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

Excavator Impact Rated

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

Locking Connector

Module Connector Secures adjacent plates under load. Prevents lateral displacement during backfill compaction and subsequent excavation events.

Technical Specifications

Product Datasheet

Full technical specification for the DigBarrier™ system.

Material	High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
Impact Resistance	32 metric tons — standard excavator bucket rated
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