Can You Dig It? A Guide to Vacuum Excavation
Vacuum excavation is not new. It has gotten used for hundreds of years and is still a great option today. Since the construction field may grow as much as 6 percent by 2030, it is crucial to know how to keep employees safe!
With so many utility lines hit each year, using a ground penetrating radar alongside vacuum excavation can be the safe choice for contractors. It is also the most efficient practice. Keep on reading to learn more about vacuum excavation and how it works.
What Is Vacuum Excavation?
Vacuum excavation uses water instead of air to break through the soil. The vacuum attached is used to suck the dirt out.
Many companies use this type of vacuum excavation to dig fast. If they had to do this with shovels and manual labor, it could take days or weeks to get the same job done.
How Does Vacuum Excavation Work?
Vacuum excavation uses a strong jet of water that pierces the soil at a high rate of speed. It breaks the ground into small pieces. An industrial-sized vacuum then removes the waste.
The vacuum transfers the soil into the vacuum excavation truck. That waste can get moved to another job site or disposal plant. Storing the sludge in the truck’s tank keeps the soil from going back into the hole that gets dug.
The vacuum excavation process is also safe for digging up utility lines. It can locate them without putting undue stress on the lines. An operator will perform the process from a distance and maintain safety the entire time.
Vacuum Excavator Truck
The vacuum excavation method has a lot to do with the truck involved in the job. The vacuum excavator truck allows for precision digging. It saves time and labor, which makes the job less expensive for everyone involved.
Vacuum excavation trucks can find the exact depths of utility cables. They can also locate them with accuracy instead of looking in many spots.
These trucks have compressed air inside that helps the water have a strong force. That combination allows them to get more output than other excavation methods.
Vacuum Excavation Facts
Before no-dig vacuum excavation gets used, the area has to get prepared. The vacuum excavator truck will need to park as close to the digging site as possible.
With this method of digging, no metal parts touch the utility cables. That keeps down the risk of damaging the utilities and the workers.
The waste that gets removed can also get reused to fill the hole. It saves more manual labor time by using the truck to push the sludge back out. There is no need for workers to fill the hole themselves.
Vacuum excavation leaves less of an environmental footprint. Since it disturbs only the soil necessary for the job, the nearby areas remain untouched.
No Dig Vacuum Excavation Technology
Vacuum excavation uses technology to remove the common dangerous risks of digging. It can save businesses tons of money because it requires fewer working hours to get the job done.
Although excavation is not new, the process continues to grow with efficiency. With different truck sizes available, vacuum excavation is superior for non-destructive digging. You can find more content on emerging water technology on our website!
