TJA Civil - Trends & Insights

Copy of 2 Reasons Why You Should Consider Non-Destructive Digging

kael@xpandamedia.com (kael abbott) — Mon, 10 May 2021 07:41:08 GMT

Non-destructive digging is growing in popularity across Newcastle and for a good reason. Many have declared this non-invasive method of digging is said to be the future for small scale excavations. The process reduces regular risks of traditional excavation across Newcastle.

But, the big question here is how you can excavate without causing any destruction?

The process involves removing soil and other ground material with high-pressure water and suction hose. This way, the ground material is removed without tampering or damaging the ground or foreign objects on the ground – this includes gas and water lines.

One of the biggest pains during construction and post-construction is being dealt with by this phenomenal 21st-century technology. If you’re not convinced that non-destructive digging is for you, here are our top benefits for choosing this tech.

There’s A Range Of Diverse Applications

Utility locating is one of the main reasons for non-destructive digging for many construction sites in Newcastle. Utility locating essentially means finding an underground utility without causing any damage. Water pressure removes the earth without compromising or damaging utilities using water to break up the solid ground.

What’s more, non-destructive digging is used in areas where traditional excavation cannot be accessed. This equipment can be used up to 100 metres from the truck from backyards with no vehicle access to areas with underneath structures with low clearance.

It’s Cleaner And Quieter

Non-destructive excavation is a cleaner and quieter alternative to digging. This is a great benefit for any commercial, industrial or residential properties in Newcastle. This is because it eliminates noise, dust and any issues between residents, clients and workers. With traditional excavators, you can expect to hear diesel machines and metallic noises from the machine. In contrast, there’s relatively less noise from the pump and hose of a non-destructive digging project.

Non-destructive digging is an essential part of today's excavation projects. The necessity to have this technology simplifies life for both workers and clients. AT TJA Civil, we understand how this service has revolutionised our way of doing business and how it’s given our clients peace of mind. Get in touch with us about our services.

Locating Underground Services at TJA Civil

kael@xpandamedia.com (kael abbott) — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 02:50:10 GMT

Locating Underground Services at TJA Civil

Underground utility strikes are dangerous, costly and can be very inconvenient to yourself, your business, your community and the environment, but luckily this can be avoidable. With proper planning, preparation and experience, essential services can be located safely and avoid potential underground hazards before they become a problem.
The method for locating buried services depends on what material the pipe is made of. Most pipes these days are made of PVC, however, older ones can be made of steel, iron, or copper. PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, can be tricky to find because there is little or no metal in the pipe system, rendering a metal detector useless. Today, with the latest advances in technology, there are a variety of tools for the job.
Underground pipe locators come with a learning curve and can be challenging to use correctly without proper training and exposure to the varying conditions that range from simple to very challenging.
When locating services, TJA Civil utilises one or more of the following tools depending on the individual job:
o   Hand probe
o   EMF
o   Concrete Scanning
o   GPR
Hand probing
Is the process of repeatedly pushing a metal rod into the ground to physically feel for the buried PVC pipe. While soil probe rods themselves are relatively inexpensive, but the process can be extremely time consuming, frustrating and you still may miss underground infrastructure.
EMF Locating (Electro-magnetic force)
Electronic location relies on a continuous metallic object (e.g. pipe, cable, traceable rod or wire), which can carry the EMF signal to be detected. In many cases, optic fibers do not contain any conductive or metallic elements that can carry a direct or induced signal. The EMF locator works by transmitting an electromagnetic signal along the pipe or cable, and the receiver hand piece locates the electromagnetic field. When the field is strongest, it is closer to the pipe or cable.
Concrete Scanning
The concrete scanner uses ground penetrating radar technology to non-destructively investigate and provide an image of the concrete and other structures in either 2D or 3D imagery. This procedure aids construction professionals to safely cut, core hole or drill through concrete floors and walls. It is particularly useful for identifying:
•    Concrete reinforcement and tension bars
•    Services within the concrete
Sonde Locators
Sonde Locators are small radio transmitters that can be attached to a fiberglass rod. This rod is then inserted into a service pipe such as underground telecommunications or plastic water ducts. An EMF Locator can then be used to detect the signal coming from the Sonde, allowing alignment and depth to be accurately verified and marked. This type of locating is useful for locating non-metal assets such as underground PVC pipes when there is no copper cabling present i.e., optic fibre infrastructure and Poly-Ethylene gas lines.
GPR (Ground penetrating radar)
Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a geophysical method that uses radar pulses to image the subsurface. It is a non-intrusive method and environmentally friendly way of surveying the sub-surface to investigate underground utilities such as concrete, asphalt, metals, pipes, cables or masonry. GPR can have applications in a variety of media, including rock, soil, ice, fresh water, pavements and structures. In the right conditions, TJA Civil can use GPR to detect subsurface objects, changes in material properties, and voids and cracks.
At TJA Civil , our priority is ensuring all jobs no matter the scope is safe, accurate and efficient while being environmentally responsible. Thorough planning, diligent safety practices and consistent compliance are vital to a successful project. Our experienced team are here to help you find underground obstacles before they become hazards to you and your community.
Once your services have been safely located, TJA Civil can access them by using Hydro vacuum extraction also known as Non-Destructive digging . This is known, industry wide, as the safest and most environmentally undisruptive way to expose services and excavate only what is required. Saving time and money and ensuring we sustain our valuable environment. Learn more about Hydro vacuum extraction How To Protect Your Existing Infrastructure When Excavating
Need assistance locating your services, give TJA Civil a call to discuss your options.

