Query on underground utility pipe (or cable) (Ed.)

[Magpie@1319]

Hi
I m wondering if anyone knows what this pipe is .

After digging a hole for a fence post I come across this it's 3ft down and it's in the middle of my garden around 20m from my property .

It's a dark grey pipe around 5inch circular and has a fin on the top with a bizarre white trim on top .After the moulds on the top both sides taper down to 3 inches .

There's nothing on the deeds showing any facility pipes although the estate was flattened 30 years ago so it may be old and redundant!

Sorry if pictures aren't the best as I was wary of digging any further.

Any suggestions welcome many thanks

 

[RandomGrinch]

Looks to me as if it's a high voltage cable joint - something like..

Good thing you didn't dig through it, that looks a pretty hefty cable!

 

[Magpie@1319]

I have considered this but the white trim on the top seems so out of place ....Thanks for the advice it's much appreciated

 

[JohnD]

There is a colour code for underground cables and ducts.

Light grey is telecommunications (probably BT)

If might have faded with age

Electricity is black (except high voltage which is red)

The other common colours found round houses are yellow for gas and blue for potable water. Drains terracotta brown.

There are other colours found under roads and industrial sites.

If it is very old it might not be to code.

Does it seem to be plastic?

 

[JohnD]

You could phone BT and say you are worried about damaging it, they might come and have a look, or check their "as-dug" plans against geolocation.

Tell them it is grey duct.

 

[Magpie@1319]

Hi Thanks for the reply .

The pipe is a plastic/Latex material (Rubbery if you catch the outside edge.

I think for safety I will fill the hole back up rather than investigate any further ,incase it contains the high voltage cables as suggested yesterday

 

[JohnD]

BT Openreach are the best people to ask. It will cost you nothing, and it is probably their colour. If you get a site visit they can probably tell you if it has live cables inside, and an experienced person should be able to eyeball it and say what it is (was) for.

Utility companies are very used to queries about buried cables. It saves them the trouble of an expensive and disruptive repair.

If you suspect it contains live cables, you would do better to find out.

 

[Magpie@1319]

Thanks John I will give them a call and I will reply with the outcome ..Many thanks

 

[noseall]

You could phone BT and say you are worried about damaging it, they might come and have a look, or check their "as-dug" plans against geolocation.

Tell them it is grey duct.

Hi Thanks for the reply .

The pipe is a plastic/Latex material (Rubbery if you catch the outside edge.

I think for safety I will fill the hole back up rather than investigate any further ,incase it contains the high voltage cables as suggested yesterday

That bulky affair in the image, is a resin repair sleeve. The cable is repaired. It is then surrounded by a plastic casing (with dedicated pour hole) and resin is mixed in bags and poured into the hole. You'll often see two or three blokes with a bag each in their hand 'massaging' the resin mix ready to pour.

 

[Magpie@1319]

Thanks for the reply