BS PAS 256:2017 gives recommendations for improving the
capturing, recording and maintaining of data related
to buried assets (and associated above-ground assets)
together with the sharing, in a security-minded
manner, of asset information relating to utilities, local
authorities and other providers' infrastructure.This PAS is not intended to be used retrospectively and
therefore only applies to those assets that are:a) newly-installed and newly-replaced (after the
publication of this PAS);b) surveyed in line with the PAS 128 methodology
(survey type A); orc) exposed whilst other work is being undertaken.This PAS applies to buried assets located in public and
private land.This PAS covers:1) a data glossary;2) data formats, such as geography markup language
(GML);3) transition of spatial data, using relative
accuracy as a minimum and moving towards
absolute accuracy (including depth), together
with supporting evidence such as photographs or
tagging;4) the inclusion of decommissioned or abandoned
assets when sharing data;5) a target number of days to make data
available for sharing from installation;6) the capture of data emanating from works
carried out under a s50 licence or equivalent;7) the inclusion of local authority and other
organizations' buried assets;8) movement from paper or microfiche records to
a structured, accessible digital format;9) the capture and sharing of measurable
deviations from straight line installations;10) the use of warning and protection devices to aid
the final location of the buried asset; and11) symbology, typology, colour coding and layering.NOTE 1 At the time of publication, efforts to
standardize symbology are being undertaken by
The Survey Association and these are expected to
be introduced as best practice when published.
In the interim, this PAS directs users towards the
NJUG publication, Guidance on the Positioning and
Colour-Coding of Underground Utilities Apparatus
[NR2] (see Clause 17). Each organization is advised
to share the symbology used in its records whenever
data is shared.NOTE 2 Scotland already has a centralized Scottish
electronic records system 4) which makes underground
pipe and cable information accessible via the Scottish
Road Works Register (SRWR).NOTE 3 Attention is drawn to The INSPIRE Regulations
2009 [9], The INSPIRE (Scotland) Regulations 2009 [10],
The INSPIRE (Amendment) Regulations 2012 [11] and The
INSPIRE (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2012 [12].All current amendments available at time of purchase are included with the purchase of this document.