How To Protect Your Existing Infrastructure When Excavating

kael@xpandamedia.com (kael abbott) — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 00:45:17 GMT

Excavations on building sites, road developments or any other civils work are destructive by nature, and things get very tricky when it is not a virgin site being worked on. You might have underground tanks, foundations, water or electrical mains or any other subterranean structure which needs protection.

The old fashioned dig, blast or auger drilling can’t be used. A far more contemporary solution exists in the form of hydro excavation in Newcastle . It is non-destructive in its digging approach. The process involves the introduction of highly pressurised water, section by section. A vacuum system is then used to remove the hydrous soil, thereby excavating the trench or subterranean cavity, etc.

How Does This Help Your Project?

Hydro excavation is quicker than a delicate manual labour approach which means fewer delays to your project. It allows for the required design to go ahead without significant piping rerouting needing to take place which can add months to a project. Here are a few benefits:

● Workers are not required to be in dangerous underpinned trenches or cavity whilst destabilising via excavation.

● In winter, hydro excavation reduces the number of workers needed to be exposed to the elements and certainly eliminates their use for days on end for a manual excavation in freezing weather.

● There is less vibration than traditional machinery; therefore, less vibration damage to existing structures and facilities.

● There is less disturbance of areas that surrounded the excavation area, greatly reducing cave-in risks.

● It is a simple process involving water and area with no toxic chemicals or complicated setups of vast amounts of machinery.

● It works well in built-up areas as the hydro evacuation equipment can be set up far from the site; therefore not blocking roads or other work areas nor require massive access points.

Solutions Provided

Hydro evacuation can be used for narrow trenching very successfully as traditional methods create huge oversized trenches unless down painfully slowly with manual labour.

It is effective in the application of cleaning areas without damaging existing infrastructure and for removing debris after severe flooding. It is also useful in the clearing of drain networks.

Whether it is a backyard, a servitude between two buildings, or a tight underground space hydro evacuation is the fastest, least destructive, and most effective solution.

Another very efficient solution is provided for a pole setting. The access hole can be narrower than traditional methods, and it is much faster.

For a fast, safe and versatile solution to your project excavation requirements, contact TJA Civil today, and we can meet with you, your project manager or project engineer to discuss how we can help you with hydro excavation in Newcastle .

2 Reasons Why You Should Consider Non-Destructive Digging

analytics.xpandamedia@gmail.com (Xpanda SEM) — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 05:27:50 GMT

But, the big question here is how you can excavate without causing any destruction?

There’s A Range Of Diverse Applications

It’s Cleaner And Quieter

The Full Benefit Of An Underground Asset Locating Service In Newcastle

analytics.xpandamedia@gmail.com (Xpanda SEM) — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 05:01:31 GMT

Excavation is an underestimated part of a building’s ultimate strength. It forms the foundation of strength against our unpredictable, changing weather patterns and intensity as well as the occasional earthquake every decade or so. Typhoons and flooding are thrown into the mix and many other factors such as the forces of physics.

In the process of achieving this solid foundation, suitable excavation must occur without having to forego excavation depth or breadth to avoid service strikes.

Asset Location Purpose

Initial mapping of asset routes happens after trenches are located, and depths are ascertained. Asset location is a civil and legal responsibility of all construction project principals. Services must not be disrupted and damage, danger and health risks must be averted.

