3M Near Surface iD Marker Installation Instructions

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3M™ Electronic Marking System (EMS)
Near-Surface iD Marker
Installation Instructions
1.0  Introduction
1.1  3M™ Near-Surface iD Markers provide an accurate, 
convenient, long lasting method of marking 
underground and street-access facilities. Its size 
and shape allow for easy installation in asphalt, 
concrete or dirt, without extensive digging or 
drilling. 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.
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. Near-Surface iD Markers 
must be in a vertical position to write information 
into them.  3.2 
Place the iD marker in the soil, or a non-metallic 
holder such as a cardboard box with a hole in the 
top to hold the iD marker for writing.
3.3  Hold the 3M
™ Dynatel™ M-Series iD Locator 
receiver over the top of the iD marker. The 
maximum distance between the iD marker and the 
receiver during writing is 6 inches (15 cm).
3.4  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  Place the marker vertically into the soil or 
pavement.
4.2  Maintain a vertical separation from metallic objects 
of at least 12 inches (30 cm).
4.3  A minimum horizontal separation distance of 
2 inches (5 cm) from metallic objects should be 
maintained.
March 2010
78-8140-0401-2-C
Minimum 12 (30 cm) vertical separation* Minimum 2 (5 cm) horizontal separation*  
						

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Track and Trace Solutions6801 River Place Blvd.
Austin, TX 78726-9000
1-800-426-8688
www.3M.com/dynatelPlease Recycle. Printed in USA.
© 3M 2010. All Rights Reserved.
78-8140-0401-2-C
3M and Dynatel are trademarks of 3M Company.
IMPORTANT: The Near-Surface iD Marker cannot 
reliably re-radiate the locator's signal at a depth greater 
than 3 feet (0.9 m). If using an E-model locator in 
countries following CE limitations, or equivalent, the 
maximum depth is 0.6 m (1.96 ft). This is the maximum 
allowable distance between the Near-Surface iD Marker 
and the locator tip.
4.4 
Fill hole using soil, or other suitable materials such 
as concrete or asphalt.
5.0 Specifications
Specifications
Read Depth (max)
 Locator, US-Version
  Locator, E-Version 3 ft (0.9 m)
0.6 m (1.96 ft)
Program Distance (max) 6 in (15 cm)
Vertical Separation from Facility (min) 12 in* (30 cm)
Horizontal Separation from Facilty (min) 2 in* (5 cm)
Distance Between iD Markers (min) 3.5 ft (1.06 m)
Marker Diameter 0.78 in (2 cm)
Marker Length 3 in (7.6 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.