SUE Level A Verification — Virginia Beach & Hampton Roads, VA
Beach HydroVac provides Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) Level A verification services across Virginia, compliant with ASCE 38-22 standards and required for all VDOT-funded infrastructure projects. Our Level A service physically exposes underground utilities using hydro excavation, providing the highest-quality utility data available for design and construction teams.
What Is SUE Level A?
ASCE 38-22 defines four Quality Levels (QL) for subsurface utility engineering. Quality Level A (QL-A) is the highest designation — it requires physical exposure and direct visual identification of utilities, including confirmation of horizontal position, depth, size, condition, material type, and spatial relationship to other utilities. QL-A data is typically collected using vacuum excavation or hydro excavation to expose the utility without mechanical damage.
VDOT SUE Level A Requirements
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) requires SUE Level A verification at all utility conflict locations on design-build and VDOT-funded highway projects. Beach HydroVac has completed Level A potholing for VDOT corridor projects, bridge widening, and highway interchange improvements across Hampton Roads and statewide. Our field crews coordinate directly with project SUE engineers to collect required data at each test hole location.
Our SUE Level A Process
- Pre-field coordination — Review utility records, One-Call markings, and project drawings to identify Level A locations
- Test hole excavation — Hydro excavate at each designated location to safely expose the utility
- Data collection — Record horizontal coordinates (GPS), depth, diameter, material type, and condition
- Survey — Locate exposed utility horizontally and vertically using survey-grade GPS or total station
- Restoration — Backfill and compact the test hole; restore surface to pre-excavation condition
- Documentation — Provide field sketches, photos, and data sheets for SUE engineer integration
Industries That Require SUE Level A
- VDOT highway and bridge projects
- Water and sewer main installation and relocation
- Fiber optic and telecommunications expansion
- Gas pipeline installation and replacement
- Power line underground conversions
- Commercial and municipal site development
Why Choose Beach HydroVac for SUE Level A
Our technicians are trained in proper potholing technique to prevent utility damage during exposure — the most critical phase of Level A work. We carry full general liability and professional liability insurance, provide OSHA 10 certified field personnel, and have completed Level A projects alongside Virginia’s leading SUE engineering firms. Call 757-510-5220 to discuss your Level A potholing requirements.
The SUE Level A Process
SUE Level A quality designation begins after lower-level utility data (Level B, C, D) has identified utilities in the project area. The Level A process involves physically exposing each utility using vacuum excavation, then recording: depth below grade, horizontal offset from marked locate, pipe outside diameter, material type, and condition. This data is entered into a written pothole log and typically incorporated into the project’s SUE report prepared by the engineering firm of record. Beach HydroVac provides the excavation component — the physical daylighting and measurement — while working under the direction of the project SUE engineer.
VDOT SUE Requirements
VDOT requires SUE investigations on most highway improvement projects involving underground utility conflicts. The scope of Level A investigation is determined by the project’s SUE engineer based on the conflict zone identified during desktop utility research. Beach HydroVac has supported SUE Level A programs on VDOT corridor projects across Hampton Roads, Richmond, and Northern Virginia. All work complies with ASCE 38-22 standard guidelines for SUE quality designation. Call 757-510-5220 to discuss your VDOT or municipal SUE Level A program.