What Do the Utility Marking Colors Mean?

Markings like these are everywhere, especially around new construction. What do these flags and spray-painted markings mean?

If you are wondering the answer to these questions, then you’re in the right place. Construction crews nationwide mark the ground to represent underground infrastructure like water lines, sewer and drain lines, and gas, and electric lines. Each one of these variations of subsurface infrastructure is represented by a different colored marking. 

Appropriate colors should be used to mark utilities when possible. The 811 One Call hotline system in each state has implemented specific color codes for marking all utility locates nationwide. Calling before you dig is the law, and if these markings are on public property you plan to dig on, then you’ve made a wise decision to look up what each color marking means. While calling your local hotline affiliate is the law, 811 One Call’s locating is limited to mapping out public utility lines, not private.

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At GPRS, we perform subsurface utility locating using ground penetrating radar (GPR) technology, Video (CCTV) Pipe Inspection, and concrete imaging/scanning, providing peace of mind through confirming the location of public utilities, as well as locating lines on private property.

Underground utility lines can lie at different depths depending on where you are in the U.S. with a variation that ranges from 2 to 3 feet deep, or more. This is important to know because when you call before you dig you should not expect to have the depth of utility’s located to be provided.  

At GPRS however, we use multiple forms of technology including Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Electromagnetic (EM) Utility Locators, adhering to the industry’s leading utility locating practice, and Subsurface Investigative Methodology (SIM), to pinpoint underground utilities accurately, while also providing depths of utility’s located, where applicable.

Once your lines are located before digging or breaking ground, and accurately mapped for both private and public utilities on site, you will see utility markings with color-coded flags and or spray-painted lines and abbreviations that are used to mark the location of utilities. The lines signify not only the perimeter of an area under inspection, but also the direct location of the underground utility lines on site. It is up to you to respect local and national regulation regarding distance that must be maintained from utility markings when digging or construction occurs. By knowing the assigned colors, you can be proactive and aware of the types of utilities buried below, ensuring that lines and pipes remain undamaged.  Call before you dig guidelines shares national recognized color codes for differing underground utilities as created and mandated by the American Public Works Association (APWA):

What is the APWA?

The American Public Works Association, (APWA) is the voice for public works, and also for the private sectors who provide products and services to those in public works. The APWA is a useful resource for many, and they put into place the national guidelines for color marking when performing utility locating on private or public property. 

The APWA’s “Uniform Temporary Marking of Underground Facilities” recommends the specific color code that should be used to mark the location of underground facilities, temporary survey markings, and intended excavation sites. When a utility company marks a location, they are advised to include a color code that consists of White, Pink, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, and Purple color markings of both flags and spray paint to represent what each of lines located represent. 

At GPRS, our nationwide network of Project Mangers follows the APWA’s standard to ensure our partners in safety know what they are looking at when observing our markings and our utility mapping data is stored within SiteMap^® to help keep private and public workers safe. To answer any questions, you may have about what each utility color marking represents, you can review the FAQ below:

GPRS follows these nationwide guidelines so that we keep your job site on budget, on time, and safe, protecting you from the dangers of subsurface utility strikes. To learn more about how you can better protect yourself and your job site from the dangers of utility strikes, through the use of an accurate private utility locating company near you, click here: https://www.gp-radar.com/services/utility-locating-services

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