3M has developed an effective way to locate the path of underground plastic pipes and conduits, eliminating the need, problems, and costs associated with tracer wire and test stations. 3M™ Electronic Marking System uses a new EMS marker technology embedded into a caution tape or pull rope for installation near or above the buried facility and helps provide continuous path location.

When energized using a 3M™ Dynatel™ Locator 7000 Series (720, 7550, 7573), the markers are activated. The markers require no batteries, and there is no need to hook up an external transmitter or search for access points. The markers work independently, so even if a section of caution tape is cut or removed, the other markers on the tape would continue to provide an accurate location. Each version of 3M™ EMS Caution Tape or rope is tuned to a frequency specific to the path of that utility (gas, telco, or wastewater) and can be buried up to 0.76 m.