Product — DigBarrier™ | HDPE Excavation Protection Plates

Definition

What is DigBarrier™?

DigBarrier™ is a passive mechanical protection barrier installed above buried assets to intercept excavation forces before direct contact with the facility occurs.

Manufactured from High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), it is designed to either survive impact events or sacrificially fail while preserving asset integrity. Both outcomes are acceptable — provided the asset remains protected.

DigBarrier™ does not rely on power, sensors, monitoring, or human activation. Its protective function is inherent to its physical presence.

HDPE

High-Density Polyethylene

32T

Reference Impact Test Scenario

15mm

Nominal Thickness

M/F

Interlocking System

Product Line

PG1 / PG2 / PG3 / PG4

Four modular components — covering every trench geometry and application scenario.

PG1

1,200 × 1,000 mm

Standard Module Main trench coverage — square geometry. Primary protection module for most applications. Connect multiple PG1 plates to cover any trench length.

PG2

1,200 × 500 mm

Half Module Transition coverage and edge applications. Used at trench ends, utility crossings, and where full PG1 width would extend beyond the asset zone.

PG3

1,200 × 250 mm

Quarter Module Tight spaces, angular runs, and congested corridors. Also used to complete coverage at trench transitions where fractional width is needed.

PG4

Anchor Pin System

1 Anchor Plate + 2 Locking Pins Used to secure the protection system in the installation configuration.

Technical Specifications

Product Datasheet

Full technical specification for the DigBarrier™ system.

Material	High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
Impact Resistance	Reference testing exists for a 32-metric-ton excavator bucket scenario on the underlying plate design; confirmatory testing for the current commercial product should be completed before treating this as a certified product rating.
Nominal Thickness	15 mm
PG1 Dimensions	1,200 mm × 1,000 mm
PG2 Dimensions	1,200 mm × 500 mm
PG3 Dimensions	1,200 mm × 250 mm
Connection System	Interlocking male / female modular tabs — 3 per side
Tab Configuration	Males: TOP and RIGHT sides \| Females: BOTTOM and LEFT sides
Color (standard)	Yellow — gas utility standard
Color (custom)	Orange (telecom), Blue (water), other per utility specification
Marking	"DB" logo permanently molded into plate surface (debossed)
Installation Position	Above first backfill layer — below remaining soil
Tools Required	None — hand placement, no fasteners
Power / Sensors	None — passive mechanical protection only
Standard Reference	Designed for third-party damage mitigation per BS PAS 128 principles
Application	Gas pipelines, water mains, telecom fiber, electric conduit

✓ Recommended Scenarios

Where DigBarrier™ adds value

→ Urban and peri-urban utility corridors with frequent excavation activity

→ Shallow or variable depth-of-cover installations

→ HDD entry/exit transition zones

→ Utility crossings and congested corridors

→ Post-repair backfill — minimal cost addition at point of exposure

→ Rights-of-way subject to repeated disturbance

— Not Required

Where it is not warranted

— Deep transmission corridors with controlled access

— Rural or low-activity zones with minimal third-party excavation

— Greenfield projects with strictly controlled depth coverage

— Locations with existing equivalent mechanical protection

"Risk-based deployment — not blanket installation. Selectivity preserves credibility and ensures resources are directed where residual risk is genuinely unacceptable."

Ready to evaluate DigBarrier™?

Download the technical documents or contact us to discuss your specific risk scenario.

Technical Documents Contact Us