ASTM D6747-15

Standard Guide for Selection of Techniques for Electrical Leak Location of Leaks in Geomembranes

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Geomembranes are used as barriers to prevent liquids from leaking from landfills, ponds, and other containments. For this purpose, it is desirable that the geomembrane have as little leakage as practical.  
4.2 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.  
4.3 Geomembranes are often assembled in the field, either by unrolling and welding panels of the geomembrane material together in the field, unfolding flexible geomembranes in the field, or a combination of both.  
4.4 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.  
4.5 Experience demonstrates that geomembranes can have leaks caused during their installation and placement of material(s) on the geomembrane.  
4.6 Electrical leak location methods are an effective and proven quality assurance measure to locate leaks. Such methods have been used successfully to locate leaks in electrically-insulating geomembranes such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, chlorosulfonated polyethylene and bituminous geomembranes installed in basins, ponds, tanks, ore and waste pads, and landfill cells.  
4.7 The principle behind these techniques is to place a voltage across an electrically insulating geomembrane and then locate areas where electrical current flows through leaks in the geomembrane (as shown schematically in Fig. 1). Other electrical leak paths such as pipe penetrations, flange bolts, steel drains, and batten strips on concrete and other extraneous electrical paths should be electrically isolated or insulated to prevent masking of leak signals caused by electrical short-circuiting through those preferential electrical paths...
SCOPE
1.1 This guide is intended to assist individuals or groups in assessing different options available for locating leaks in installed geomembranes using electrical methods. For clarity, this guide uses the term “leak” to mean holes, punctures, tears, knife cuts, seam defects, cracks, and similar breaches in an installed geomembrane (as defined in 3.2.3).  
1.2 This guide does not cover systems that are restricted to seam testing only, nor does it cover systems that may detect leaks non-electrically. It does not cover systems that only detect the presence, but not the location of leaks.  
1.3 (Warning—The electrical methods used for geomembrane leak location could use high voltages, resulting in the potential for electrical shock or electrocution. This hazard might be increased because operations might be conducted in or near water. In particular, a high voltage could exist between the water or earth material and earth ground, or any grounded conductor. These procedures are potentially very dangerous, and can result in personal injury or death. The electrical methods used for geomembrane leak location should be attempted only by qualified and experienced personnel. Appropriate safety measures must be taken to protect the leak location operators as well as other people at the site.)  
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.5 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory requirements prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-2014
• ICS: 59.080.70 - Geotextiles
• 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: D6747 − 15
Standard Guide for
Selection of Techniques for Electrical Leak Location of
1
Leaks in Geomembranes
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6747; 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 2. Referenced Documents
2
1.1 This guide is intended to assist individuals or groups in 2.1 ASTM Standards:
D4439 Terminology for Geosynthetics
assessing different options available for locating leaks in
D7002 Practice for Electrical Leak Location on Exposed
installed geomembranes using electrical methods. For clarity,
Geomembranes Using the Water Puddle Method
this guide uses the term “leak” to mean holes, punctures, tears,
D7007 Practices for Electrical Methods for Locating Leaks
knife cuts, seam defects, cracks, and similar breaches in an
in Geomembranes Covered with Water or Earthen Mate-
installed geomembrane (as defined in 3.2.3).
rials
1.2 This guide does not cover systems that are restricted to
D7240 Practice for Leak Location using Geomembranes
seam testing only, nor does it cover systems that may detect
with an Insulating Layer in Intimate Contact with a
leaks non-electrically. It does not cover systems that only
Conductive Layer via Electrical Capacitance Technique
detect the presence, but not the location of leaks.
(Conductive Geomembrane Spark Test)
1.3 (Warning—The electrical methods used for geomem-
D7703 Practice for Electrical Leak Location on Exposed
brane leak location could use high voltages, resulting in the
Geomembranes Using the Water Lance Method
potential for electrical shock or electrocution. This hazard
D7953 Practice for Electrical Leak Location on Exposed
might be increased because operations might be conducted in
Geomembranes Using the Arc Testing Method
or near water. In particular, a high voltage could exist between
3. Terminology
the water or earth material and earth ground, or any grounded
conductor. These procedures are potentially very dangerous, 3.1 For general definitions used in this guide, refer to
and can result in personal injury or death. The electrical
Terminology D4439.
methods used for geomembrane leak location should be
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
attempted only by qualified and experienced personnel.Appro-
3.2.1 conductive-backed geomembrane, n—a specialty
priate safety measures must be taken to protect the leak
geomembrane manufactured using the coextrusion process
location operators as well as other people at the site.)
with an insulating layer in intimate contact with a conductive
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as layer.
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
3.2.2 electrical leak location, n—a method which uses
standard.
electrical current or electrical potential to locate leaks in a
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the geomembrane.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.2.3 leak, n—for the purposes of this guide, a leak is any
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
unintended opening, perforation, breach, slit, tear, puncture,
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
crack, or seam breach. Significant amounts of liquids or solids
bility of regulatory requirements prior to use.
may or may not flow through a leak. Scratches, gouges, dents,
or other aberrations that do not completely penetrate the
geomembrane are not considered to be leaks. Types of leaks
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics
2
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D35.10 on Geomembranes. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2015. Published January 2015. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2002. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as D6747–12. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D6747-15. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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D6747 − 15
detected during surveys include, but are not limited to: burns, 4.6 Electrical leak location methods are an effective and
circular holes, linear cuts, seam defects, tears, punctures, and proven quality assurance measure to locate leaks. Such meth-
material defects. ods have been used successfully to locate leaks in electrically-
insulating geomembranes such as polyethylene,
3.2.4 l
...

