PR-277-103700-R01 Guidelines for Preventing Underground Facility Damage as a Result of HDD

Despite the advances that have been made in the horizontal directional drilling (HDD) industry over the past 40 years, damage to existing underground facilities as a result of HDD operations remains a serious concern. HDD poses a unique risk of damage to underground facilities due to the fact that obstructions along the drilled path are seldom evident during construction. HDD operations also have the potential to cause damage even when a seemingly adequate separation distance is maintained between the drilled path and existing facilities. As a result of these issues, damage prevention practices in the HDD industry are becoming increasingly important as facility corridors become more congested. In order to effectively reduce the potential for facility damage resulting from HDD operations, it’s important for those involved in HDD design and construction to understand why facility damage can occur and how it can be prevented. The objective of this report is to present guidelines that will both reduce the potential for damage to existing facilities during HDD operations and improve the accuracy with which the location of completed HDD installations is documented.