What is the significance of using detectable warning tapes in underground development?
Advantages of using underground warning tapes
Pipeline infrastructure is essential to the functioning of our country. People don’t know how often they use items that are transported to them through pipelines. Most of them carry oil and natural gas. which is essential for anyone today. In addition, they are used for heating and cooling and as a heat source for stoves, ovens, and dryers.
They also help in the operation. power of the machines used to produce daily household products. Piping is the most convenient and economical way to transfer liquids such as petroleum, petroleum products, natural gas, water, etc. Pipelines can also transport solids after being converted to sludge.
Pipeline transport is a new phenomenon in many countries around the world. Since their introduction, they have eased the increasing pressure on the existing surface transportation system. In last pipelines are become cost effective.
How can pipelines be protected from unforeseen accidental damages?
The damage to the piping causes problems for the company that operates the pipeline and the workers who caused the damage to the pipeline. When pipelines with flammable substances or electrical cables are damaged, they end up exploding, injuring all workers around the pipe pipeline. Installing underground warning tapes on these lines has proven to prevent such damage and resulting accidents effectively.
What are underground warning tapes?
Underground warning tapes are pipe marking materials applied to cables, pipelines, conduits, sewers, and of course, buried or underground pipelines. These warning tapes are often fluorescent in color and have large, bold warning text.
There are two types of warning tapes used in pipelines:
- Detectable Warning Tape
- Undetectable Warning Tape
The point of application of these two types is defined by the nature of the pipeline they will indicate, marked with detectable tape.
How can underground warning tapes secure the pipelines from getting damaged?
The protection of underground belts is given to the pipes when they have been buried. Buried safety tapes do not increase the resistance to tearing or puncturing the pipes but rather serve as a warning sign for construction workers not to dig further.
The Detectable Warning Tapes are buried a few meters above the underground pipes to stop the excavator at the right time, informing it of the risk that the worker would run if he continued to dig. It is commonly believed that underground warning strips perform a vital function in the construction industry.
How do detectable and non-detectable warning tapes tag along?
All pipes with metallic properties can be easily identified by running an industrial-grade metal detector over the area where they were buried. This is due to the metal detector’s ability to identify the presence of metal in underground pipes.
Underground Warning Tapes, especially the detectable ones, are used because warning or barricade tape manufacturers include wire mesh or wire in these warning tapes to make them detectable by metal detectors. The presence of metal distinguishes the detectable warning tape from the undetectable warning tape.
Detectable warning tapes are used on pipelines that any metal detector cannot detect. The presence of metal in these tapes helps the operator detect lines that do not contain any metal. Undetectable is for guidance only as they are used on those pipelines, the location of which can already be detected by any metal detector.
These detectable warning tapes serve as safety flooring for many places such as sidewalks, stairwells, subway tracks, and marinas. These are constructed with high-quality materials and can withstand high foot traffic.
Detectable Warning Tapes:
These tapes are easy to detect by the human eye and are UV stable. Detectable warning mats are made with a compound of urethane, which is the same material used for car bumper systems. The raw material is molded into a durable carpet in a pattern that warns visually impaired people of the danger ahead.
This platform is easily detected on foot or with a cane. It can easily withstand heavy foot traffic, people walking on the surface, or crossing adjacent vehicular lanes without a curb, wall, or guardrail. In addition, the mat visually warns people with disabilities of their movement from a safe area to a potentially dangerous area.
Available in various colors and sizes, the detectable traffic tape is a visual contrast for pedestrian surfaces. In addition, datable marker mats are non-slip. Ice and humidity is not effect this warning tapes.
Conclusion
A significant disadvantage of pipelines transporting materials is that the pipelines are susceptible to damage from external forces such as excavators. Pipelines damage are less. Professionals in the profession have found that in most cases, this damage is unintentional. This is why warning tapes are crucial for underground pipeline systems.
