who ordered the service, for the specific project and site conditions existing on the date of service. Markings are temporary and degrade over time. No third party may rely on any locate performed by Finder Utility Locating. Any party planning excavation should arrange its own current locate.

Accuracy of Information on This Website

We make reasonable efforts to keep the information on this website accurate and current. However, it is provided for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute professional engineering advice, legal advice, or a substitute for site-specific evaluation.

Industry standards, regulations, and best practices change over time. Always consult current applicable standards and a qualified professional for guidance specific to your project.

Questions

If you have questions about the scope or limitations of a specific locate, contact us directly. Straightforward communication about what we found and what steps to take next is part of how Finder operates.

Phone: 440-487-8819
Email: mike@finderlocating.com