BS PAS 256:2017

BS PAS 256:2017 gives recommendations for improving thecapturing, recording and maintaining of data relatedto buried assets (and associated above-ground assets)together with the sharing, in a security-mindedmanner, of asset information relating to utilities, localauthorities and other providers' infrastructure.This PAS is not intended to be used retrospectively andtherefore only applies to those assets that are:

• a) newly-installed and newly-replaced (after thepublication of this PAS);
• b) surveyed in line with the PAS 128 methodology(survey type A); or
• c) exposed whilst other work is being undertaken.

This PAS applies to buried assets located in public andprivate land.This PAS covers:

• 1) a data glossary;
• 2) data formats, such as geography markup language(GML);
• 3) transition of spatial data, using relativeaccuracy as a minimum and moving towardsabsolute accuracy (including depth), togetherwith supporting evidence such as photographs ortagging;
• 4) the inclusion of decommissioned or abandonedassets when sharing data;
• 5) a target number of days to make dataavailable for sharing from installation;
• 6) the capture of data emanating from workscarried out under a s50 licence or equivalent;
• 7) the inclusion of local authority and otherorganizations' buried assets;
• 8) movement from paper or microfiche records toa structured, accessible digital format;
• 9) the capture and sharing of measurabledeviations from straight line installations;
• 10) the use of warning and protection devices to aidthe final location of the buried asset; and
• 11) symbology, typology, colour coding and layering.

NOTE 1 At the time of publication, efforts tostandardize symbology are being undertaken byThe Survey Association and these are expected tobe introduced as best practice when published.In the interim, this PAS directs users towards theNJUG publication, Guidance on the Positioning andColour-Coding of Underground Utilities Apparatus[NR2] (see Clause 17). Each organization is advisedto share the symbology used in its records wheneverdata is shared.NOTE 2 Scotland already has a centralized Scottishelectronic records system 4) which makes undergroundpipe and cable information accessible via the ScottishRoad Works Register (SRWR).NOTE 3 Attention is drawn to The INSPIRE Regulations2009 [9], The INSPIRE (Scotland) Regulations 2009 [10],The INSPIRE (Amendment) Regulations 2012 [11] and TheINSPIRE (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2012 [12].