ASTM D8265-20

Standard Practices for Electrical Methods for Mapping Leaks in Installed Geomembranes

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Geomembranes are used as impermeable barriers to prevent liquids from leaking from landfills, ponds, and other containment facilities. The liquids may contain contaminants that, if released, can cause damage to the environment. Leaking liquids can erode the subgrade, causing further damage. Leakage can result in product loss or otherwise prevent the installation from performing its intended containment purpose. For these reasons, it is desirable that the geomembrane have as little leakage as practical.  
4.2 Geomembrane leaks can be caused by poor quality of the subgrade, poor quality of the material placed on the geomembrane, accidents, poor workmanship, manufacturing defects, and carelessness.  
4.3 The most significant causes of leaks in geomembranes that are covered with only water are related to construction activities, including pumps and equipment placed on the geomembrane, accidental punctures, and punctures caused by traffic over rocks or debris on the geomembrane or in the subgrade.  
4.4 The most significant cause of leaks in geomembranes covered with earthen materials is construction damage caused by machinery that occurs while placing the earthen material on the geomembrane. Such damage also can breach additional layers of the lining system such as geosynthetic clay liners.  
4.5 Electrical leak location methods are used to detect and locate leaks for repair. These practices can achieve a zero-leak condition at the conclusion of the survey(s). If any of the requirements for survey area preparation and testing procedures is not adhered to, then leaks could remain in the geomembrane after the survey. Not all of the survey area requirements are possible to achieve at some sites, but the closer the site can come to the ideal condition, the more successful the method will be.
SCOPE
1.1 These practices describe standard procedures for using electrical methods to locate leaks in geomembranes covered with liquid or earthen materials, which can be watered to cause leakage through the geomembrane. For clarity, these practices use the term “leak” to mean holes, punctures, tears, knife cuts, seam defects, cracks, and similar breaches in an installed geomembrane (as defined in 3.2.7).  
1.2 These practices are intended to ensure that leak location surveys are performed to the highest technical capability of electrical methods, which should result in complete liquid containment (no leaks in geomembrane).  
1.3 Not all sites will be easily amenable to this method, but some preparation can be performed in order to enable this method at nearly any site.  
1.4 The geomembrane must be covered with water or as wet as practical. Earthen materials or sludge, or both, may also be present over the geomembrane. The main requirement is that a hydraulic gradient exist across the geomembrane so that if a hole or breach exists in the geomembrane, it will actively leak during the testing. If ideal testing conditions cannot be achieved, the method can still be performed, but any issues with site conditions are documented.  
1.5 Leak location surveys can be used on geomembranes installed in basins, ponds, tanks, ore and waste pads, landfill cells, landfill caps, and other containment facilities. The procedures are applicable for geomembranes made of materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, bituminous material, and other sufficiently electrically insulating materials.  
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.7 The electrical methods used for geomembrane leak location should be attempted only by qualified and experienced personnel. Appropriate safety measures should be taken to protect the leak location operators, as well as other people at the site. A current limiter of no greater than 290 mA should be used for all direct current power sources used to...

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Apr-2020
• ICS: 91.100.50 - Binders. Sealing materials
• Technical Committee: D35 - Geosynthetics
• Drafting Committee: D35.10 - Geomembranes