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: D6747 − 12 D6747 − 15
Standard Guide for
Selection of Techniques for Electrical Detection Leak
1
Location of Leaks in Geomembranes
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6747; 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 This standard guide is intended to assist individuals or groups in assessing different options available for locating leaks in
installed geomembranes using electrical methods. For clarity, this documentguide uses the term leak“leak” to mean holes,
punctures, tears, knife cuts, seam defects, cracks, and similar breaches throughin an installed geomembrane.geomembrane (as
defined in 3.2.3).
1.2 This guide does not cover systems that are restricted to seam testing only, nor does it cover systems that may detect leaks
non-electrically. It does not cover systems that only detect the presence, but not the location of leaks.
1.3 (Warning—The electrical methods used for geomembrane leak location could use high voltages, resulting in the potential
for electrical shock or electrocution. This hazard might be increased because operations might be conducted in or near water. In
particular, a high voltage could exist between the water or earth material and earth ground, or any grounded conductor. These
procedures are potentially very dangerous, and can result in personal injury or death. The electrical methods used for geomembrane
leak location should be attempted only by qualified and experienced personnel. Appropriate safety measures must be taken to
protect the leak location operators as well as other people at the site.The electrical methods used for geomembrane leak location
could use high voltages, resulting in the potential for electrical shock or electrocution. This hazard might be increased because
operations might be conducted in or near water. In particular, a high voltage could exist between the water or earth material and
earth ground, or any grounded conductor. These procedures are potentially very dangerous, and can result in personal injury or
death. The electrical methods used for geomembrane leak location should be attempted only by qualified and experienced
personnel. Appropriate safety measures must be taken to protect the leak location operators as well as other people at the site.)
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.5 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
requirements prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D4439 Terminology for Geosynthetics
D7002 Practice for Electrical Leak Location on Exposed Geomembranes Using the Water Puddle Method
D7007 Practices for Electrical Methods for Locating Leaks in Geomembranes Covered with Water or EarthEarthen Materials
D7240 Practice for Leak Location using Geomembranes with an Insulating Layer in Intimate Contact with a Conductive Layer
via Electrical Capacitance Technique (Conductive Geomembrane Spark Test)
D7703 Practice for Electrical Leak Location on Exposed Geomembranes Using the Water Lance Method
D7953 Practice for Electrical Leak Location on Exposed Geomembranes Using the Arc Testing Method
3. Terminology
3.1 For general definitions used in this document, refer to D4439. For general definitions used in this guide, refer to
Terminology D4439.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D35.10 on Geomembranes.
Current edition approved Feb. 15, 2012Jan. 1, 2015. Published February 2012January 2015. Originally approved in 2002. Last previous edition approved in 20022012
as D6747–04.–12. DOI: 10.1520/D6747-12.10.1520/D6747-15.
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

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