NAPUA BEST PRACTICES & GUIDELINES
The NAPUA Best Practices and Guidelines are currently in draft form and will be finalized through NAPUA’s Technical Advisory and Steering Committee process.
About the NAPUA Best Practices Framework
Private property ground disturbance has long operated without a unified standard of care. Public One Call systems identify publicly owned utility lines, but they do not address the vast network of privately owned buried utility infrastructure located beyond the public right of way. This gap has resulted in inconsistent documentation, unclear responsibilities, and avoidable damages across private property projects.
NAPUA Best Practices were created to establish a structured, guidance-based framework for safe and accountable private property ground disturbance. They define expectations for asset owners, private locators, contractors, insurers, and legal advisors working around buried utility infrastructure.
The NAPUA Best Practices were created to close that gap. They represent a unified, field-driven standard for safe and professional private utility ground disturbance. These practices provide clear expectations for asset owners, locators, contractors, insurers, and all professionals responsible for buried infrastructure on private property.
NAPUA Best Practices are not regulations. They are practical, guidance-based standards designed to complement One Call requirements while addressing the unique risks of private property excavation.
To help members apply these practices consistently and effectively, NAPUA has also developed a suite of Best Practice Guidelines. These guidelines translate the framework into clear, actionable procedures that support due diligence, risk management, and safe ground disturbance across every project.
Although created for private property, the Best Practices and their accompanying Guidelines are equally valuable in the public domain. The principles, processes, and tools apply to both environments and help raise the standard of safety, accuracy, and professionalism across the entire ground disturbance industry. Based on the experience of our members, organizations that adopt these practices see a drastic reduction in damages and near misses, demonstrating the effectiveness of a unified, professional approach to risk management.
NAPUA Best Practices are designed to function as a reference standard for training, risk evaluation, documentation review, and professional accountability across North America.
Core Components of the NAPUA Private Property Framework:
NAPUA Best Practices Framework
The NAPUA Best Practices represent the overarching professional standard for safe and consistent private utility ground disturbance. They define clear expectations for asset owners, private locators, ground disturbance professionals, and all practitioners working around buried utility infrastructure on private property.
This framework provides the foundation for consistent terminology, shared responsibilities, and a unified approach to risk management.
Practice Guidelines Library
NAPUA publishes a series of Practice Guidelines that translate the Best Practices into clear, operational procedures. These guidelines support field decision making, due diligence, documentation, risk assessment, and communication between all project stakeholders.
They provide the practical tools required to apply the Best Practices consistently across every job site.
How Members Use the Framework
NAPUA members apply the Best Practices and Guidelines to plan, coordinate, and execute private utility locating and ground disturbance work with greater safety, accuracy, and accountability.
The framework helps members reduce risk, avoid unexpected conflicts on private property, and improve communication with clients and asset owners throughout the project lifecycle.