When should an urgent works advisory (ATU) be issued near the networks?
Verified 21 August 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
If unpredictable work is carried out in an emergency near the networks buried, aerial or underwater, all system operators must be notified. To avoid the risk of damage, the sponsor of the work (the developer) must send them a urgent works notice (ATU). We're taking stock of the regulations.
The steps of the procedure are different if the work is close to sensitive or non-sensitive networks for security.
The sensitive networks for safety are the following:
- Pipelines for the transport of dangerous goods TDG (gases, hydrocarbons, chemicals)
- Transmission, distribution and mining pipelines containing combustible gases
- Pipelines for the transport and distribution of water vapor, superheated, hot and ice water, etc.
- Power lines and street lighting networks with a voltage above 50 V AC or above 120 V DC smooth
- Installations intended for the circulation of public rail or guided transport vehicles (subways, trams, cable cars, etc.)
- Waste transport lines by pneumatic pressure device or by suction
- Structures designed or constructed to prevent flooding and flooding.
Sensitive networks for security
The unpredictable and urgent work shall be subject to an ATU when carried out for the following reasons:
- Security (for example, repairing a rut on the road)
- Continuity of public service (e.g. phone cut-off)
- Safeguarding persons or property (e.g. gas leak)
- Force majeure (for example, storm).
The person responsible for the work and the company responsible for its implementation don't have to do Declaration of Work (DT) and Declaration of Intent to Commence Work (DICT).
The prefect may punish any person who has ordered works unduly qualified as urgent or who executed them under the urgent procedure without having been qualified as such.
The administrative fine shall not exceed €1,500. It can be doubled in case of recurrence.
Before launching urgent works, the works sponsor must collect information from the operators on the location of the networks and on the special precautions to be taken. He must question the online service "Networks and pipelines":
Online service Networks and pipelines
The online service makes it possible to obtain list of all network operators and the emergency telephone numbers operators of sensitive networks.
Sponsor sends each operator an ATU using the online service “Networks and pipelines” or a cerfa form.
It is recommended and, in some cases, mandatory to do the ATU on online service.
If using the form, the Sponsor must call each operator on their emergency number.
The approach is different depending on the network type :
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Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) networks
Before the start of work, the sponsor must call all TDG operators (gases, hydrocarbons and chemicals).
The Sponsor must send the ATU after work indicating the date and time of the telephone call.
Other security-sensitive networks
The approach is different depending on the date of commencement of work :
Work completed less than 24 hours after receipt of the Urgent Work Notice (UWP)
After having contacted network operators on their emergency number to obtain their agreement, the sponsor must send theATU by the “Networks and Pipelines” online service as soon as possible.
It must specify the date and time of the telephone contact.
Sponsor must use the following online service:
Work completed more than 24 hours after receipt of the Urgent Work Notice (UWP)
Before the works, the work sponsor must send an ATU to each network operator. It can use the “Networks and pipelines” online service or the cerfa form. It is recommended to use the online service.
Online service
The sponsor of the work must specify his identity, as well as that of the company responsible for carrying out the work. It must justify the nature, location and urgency of the work.
Form
The sponsor of the work must specify his identity, as well as that of the company responsible for carrying out the work. It must justify the nature, location and urgency of the work.
Regardless of the type of safety sensitive network, the operator has an obligation to respond.
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Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) networks
The operator, contacted on the emergency number, shall communicate the network location and security guidelines.
Please note
If the operator does not answer on the emergency number, the work can still start taking into account the potential presence of TDG networks.
Other security-sensitive networks
Depending on the start date of the work, the response times are different:
Work completed less than 24 hours after receipt of the Urgent Work Notice (UWP)
The operator shall give the network location and security guidelines. The work can then begin.
Work completed more than 24 hours after receipt of the Urgent Work Notice (UWP)
The network operator shall answer mandatory half a day before the work. If he does not answer, the work sponsor can restart him on the emergency number.
Please note
In the absence of a response, work can still begin taking into account the potential presence of networks.
To carry out urgent and unpredictable work,all persons involved on the site must hold theAuthorization for Intervention Near Networks (AIPR).
The AIPR is issued by the employer to validate the acquired skills of the employee.
He must use the following form:
Other Networks
The unpredictable and urgent work shall be subject to an ATU when carried out for the following reasons:
- Security (for example, repairing a rut on the road)
- Continuity of public service (e.g. phone cut-off)
- Safeguarding persons or property (e.g. gas leak)
- Force majeure (for example, storm).
The person responsible for the work and the company responsible for its implementation don't have to do Declaration of Work (DT) and Declaration of Intent to Commence Work (DICT).
The prefect may punish any person who has ordered works unduly qualified as urgent or who executed them under the urgent procedure without having been qualified as such.
The administrative fine shall not exceed €1,500. It can be doubled in case of recurrence.
Before launching urgent works, the works sponsor must collect information from the operators on the location of the networks and on the special precautions to be taken. He must question the online service "Networks and pipelines":
Online service Networks and pipelines
The online service makes it possible to obtain list of all network operators and the emergency telephone numbers operators of sensitive networks.
The sponsor must send the ATU to each network operator before or after the construction site, using the ‘Networks and pipelines’ online service or a cerfa form. He doesn't have to call them.
Online service
The sponsor of the work must specify his identity, as well as that of the company responsible for carrying out the work. It must justify the nature, location and urgency of the work.
Form
The sponsor of the work must specify his identity, as well as that of the company responsible for carrying out the work. It must justify the nature, location and urgency of the work.
The operators of non-sensitive networks are not obliged to comply with an ATU whether it was sent before or after the work.
To carry out urgent and unpredictable work,all persons involved on the site must hold theAuthorization for Intervention Near Networks (AIPR).
The AIPR is issued by the employer to validate the acquired skills of the employee.
He must use the following form:
Sensitive networks
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