Vacuum Excavation
Underground utility infrastructures are becoming more and more congested and complicated as they compete for
limited space to accommodate ever increasing demands. Consequently, safety as well as financial
concerns have also increased as exact vertical and horizontal locations of utilties are being demanded for design and construction.
Using non-destructive water or air vacuum technology, Subtronic can quickly, safely and economically excavate in areas
inaccessible to conventional digging equipment - even in sensitive areas such as around high pressure gas, high volatge electric
and pretroleum refineries.
A vacuum excavator works by using either high pressure air or water to break up the soil. A
powerful vacuum removes the loosened soil and transports it to a holding tank where it is stored until it is used for backfill
or hauled away for disposal. The excavator can create small holes (8"-10") in diameter to positively identify the location
of existing utilities or dig "slot trenches" to what ever length is necessary in heavily conjested areas. Most utilites are
located within 4-5 feet of ground surface and can be safely exposed within 10-15 minutes depending on soil conditions. While
this is true for many utilties, Subtronic's vacuum excavation rigs have the ability to dig holes to over 20'deep to find
even the most difficult utilities.
Advantages of Vacuum Excavation over Hand Digging
- Vacuum excavation is much faster than hand digging.
- Even with hand tools it’s easy to damage a buried utility and, of course, backhoes are
notorious for causing utility accidents.
- If the utility being located is under a street surface the 1ft x 1ft pothole created by a
vacuum excavator is much faster and easier to patch than the much larger hole left by hand digging or a backhoe.
Applications of Vacuum Excavation:
- Exposing underground utilities
- Excavation in sites to small for excavators or backhoes
- "Slot trenching" in areas with many utilities
- Environmental monitoring well installations
- Installing cathodic protection
- Street sign installations
- Footing excavations
- Fence or barricade installations
