3M Utility Locators & Accessories

worker using 3M electronic marking system

Locate and mark underground assets

Full range of Dynatel™ Locators, point markers, and EMS detectable path marking tape

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Utility Marking and Utility Locators

Find a wide range of utility locators, point markers and path marking tape. Solutions for maintenance and traceability of cable locating, pipe locating and underground asset locating.

Quickly locate underground assets

3M™ Dynatel™ Locator XE Series Locators allow you to quickly locate underground assets. They are equipped with Bluetooth® wireless technology receivers, along with improved software and GPS capabilities. All models are available both as full kits including transmitter and as stand-alone locators.

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Marking points of interest

Unlike surface features, maps and other methods of recording position, 3M™ EMS Point Markers are a point of reference you can depend on. Access all the information in the field through a 3M™ Dynatel™ iD capable locator, or by uploading and using with your GIS system.

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Marking and locating the path of underground plastic pipes and conduits

3M™ EMS Warning Tape 7900-XT Series and Caution Tape 7900 Series provide a virtually maintenance-free solution for marking and locating the path of underground plastic pipes and conduits. Together, they help eliminate problems and costs associated with tracer wire and test stations.

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3M™ Dynatel™ Locators Maintenance and Repair

3M™ Dynatel™ Locators Maintenance in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Our partner Communication Line in Belgium is responsible for centralizing all calibration and maintenance requests for EMEA 3M™ Dynatel locators. Click here to register or to find out more.

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Locating and marking brochure

Download brochure (PDF, 3.1 MB)
3M™ Electronic Marking System (EMS) Warning Tape 7900 Series flyer

Download flyer (PDF, 536 KB)
Locating and marking, water sector flyer

Download flyer (PDF, 680 KB)
Locating and marking system solutions flyer

Download flyer (PDF, 664 KB)

Frequently Asked Questions about 3M™ Locators and Markers

What is the best utilities locator?
To provide you with efficient locating, it’s crucial to have a fast, easy and reliable system that provides accurate and consistent results. That’s where 3M™ Locating and Marking System solutions come in.
3M™ Dynatel™ has been a major player for more than 50 years for Locating and Marking solutions creating innovative solutions for grid detection.
3M Locating and Marking products are dedicated to LOCATE and IDENTIFY the buried networks for as example power, gas, water and telecom utilities, including non metallic networks.
- Locates both buried cables and 3M™ EMS Point Marker
- Reads, writes and locates 3M™ iD Markers
- Integrated GPS and Bluetooth® communications
- Large, backlit, high-resolution graphic display
- Features a rechargeable battery for transmitters and receivers
- Use 3M™ Dynatel™ Locator 7000XE Series to locate 3M™ EMS Warning Tape 7900 and 7900-XT Series
How does an underground cable/pipe locator work?
Locating underground cables and pipes with the 3M™ Locator involves applying an active signal to the cables and pipes with a 3M™ Transmitter that has been set to a specific frequency and then detecting that signal with the 3M™ Locator.

There are three basic ways to apply a signal with the 3M™ Transmitter:

Direct Connect Method: The Direct Connect Cable will be connected to the Transmitter. The red lead of the Direct Connect Cable will connected to the cable or pipe and the black lead will be connected to the ground rod.
Dyna-Coupler Method: The Dyna-Coupler with the Coupler Cable will be connected to the Transmitter. The Dyna-Coupler will be clamped around the cable and induces a signal on the pipe or cable.
Induction Method: No connections are made with the Transmitter. The Transmitter will be set on top of the path with a selected high frequency. The Transmitter generates Electro-Magnetic Waves being injected into the ground and coupled to the cable or pipe.
How deep to bury electrical warning tape?
The maximum depth reading for 3M™ EMS Detectable Path Marking Tape is 1.2 meters. For its warning function, the tape is usually placed much closer to the surface to ensure it can be reached and stop any further damage to the underground assets.

What are the colour codes for underground point markers ?

The different colours represent different utilities in the underground infrastructure.
The table gives an overview of this, as a yellow EMS Marker represents a gas utility and an orange EMS represents the telecom utility.

The color codes were not selected and determined by 3M™, but are global specifications of the A-P-W-A, which stands for American Public Works Association and the ANSI standard Z535.1 Safety Color Code.

Colour Coding	Utility	Frequency
Purple	General Use	66.35 kHz
Black/Orange	CATV	77.0 kHz
Yellow	Gas	83.0 kHz
Orange	Telecom	101.4 kHz
Green	Waste Water	121.6 kHz
Blue	Water	145.7 kHz
Red	Power CE	134.0 kHz
Red	Power	169.8 kHz

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