Work near a gas pipeline

It is prohibited to cross a gas pipeline with heavy equipment in unreinforced sections or to work within five metres of a gas pipeline without Gasgrid Finland’s authorisation and supervision.

If you have plans for activities in the vicinity of a natural gas pipeline, study our guidelines and contact our supervisors, preferably three business days before starting the work, by calling (020) 44 78713. Our supervisor will visit the site free of charge and show you the exact location of the gas pipeline.

Any drainage ditch clearing and ground surface finishing work must also take place under the supervision of our supervisor.

The natural gas transmission pipeline is located in southern Finland. The map application shows the gas pipeline, the related pressure reduction stations acting as customer interfaces, and the signposts. The service also shows the locations of the anode fields and cables relating to the electrical corrosion protection of pipelines. Use the layer menu to view the safety distances relating to various activities.

The transmission pipeline has been divided into three areas as regards on-site pipeline location guidance and pipeline crossings, earthworks and statements required for projects in the vicinity of transmission pipelines. If you have any questions about geographic data, pipeline location guidance and pipeline crossings, or statements on the gas transmission network, please contact our experts.

Natural gas pipelines are marked along the way with signposts, plates or other markings to prevent accidental damage. The colour code used for the above-ground high-pressure transmission pipelines is purple and yellow is used for the above-ground distribution and installation pipelines. The markings on transmission pipelines feature black text on a yellow background. Below is an example of a marker plate: 

In forest areas and built-up areas, a natural gas pipeline can be spotted on the basis of a treeless zone that is 5–10 metres wide. It is forbidden to perform work within 5 metres of a gas pipeline without authorisation from the pipeline owner, i.e. Gasgrid Finland. 

Written authorisations are granted through the statement procedure. The most cost-efficient approach is to contact us as soon as the planning stage of your project or construction work begins. This will facilitate issues such as the selection of work methods and materials. You can also contact your local building control services for more information. 

In the statement procedure, matters to ensure the safety of the gas pipeline in accordance with Government Decree 551/2009 and Tukes’ instructions  are determined, agreed upon and archived. If you are planning activities that will change the conditions that existed during gas pipeline construction or that may cause vibration to a gas pipeline, contact our experts to find out if the statement procedure will be required. 
 
To request a written authorisation, fill in the following information:

• the applicant’s contact details 
• location of the site to be constructed or details of the gas pipeline signpost located nearest to the site 
• activity planned in the vicinity of the gas pipeline 
• implementation schedule of the project 
• references to any previous phone calls, reviews and documents

Project plans, maps, etc. should primarily be submitted as PDF files. You may write the request for a statement yourself, but you may also use a ready-made form. 

Please contact us. We are happy to help if you are planning: 

• to cross a gas pipeline with a heavy vehicle on soft or weak ground
• storage on a pipeline or soil dumping within 50 m of a gas pipeline  
• earthworks within 5 m of a gas pipeline
• blasting or excavation work within 30 m or extensive quarrying within 100–500 m of a gas pipeline
• to construct a building within 30 m of a gas pipeline or within 100 m of an anode field
• fairway construction within 30 m of a gas pipeline
• structures conducting electricity (water pipe, earthing cable, district heating pipeline, etc.) in contact with the ground within 30 m of a gas pipeline
• high voltage power lines and equipment within 500 m of a gas pipeline 
• to alter groundwater surface level (including mire drainage or rehabilitation of a drained mire) 
• land use amendment within the impact area of a gas pipeline

The minimum depth of cover above a pipeline is 1.0 m, with the exception of agricultural field areas where the minimum depth of cover is 1.2 m and bedrock areas where the depth of cover is 0.6 m if the bedrock surface extends 0.6 m above the top surface of the pipeline. A permanent right-of-way expropriated for a gas pipeline is kept free of other structures, but crossings are permitted. As regards underground structures, the minimum distance for parallel installations is 1.00 m and for crossings 0.5 m. The minimum distance of agricultural subsurface drains at crossings is 0.25 m. 

When determining safety distances of buildings from natural gas transmission pipelines and related above-ground equipment and installations, buildings not part of the gas pipeline system are divided into groups A and B. In case of an emergency, evacuation must be possible via a route leading away from the gas pipeline. 

Building safety distances to underground natural gas transmission pipeline 

Safety distances to above-ground parts of the natural gas transmission pipeline 

The safety distance is measured from the side of the gas pipeline, at compressor and pressure reduction stations from the protective building and at valve and scraper stations from the outermost valve or scraper launcher to the closest part of the building not part of the gas pipeline system. 

If you are planning to work near a gas pipeline, please contact us preferably three working days in advance at +358 (0)20 44 78713. Our supervisor will attend the site free of charge.