PUMA: the PAS128 accreditation scheme from TSA to be showcased at Utility Week Live 2025
The Survey Association (TSA), the trade association representing land surveyors in the UK, is showcasing its PAS128 Accreditation Scheme at Utility Week Live. Named PUMA (PAS128 Utility Mapping Accreditation), the accreditation scheme provides a benchmark and has created a national standard for best practice for underground utility surveys. It is designed to assess the ability of surveyors to deliver to the PAS128 specification.
More than four million excavations take place nationwide every year. Many of these take place without a detailed survey for pipes and cables being carried out first. Striking of these underground assets can cause injury and death, as well as millions of pounds worth of damage and delays to major projects. Raising standards in utility surveys is essential to prioritise safety, drive efficiency and save money. To achieve this, TSA designed and developed this accreditation scheme for its members who carry out utility mapping surveys.
PUMA provides clients with peace of mind and will save them time and costly delays, as well as warding off potentially huge problems which can be caused by poor and inaccurate utility surveys.
Sam Roberts, Technical Committee Chair at TSA, commented, “Before PUMA, survey companies could claim to deliver to the PAS128 specification but did not have to provide any proof of their capability and there was no recognised standard for them to work to. Now, thanks to TSA’s scheme, anyone seeking a utility survey, who sees that a survey company has PUMA accreditation, can have complete confidence in the level of service and the quality of data that will be provided to them.”
PUMA is open to all eligible members of The Survey Association. The scheme is run by LRQA, a global leader in assurance, certification and inspection services. The rigorous assessment process for gaining accreditation has two key stages. Firstly an assessment of the applicant’s office systems and secondly a site assessment. Following accreditation, LRQA institutes a surveillance programme to ensure that the standards, processes and systems against which accreditation was granted are maintained through the three-year validity period of accreditation.
Meet TSA’s team on stand E34, to find out more about PUMA and how it can help you drive efficiency, save money and lives.
TSA: https://www.tsa-uk.org.uk/
For further press information
Maggie Austen, Zebra Marketing and Communications, on 01978 437070 or 07591 980516 or maggie@zebra-comms.co.uk