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D8265 − 20
Standard Practices for
Electrical Methods for Mapping Leaks in Installed
1
Geomembranes
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D8265; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 1.7 The electrical methods used for geomembrane leak
locationshouldbeattemptedonlybyqualifiedandexperienced
1.1 These practices describe standard procedures for using
personnel. Appropriate safety measures should be taken to
electrical methods to locate leaks in geomembranes covered
protect the leak location operators, as well as other people at
with liquid or earthen materials, which can be watered to cause
the site.Acurrent limiter of no greater than 290 mAshould be
leakage through the geomembrane. For clarity, these practices
used for all direct current power sources used to conduct the
use the term “leak” to mean holes, punctures, tears, knife cuts,
survey.
seam defects, cracks, and similar breaches in an installed
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the
geomembrane (as defined in 3.2.7).
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.2 These practices are intended to ensure that leak location
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
surveys are performed to the highest technical capability of
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
electrical methods, which should result in complete liquid
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
containment (no leaks in geomembrane).
1.9 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
1.3 Not all sites will be easily amenable to this method, but
some preparation can be performed in order to enable this ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
method at nearly any site.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
1.4 The geomembrane must be covered with water or as wet
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
as practical. Earthen materials or sludge, or both, may also be
present over the geomembrane. The main requirement is that a
2. Referenced Documents
hydraulic gradient exist across the geomembrane so that if a
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
hole or breach exists in the geomembrane, it will actively leak
D4439 Terminology for Geosynthetics
during the testing. If ideal testing conditions cannot be
achieved, the method can still be performed, but any issues
3. Terminology
with site conditions are documented.
3.1 For general definitions related to geosynthetics, see
1.5 Leak location surveys can be used on geomembranes
Terminology D4439.
installed in basins, ponds, tanks, ore and waste pads, landfill
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
cells, landfill caps, and other containment facilities. The
3.2.1 anomaly, n—electrical measurement caused by some
proceduresareapplicableforgeomembranesmadeofmaterials
aberration in the survey area, which may or may not be a leak.
such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, chlo-
rosulfonated polyethylene, bituminous material, and other
3.2.2 conductive-backed geomembrane, n—a specialty
sufficiently electrically insulating materials.
geomembrane manufactured using co-extrusion technology
featuring an insulating layer in intimate contact with a conduc-
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
tive layer.
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
standard. 3.2.3 current source electrode, n—the electrode that is
placed in the water or earthen material above the geomem-
brane.
1
These practices are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D35 on
Geosynthetics and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D35.10 on
2
Geomembranes. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved May 1, 2020. Published May 2020. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2019. Last previous edition approved in 2019 as D8265 – 19. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D8265-20. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D8265 − 20
3.2.4 dipole measurement, n—an electrical measurement 4.4 The most significant cause of leaks in geomembranes
made on or in a partially conductive material using two closely covered with earthen material
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D8265 − 19 D8265 − 20
Standard Practices for
Electrical Methods for Mapping Leaks in Installed
1
Geomembranes
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D8265; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 These practices describe standard procedures for using electrical methods to locate leaks in geomembranes covered with
liquid or earthen materials, which can be watered to cause leakage through the geomembrane. For clarity, these practices use the
term “leak” to mean holes, punctures, tears, knife cuts, seam defects, cracks, and similar breaches in an installed geomembrane
(as defined in 3.2.7).
1.2 These practices are intended to ensure that leak location surveys are performed to the highest technical capability of
electrical methods, which should result in complete liquid containment (no leaks in geomembrane).
1.3 Not all sites will be easily amenable to this method, but some preparation can be performed in order to enable this method
at nearly any site.
1.4 The geomembrane must be covered with water or as wet as practical. Earthen materials or sludge, or both, may also be
present over the geomembrane. The main requirement is that a hydraulic gradient exist across the geomembrane so that if a hole
or breach exists in the geomembrane, it will actively leak during the testing. If ideal testing conditions cannot be achieved, the
method can still be performed, but any issues with site conditions are documented.
1.5 Leak location surveys can be used on geomembranes installed in basins, ponds, tanks, ore and waste pads, landfill cells,
landfill caps, and other containment facilities. The procedures are applicable for geomembranes made of materials such as
polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, bituminous material, and other sufficiently
electrically insulating materials.
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.7 The electrical methods used for geomembrane leak location should be attempted only by qualified and experienced
personnel. Appropriate safety measures should be taken to protect the leak location operators, as well as other people at the site.
A current limiter of no greater than 290 mA should be used for all direct current power sources used to conduct the survey.
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.9 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D4439 Terminology for Geosynthetics
3. Terminology
3.1 For general definitions related to geosynthetics, see Terminology D4439.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1
These practices are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D35.10 on Geomembranes.
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2019May 1, 2020. Published August 2019May 2020. Originally approved in 2019. Last previous edition approved in 2019 as D8265 – 19.
DOI: 10.1520/D8265-19.10.1520/D8265-20.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D8265 − 20
3.2.1 anomaly, n—electrical measurement caused by some aberration in the survey area, which may or may not be a leak.
3.2.2 conductive-backed geomembrane, n—a specialty geomembrane manufactured using co-extrusion technology featuring an
insulating layer in intimate contact with a conduct
...