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Data center underground utilities
Duct Bank, Vault & Utility Locate Safety
Every megawatt and every fiber strand on a data center campus runs through a duct bank. AAAT3 manages 811 tickets, private locates, potholing, confined space entry and duct bank quality so you never cut a line or dig up a bad pour.
- 811 & private locates
- Potholing & vac trucks
- Duct bank QC
- Vault & manhole entry
- As-built records
By the numbers
What a utility strike costs
Underground utility damages reported in 2025, a record high
CGA DIRT Report, 2026Yearly societal cost of utility damages in the U.S.
CGA via Underground Infrastructure, 2026Not calling 811 was the top root cause of damages
CGA DIRT Report, 2026Share of damages from the top 10 root causes, most of them preventable
CGA DIRT Report, 2026What’s included
Underground work, verified before and after
Know what is in the ground before you dig, and prove what you put in the ground before you cover it.
811 and private locates
Public 811 locates stop at the property line meter. Private utilities on campus need their own locate.
- 811 ticket log and renewals
- Private locator scope and checks
- Mark verification before digging
- Tolerance zone hand digging rules
Potholing and conflicts
Crossings and tight corridors need exposed, verified utilities.
- Potholing plan at every crossing
- Vacuum excavation oversight
- Conflict log with owners and fixes
- Depth and position recorded
Duct bank, vault and manhole QC
Mistakes in a duct bank cost weeks to dig up and redo.
- Conduit spacing, slope and spacers
- Concrete and rebar inspections
- Mandrel and pull rope checks
- Confined space entry for vaults and manholes
Project management and consulting
Project management and consulting for underground utilities
AAAT3 can manage utility locates for the whole campus, oversee duct bank crews or run QC for the underground package.
Utility locate management
We run 811 tickets, private locates, potholing and the conflict log for the whole site.
Best for: Campuses with crowded or unknown utilitiesDuct bank QC (USACE CQM)
Three phase inspections, mandrel tests and as-built verification.
Best for: Federal and hyperscale jobs with strict specsUnderground package oversight
Daily oversight of duct bank, conduit and vault contractors.
Best for: GCs with several underground tradesConfined space program
Permit-required confined space program for vaults and manholes.
Best for: Sites with electrical and fiber vaultsUtility owner coordination
Coordination with power, gas, water and telecom owners for crossings and outages.
Best for: Sites tying into public utilitiesDamage investigation
Root cause and claim support after a utility strike.
Best for: Any site after a strikeHow it works
From ticket to as-built
Ticket
811 called and private locates ordered.
Verify
Marks checked against drawings.
Pothole
Crossings exposed and recorded.
Install
Duct bank and vault work inspected.
Test
Mandrel and pull checks done.
As-built
Locations surveyed and turned over.
Rule of thumb: never dig on old marks. If the ticket expired or the marks are gone, stop and call again.
Ways to work with us
Pick the level of support you need
Start small with a review, put a qualified person on site, or hand us the whole program. Every option is priced to your scope.
Quick start
Utility risk review
A review of your locate process, drawings and conflicts.
- Ticket and drawing review
- Conflict list
- Fixes before digging
- Report in days
Most popular
On-site locate and QC
A qualified AAAT3 lead running locates and duct bank checks.
- Ticket and mark checks
- Potholing oversight
- Duct bank inspections
- Daily reports
Full program
Underground package management
We manage locates, QC and oversight for all underground work.
- Locate management
- QC and testing
- Sub oversight
- Owner reporting
What you get
Deliverables
Locate log
Tickets, marks and renewals in one place.
Conflict log
Every crossing and conflict with a fix.
Pothole records
Depth, position and photos for each crossing.
Duct bank QC records
Inspection, test and mandrel results.
Confined space permits
Entry permits and air test records.
As-built package
Surveyed locations ready for turnover.
Standards
Codes and standards we work to
Utilities
3- CGA Best Practices
Damage prevention and 811Industry
- 29 CFR 1926.651(b)
Locating underground installationsFederal
- NFPA 70 (NEC)
Underground installation requirementsIndustry
Confined space and federal
3- 29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA
Confined spaces in constructionFederal
- USACE CQM
Construction quality managementFederal
- EM 385-1-1
USACE safety and health requirementsFederal
Related data center services
Every phase of the build, one partner
Where we do this work
Digging on a crowded campus? Get your locates and crossings verified before the first bucket.
Get a Utility Locate QuoteFAQ
Common questions
Does 811 locate everything?
No. 811 locates public utilities up to the meter or service point. Private utilities on a campus, like site power, fiber and storm lines, need a private locator.
What is the tolerance zone?
The area on each side of a marked utility where only hand digging or vacuum excavation is allowed. The width is set by state law, often 18 to 24 inches.
What is a mandrel test?
A mandrel is pulled through each conduit to prove it is clear and not crushed before cable is pulled.
Are vaults and manholes confined spaces?
Often yes. Many are permit-required confined spaces that need atmospheric testing, permits and a rescue plan.
Can AAAT3 manage locates for the whole campus?
Yes. We run tickets, private locates, potholing and the conflict log for the life of the project.
Get a quote for Duct Bank, Vault & Utility Locate Safety
Tell us about your project, location and start date. We reply with a plan and pricing.
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