3M Ball iD Marker Installation Instructions

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3M™ Electronic Marking System (EMS)
iD Ball Marker
Installation Instructions
1.0  Introduction
1.1  3M™ iD Ball Markers provide an accurate, 
convenient, long lasting method of marking 
underground facilities during construction or 
maintenance. They also make the job of precisely 
locating underground facilities easier. Other 
buried markers can be disturbed by backfill 
dirt or installed improperly so they don't stay 
positioned correctly. The 3M iD Ball Markers 
unique self-leveling design ensures the marker is 
in an accurate, horizontal position regardless of 
how it is placed into the ground. 3M iD Markers 
enable you to return to the exact location of the 
marked underground feature and ensure positive 
identification by reading the stored data and unique 
serial number in each iD Marker. Unlike surface 
markers such as stakes, flags or paint, the iD Ball 
marker cannot be inadvertently moved or worn 
away by weather.
2.0  Removable Identification Number Tag
2.1  Prior to burying the iD Marker, remove the 
identification number tag and attach it to 
“as-builts”, or facility documentation, as required 
by company procedure.
3.0 Writing Information to iD Markers
3.1  If the iD marker is intended to contain specific 
facility information, write the information to 
the iD marker prior to burying using one of the 
3M
™ Dynatel™ M-Series iD version locators (see 
list below).
3.2  Hold the 3M
™ Dynatel™ M-Series iD Locator 
receiver over the top of the iD marker. The 
maximum distance between the marker and the 
locator tip during writing is 12 in. (30 cm). 
3.3  For iD Marker writing instructions, please refer 
to the following Operator’s Manuals:  3M
™ 
Dynatel™ EMS-iD Locator 1420, 3M™ Dynatel™ 
Cable/Pipe/Fault Locator 2250M/2273M Series 
or  3M
™ Dynatel™ Cable/Pipe/Fault Locator 
2550/2573 Series.
4.0  Installing the iD Marker
4.1  Before placing the iD Marker over the key point 
of the facility, decide if a tie down procedure is 
necessary to keep it in place. If so, secure the iD 
Marker by inserting a cable tie through one, or 
both, tie down tabs on the iD Marker and the key 
point (for example, pipe, cable or splice).
4.2  If the key point is metallic, it is recommended that 
the iD Marker be separated from it by a minimum 
distance of 4 inches (10 cm) of clean fill dirt.
4.3  If the key point in non-metallic, place the iD 
Marker over the desired location.
IMPORTANT: The iD Ball Marker cannot reliably 
re-radiate the locator's signal at a depth greater than 5 
feet (1.5 m). If using an E-model locator in countries 
following CE limitations, or equivalent, the maximum 
depth is 4 feet (1.2 m). This is the maximum allowable 
distance between iD Ball Marker and the locator tip.
4.4  Hand fill at least 6 inches (15 cm) of soil over 
the iD Marker to prevent movement, or damage, 
during  backfill.
4.5  Backfill the hole.
March 2010
78-8130-6423-1-D 
						

							3M and Dynatel are trademarks of 3M Company.
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© 3M 2010. All Rights Reserved.
78-8130-6423-1-D
5 ft. (1.5 m) 
maximum
separation
*4 ft. (1.2 m)  maximum
    with E-Model Locator cover with 6 in. 
(15 cm) of firm 
soil before backfill
tie-downtabs
ID number tag
Inset
minimum 4 in.
(10 cm) separation
from metallic surface
cable
tie
See inset
*Max  depth  for Power and Water iD  Markers with an E-Model  is 1 meter (40 in) .
5.0 Specifications
Specifications
Read Depth (max)
 Locator, US-Version
  Locator, E-Version 5 ft ( 1.5 m)
1.2 m (48 in) 
(Telephone, Gas, 
Waste Water, 
Communication)
1.0 m (40 in)
(Power,
 Water)
Program Distance (max) 12 in (30 cm)
Vertical Separation from Facility (min) 4 in* (10.4 cm)
Horizontal Separation from Facilty (min) 4 in* (10.4 cm)
Distance Between iD Markers (min) 3.5 ft (1.06 m)
Marker Diameter, Sphere 4 in (10.4 cm)
*    Target size and material dependent.  Depth estimation may be adversely 
affected when placing the marker above a large metallic object, such 
as a manhole cover. To improve depth estimation accuracy, increase the 
vertical separation from the metal object or perform a field test for depth 
accuracy.