Vacuum Excavation

To complement our utility mapping solutions, at Technics we also offer a vacuum excavation service. This technology provides a low impact, non-destructive solution for visual inspection of the exact positions of buried services.

How does vacuum excavation work?

Vacuum excavation is a safe technique used to expose the position of underground services with either jet air or water to loosen the soils. After the soil and any other materials are loosened, they are extracted through a high-power suction hose into the spoil/debris tank, which is later used for backfilling or disposal.

In line with the PAS 128 specification QL-A (quality level), vacuum excavation provides the ultimate verification process for exposing utilities to determine their type, depth, size and position. We can also accurately survey the utilities at the time of excavation to update survey or record drawings.

What are the benefits of Vacuum Excavation?

Using both EML (electromagnetic locators) and GPR (ground-penetrating radar) equipment along with vacuum excavation technology significantly reduces the need for manual handling and hand digging. Technics’ solution is therefore far more efficient, delivering results quickly while significantly reducing risks to site personnel.

  • Technics’ vacuum excavator service significantly reduces potential issues at the design stage for construction projects
  • This non-mechanical excavation solution can also be employed in areas inaccessible to traditional machinery.
  • Test holes can be as small as 20cm ², minimising the risk of excavation collapse
  • Backfilling the existing spoil from the Vacuum excavator tank is cost-effective and beneficial to the environment.

Why choose Technics?

At Technics we offer an extensive vacuum excavation service, which is what allows us to stand out from other providers in the industry.

We are one of three UK vacuum excavation contractors to have a smaller City Dino suction unit. Not only does a small unit have environmental benefits, it also allows us to work better in confined and congested environments, including tight, narrow streets, housing developments and paved areas. The rear tipping facility on our smaller vacuum excavation unit also provides greater manoeuvrability on site, easily allowing us to tip materials into 2 x 1 tonne bags or a skip.

With 11 years of excavation expertise carrying out projects – for companies such as Wood plc, Redrow and Lidl – our service also includes the following options as standard:

  • Handle the procurement of utility asset records require before any excavation (or we can carry out a utility mapping survey prior to excavations).
  • Manage the permit to dig process
  • Accurate surveying of exposed utilities following vacuum excavation.
  • Traffic management requirements
  • Accurately survey the exposed utilities
  • Reinstating materials (subject to approval) or managing the removal of the materials if required
  • Provide provision for detailed drawings of all detected and exposed utilities using multiple technologies

Contact us

To discuss your project with our team, please contact our Wakefield office on 01302 330 105 or email wakefield@technicsgroup.com