Not only must the location be clearly known, but it must be understood with regards to pressure, load and vibrations. Vacuum excavation is usually the most effective around services and saves time which is always a critical pillar in a project. Project principals may not affect, disrupt or damage utilities.

Lung damage, burns, electrocutions and crushings are on the list of horrific outcomes from shortcuts. Infrastructure has been damaged and washed away by sudden underground floodings. Underground gas tanks that are damaged could spring a small leak which builds up an explosion risk. The ultimate risk that is being averted is the death of any citizen present on the building project site and the surrounding damage radius.

Asset Location Benefits

Underground asset location has an extremely important role to play in the establishment of safe and effective excavations. Dial Before You Dig (DBYD) is a great initiative and has recorded up to 1.9 million calls in one year. The challenge that requestees are faced with is the unexpected inundation of email replies when, for example, there are 16 parties linked to the area needing excavation. Replies come in multiple formats, inconsistent markings, conflicting route mappings etc. The efficiency and accurateness of underground location services is currently the safest, fastest route to follow until technology and processes can cope with the size and inconsistencies of related data.

If you need swift and accurate services in Newcastle to locate underground assets and services, contact TJA Civil [insert contact page hyperlink] for an effective resolution to your needs.

The Benefits Of Using A Vac Truck For Excavation Purposes In Newcastle

kael@xpandamedia.com (kael abbott) — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 07:47:11 GMT

Excavation is often a far more complex task than one could imagine. Daily, life above ground is visible to the human eye but have you ever thought about what's going on down below? Well, the assets buried beneath you are very much there and require maintenance and debris removal without causing them harm.

From water pipes to electrical cables and more, careful consideration needs to be taken into account before plummeting beneath the earth with heavy-duty equipment. Let's take a closer look at some of the benefits of using a vac truck below.

Less Risk Of Damage To Utilities

It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to minimise the risk of potential damage to underground utilities, which in itself is a giant to repair, costing money and time. This method of excavation sees that the truck is parked a good distance from the point of excavation and a suction pipe is allowed into the ground while avoiding all contact with important fixtures.

Updated Technology

Trenching has never been faster. Before, digging by hand was risky business as it took far longer, required more hands on the job, and elevated the risk of damage and injuries. Thankfully, with methodology and technological updates, land can now be excavated far more safely at a far quicker pace.

Cost-Efficient Option

This option of excavation is quite amazing when it comes to saving a buck or two on the project. So how is this so? Well, because this technology is more advanced than traditional methods of digging, the process results in less damage to utilities and fixtures. Newer technology is always going to be faster and more efficient saving time and money simultaneously.

Improved Safety

With traditional methods, a lack of precision was prevalent, and it made keeping the multiple hands on deck safe a lot tougher. A vac truck ensures that the debris is extracted safely and then stored thereafter. With the correct training, the job at hand is guaranteed to run far more smoothly.

Excavating in Newcastle has never been made easier with the help of vac trucks. At TJA Civil, we offer our client optimum professional service delivered with modern equipment to help ensure that the job is done safely and efficiently. Contact us today for further inquiries or discuss your project.

Heritage Guttering

kael@xpandamedia.com (kael abbott) — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 01:35:43 GMT

Vacuum excavation used to undermine heritage sandstone guttering with no impact/ Damage to gutter.

Gas Leakage Locate & Vacuum Excavate

kael@xpandamedia.com (kael abbott) — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 01:34:54 GMT

Vacuum excavation required over mechanical excavation(excavator) due to high risk of damaging existing services i.e Gas+ LV power + Telecommunication. found leakage in gas main.

Service Locate, Vacuum Excavate & Installation

kael@xpandamedia.com (kael abbott) — Thu, 26 Dec 2019 14:56:38 GMT

This job was undertaken in a busy metropolitan area, job included;

Locate various existing underground services including water, 240v power, HP gas (which was in the middle of the road), MP gas.
Cut existing footpath, remove and dispose of.
Vacuum excavation of 60 linear meters was required due to 240v power being buried at 1m deep, we installed Telecommunications ducts at 600mm deep with mechanical protection between the two.
Re-instate roadbase with compaction at every 250mm.
Temporary re-instate footpath with Hotmix Asphalt as this was councils requirements due to affected businesses/ Pedestrians in the area
Permanently re-instate concrete footpath with concrete.

This process was done over 2 days, with minimal disruption to any affected personnel.