Are You Going to Dig?
Sensitive utility lines lie beneath the surface in gardens and streets.
Utility lines connect residents and businesses to water and electricity, as well as sewage. That’s why it is important to ensure these connections remain intact when excavation takes place.
Preparation
Before you begin digging, it is safer to know where the pipes are located and whether they are near your work site. If there is a chance that pipelines might be affected during construction, you must coordinate with Veitur beforehand to minimize the risk of damage.
Locate the pipelines using Luksjá, the online utility map. Note that municipalities and other utility providers (such as Rarik, HS Veitur, or local councils) may also have lines in the same area.
Plan ahead before you start digging
Make sure to allow sufficient time, as it can take us several days to respond to certain requests — for example, for a line shutdown.
If There Are High-Voltage Cables
If you plan to dig near a high-voltage cable, a temporary line shutdown must be requested for safety reasons. It usually takes about a week to arrange, if it is even possible in that location. It is dangerous to dig into a live high-voltage cable, and a shutdown should always be requested.
Veitur will always charge the contractor for any damage to high-voltage cables.
Sonar Detection
If the pipeline route shown on Luksjá overlaps your planned work area, it’s best to be sure. You can request sonar detection from Veitur to obtain a more precise location, more info here. Many older pipes are not mapped accurately — some were installed in more convenient places than shown on design plans and were not properly recorded.
Working Around Utility Lines
It benefits everyone if pipelines suffer as little disturbance as possible when digging nearby. Be sure you’ve prepared properly and are familiar with the pipeline routes in the area.
Pipe Breaks Are Dangerous
Water pipes are often under high pressure and may burst if excavation weakens or removes their support, causing sudden flooding nearby.
Geothermal pipes carry very hot water; leaks from them are dangerous.
Electrical cables can cause electric shocks or dangerous arcs if damaged.
Damaged sewer pipes create a health hazard in the area.
Old cold-water pipes can crumble if digging occurs nearby.
General Rules When Digging Near Utility Lines
More detailed instructions and diagrams can be found on our website in Icelandic.
• Use only blunt (non-serrated) shovels.
• There must always be someone with a hand shovel in the trench.
• Hand-dig down to the pipe after a warning tape, cover, or sand layer is found — or any sign that a line is below.
• Expose the pipe with a hand shovel to confirm its direction.
• Monitor other lines in the trench.
• Fully excavate around pipes and keep them clear of mechanical diggers.
• Locate spindle valves and branches from main lines.
• Keep warning tapes and protective covers safe for re installation.
• Ensure the excavation and trench walls are stable — they must not collapse over the pipes or workers.
Markings on Pipes in Trenches
Many of Veitur’s utility lines are decades old, and markings vary. They are usually marked underground with netting, warning tape, or protective covers, but these markings cannot always be relied upon.
In older neighborhoods (built before 1985), lines are often unmarked and may not match their positions on drawings.
Sand found unexpectedly in a trench is a strong sign that hand-digging should continue carefully.
Safety in and Around Trenches
The slope from the pipe must not exceed 1:1.4 (36°) so that the surrounding sand remains compact and stable. This rule may only be adjusted if soil surveys indicate otherwise.
Proper work methods protect both the pipelines and the workers.
Maintain a safety zone along the trench edge to prevent falls or collapses.
Machinery and Tools
The excavator bucket must be toothless when digging near utility lines. A person with a hand shovel must be nearby to carefully hand-dig when warning signs or sand layers appear.
Digging Near Geothermal Pipes
The excavator bucket must never touch the plastic casing of geothermal pipes, as this can damage the cover or joints. Such damage allows water to reach the pipe and cause corrosion.
The allowable trench length depends on the pipe diameter. If this distance is exceeded, pipes can bend or break (buckling).
See below for guidelines:
Pipe diameter (with casing) Maximum trench length
90–110 mm 3 m
140–160 mm 5 m
200–250 mm 10 m
> 250 mm Must be coordinated with Veitur
Geothermal Ducts (hitaveitustokkar)
Older main geothermal pipelines are steel pipes encased in concrete ducts, sometimes marked with a yellow control cable tape. Underneath are drainage layers or groundwater drains to prevent water from entering and corroding the pipes.
Care must be taken not to damage the control cable, sealing tape, or groundwater drains. If an accident occurs, it must be reported to Veitur’s emergency number: 516 6161, immediately so repairs can be made.
It is never permitted to damage or drill into the duct itself. The duct protects the pipe from water and corrosion. If a duct obstructs construction, an alternative route must be found — contact Veitur staff for assistance.
igging Near Cold-Water Pipes
Coordinate with Veitur if you need to dig near cold-water pipe supports to prevent damage.
• Some types of cold-water pipes are press-fitted and have limited resistance to tension.
• They are held in place by anchors, such as concrete blocks or fixed structures (e.g., manholes).
• Digging away these supports can cause major damage.
If it is anticipated that these pipelines will fall within the construction area, they must be given a new route, either permanently or temporarily.
For electrical cables, a duct or other approved solutions may be used — detailed instructions can be found here. The soil above the cables must be carefully hand-dug according to the specifications of Veitur’s field supervisor or technical inspector, to avoid damage to the cable casing and any potential harm.
Damage to Lines
Please report immediately any damage you cause or discover to utility lines.
If you are unsure whether damage occurred, call Veitur’s emergency number 516 6161 and let staff assess the situation.It’s best for us to repair coating damage right away. Veitur only charges for repeated or negligent damage.
Preventing unexpected leaks later benefits everyone — especially nearby customers.
Damage to high-voltage cables is always charged to the contractor.