BRIEF

Policy Summary

Berkeley Lab policy requires a permit to penetrate ground or existing surfaces (a dig permit) for all work requiring excavation, drilling, or driving of stakes or poles into the ground. A permit is also required to penetrate all existing concrete surfaces such as floor slabs, walls, beams, or columns.

A dig permit defines necessary steps for the safe penetration of ground, walls, or other existing surfaces on Berkeley Lab properties and addresses institutional requirements that must be completed before beginning any penetration work on any surfaces at Berkeley Lab.

Dig permits are issued by LBNL Facilities Utilities Coordinator or Utilities Section Manager the Berkeley Lab Utilities Engineer. Subcontractors may obtain a permit through the project manager.

Who Should Read This Policy

All subcontractors, Berkeley Lab employees, or affiliates who intend to penetrate any concrete or soil surface.

For More Details, Go To:

The POLICY tab on this wiki page

Contact Information

Utilities Coordinator
Facilities Division

Permit Requests

POLICY

A. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to summarize the requirements for a dig permit for anyone intending to penetrate the ground, walls, floors, beams, columns, or other existing surfaces at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). The permit defines the necessary steps for the safe penetration of ground or existing surfaces and addresses institutional requirements that must be completed before beginning any penetration work.

B. Persons Affected

All subcontractors, Berkeley Lab employees, or affiliates intending to penetrate concrete or soil surfaces.

C. Exceptions

• No dig permit is required for staking in soil no deeper than 6 inches using wood stakes.
• No dig permit is required for gypsum board (sheetrock) wall penetrations provided that the area has been swept for active and passive electrical current by the Berkeley Lab Utility Coordinator or designee. Both sides of the wall require visual inspection for evidence of repairs, and the wall cavity must be visually inspected for hidden objects. The wall cavity must be inspected by cutting a square opening (not more than a 10-inch square and not more than ¾ inch deep) and visually inspecting within the surface penetration area for any hidden objects. Multiple openings may be made for complete inspection of the wall cavity if needed.
• No dig permit is required for cutting asphalt berms provided the cut is less than 1⅝ inches into the underlying asphalt pavement.
• No dig permit is required for drilling into shielding blocks, however scanning of shielding blocks is required to avoid rebar.

D. Policy Statement

Before penetrating any surface at Berkeley Lab (ground, walls, floors, beams, columns, etc.), a dig permit must be requested and obtained. No work that requires a permit may begin until the permit is approved by LBNL Utilities Coordinator and Facilities Engineering Department and posted at the job site.

E. Procedure

1. Subcontractor, or any other person, must request a dig permit at least ten (10) working days before beginning work to allow time for review and issuance of permit.
2. Subcontractor must adhere to the conditions of the permit during work. The permit and all conditions in it are to be considered part of the work procedure and must be included in the subcontractor's bid package.
3. In areas where a dig permit is not required, the subcontractor must verify by safe means, prior to drilling, that no utilities or services are within the area to be drilled.
4. A dig permit is required for all concrete surface penetration work regardless of depth (walls, floors, and ground—including asphalt paving, etc.). For other types of penetrations, this permit is required if the penetration depth is greater than 1⅝ inches.
5. A dig permit will not be issued if the area cannot be scanned or reliable data on utilities location cannot be obtained.
6. The permit is valid for 45 calendar days from the time of issuance. One 45-day extension may be requested.

F. Roles and Responsibilities

G. Definitions/Acronyms

H. Recordkeeping Requirements

Issuance of a dig permit to penetrate ground or existing surfaces of Berkeley Lab property

I. Implementing Documents

J. Contact Information

Utilities Coordinator
Facilities Division

Permit Requests

K. Revision History

DOCUMENT INFORMATION

Source Requirements Documents

• DOE Order 430.1C, Change 2, Real Property Asset Management

Other Driving Requirements

• ES&H Core Policy, 07.01.001.000

Implementing Documents