ASTM E515-11

Standard Practice for Leaks Using Bubble Emission Techniques

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The immersion technique is frequently used to locate leaks in sealed containers. Leaks in a container can be seen independently. Leak size can be approximated by the size of the bubble. It is not suitable for measurement of total system leakage.
The liquid film technique is widely applied to components and systems that can not easily be immersed and is used to rapidly locate leaks. An approximation of leak size can be made based on the type of bubbles formed, but the technique is not suitable for measuring leakage rate. It can be used with a vacuum box to test vessels which cannot be pressurized or where only one side is accessible.
Accuracy—This practice is not intended to measure leakage rates, but to locate leaks on a go, no-go basis. Their accuracy for locating leaks of 4.5 × 10−10 mol/s (1 × 10−4 Std cm3/s) and larger is ±5 %. Accuracy for locating smaller leaks depends upon the skill of the operator.
Repeatability—On a go, no-go basis, duplicate tests by the same operator should not vary by more than ±5 % for leaks of 4.5 × 10−9 mol/s (1 × 10−4 Std cm3/s).  
Reproducibility—On a go, no-go basis, duplicate tests by other trained operators should not vary by more than 10 % for leaks of 4.5 × 10−9 mol/s (1 × 10−4 Std cm3/s) and larger.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers procedures for detecting or locating leaks, or both, by bubble emission techniques. A quantitative measure is not practical. The normal limit of sensitivity for this test method is 4.5 × 10−10 mol/s (1 × 10−5 Std cm3/s).  
1.2 Two techniques are described:
1.2.1 Immersion technique, and
1.2.2 Liquid application technique.
Note 1—Additional information is available in ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section V, Article 10-Leak Testing, and Guide E479.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address 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 limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Jun-2011
• ICS: 19.100 - Non-destructive testing
• Technical Committee: E07 - Nondestructive Testing
• Drafting Committee: E07.08 - Leak Testing Method

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: E515 − 11
Standard Practice for
1
Leaks Using Bubble Emission Techniques
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E515; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2.2 Other Documents:
SNT-TC-1ARecommended Practice for Personnel Qualifi-
1.1 Thispracticecoversproceduresfordetectingorlocating
5
cation and Certification in Nondestructive Testing
leaks, or both, by bubble emission techniques. A quantitative
ANSI/ASNT CP-189ASNT Standard for Qualification and
measureisnotpractical.Thenormallimitofsensitivityforthis 5
Certification of Nondestructive Testing Personnel
−10 −5 3 2
test method is 4.5×10 mol/s (1×10 Std cm /s).
ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section V,Article
6
10-Leak Testing
1.2 Two techniques are described:
NAS-410Certification and Qualification of Nondestructive
1.2.1 Immersion technique, and
7
Test Personnel
1.2.2 Liquid application technique.
2.3 Military Standard:
MIL-L-25567DLeak Detection Compound Oxygen Sys-
NOTE 1—Additional information is available in ASME Boiler and
8
Pressure Vessel Code, Section V, Article 10-Leak Testing, and Guide tems
E479.
3. Terminology
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this test
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
method, see Terminology E1316, Section E.
standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address the safety 4. Summary of Practice
concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
4.1 The basic principle of this method consists of creating a
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and
pressure differential across a leak and observing for bubbles in
health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
a liquid medium located on the low pressure side. The
limitations prior to use.
sensitivity of the method is dependent on the pressure
differential, the gas used to create the differential, and the
2. Referenced Documents
liquid used for testing.As long as the pressure differential can
3
be maintained across the area to be tested, this method can be
2.1 ASTM Standards:
used.
E479Guide for Preparation of a Leak Testing Specification
4
(Withdrawn 2014)
5. Basis of Application
E543Specification forAgencies Performing Nondestructive
5.1 The following items are subject to contractual agree-
Testing
mentbetweenthepartiesusingorreferencingthistestmethod:
E1316Terminology for Nondestructive Examinations
5.2 Personnel Qualifications
5.2.1 If specified in the contractual agreement. Personnel
performing examinations to this test method shall be qualified
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E07 on
in accordance with a nationally or internationally recognized
Nondestructive Testing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E07.08 on
Leak Testing Method.
CurrenteditionapprovedJuly1,2011.PublishedJuly2011.Originallyapproved
5
in1974.Lastpreviouseditionapprovedin2005asE515-05.DOI:10.1520/E0515- AvailablefromAmericanSocietyforNondestructiveTesting(ASNT),P.O.Box
11. 28518, 1711 Arlingate Ln., Columbus, OH 43228-0518, http://www.asnt.org.
2 6
The gas temperature is referenced to 0°C. To convert to another gas reference Available from American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), ASME
temperature, T , multiply the leak rate by (T +273) ⁄273. International Headquarters, Three Park Ave., New York, NY 10016-5990, http://
ref ref
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or www.asme.org.
7
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Available fromAerospace IndustriesAssociation ofAmerica, Inc. (AIA), 1000
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on WilsonBlvd.,Suite1700,Arlington,VA22209-3928,http://www.aia-aerospace.org.
8
the ASTM website. Available from Standardization Documents Order Desk, DODSSP, Bldg. 4,
4
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on Section D, 700 Robbins Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111-5098, http://
www.astm.org. dodssp.daps.dla.mil.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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E515 − 11
NDT personnel qualification practice or standard such as 7.5 Immediate application of high pressure may cause large
ANSI/ASNTCP-189,SNT-TC-1A,NAS-410,orsimilardocu- leaks to be missed in the liquid application technique.
ment and certified by the employer or certifying agency, as
7.6 If the component to be tested
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM 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:E515–05
Standard Test Method for Designation:E515–11
Standard Practice for
1
Leaks Using Bubble Emission Techniques
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E515; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber 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 test methodpractice covers procedures for detecting or locating leaks, or both, by bubble emission techniques. A
−10 −5
quantitative measure is not practical. The normal limit of sensitivity for this test method is 4.5 310 mol/s (1 310 Std
3
2
cm /s).
1.2 Two techniques are described:
1.2.1 Immersion technique, and
1.2.2 Liquid application technique.
NOTE 1—Additional information is available in ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section V, Article 10-Leak Testing, and Guide E479.
1.3
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address 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 limitations
prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E479 Guide for Preparation of a Leak Testing Specification
E543 Specification for Agencies Performing Nondestructive Testing
E1316 Terminology for Nondestructive Examinations
2.2 Other Documents:
4
SNT-TC-1A Recommended Practice for Personnel Qualification and Certification in Nondestructive Testing
4
ANSI/ASNT CP-189 ASNT Standard for Qualification and Certification of Nondestructive Testing Personnel
5
ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section V, Article 10-Leak Testing
6
NAS-410 Certification and Qualification of Nondestructive Test Personnel
2.3 Military Standard:
7
MIL-L-25567D Leak Detection Compound Oxygen Systems
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee E07 on NondestructiveTesting and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E07.08 on LeakTesting.
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2005. Published December 2005. Originally approved in 1974. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as E515-95 (2000). DOI:
10.1520/E0515-05.on Leak Testing Method.
Current edition approved July 1, 2011. Published July 2011. Originally approved in 1974. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as E515-05. DOI: 10.1520/E0515-11.
2
The gas temperature is referenced to 0°C. To convert to another gas reference temperature, T , multiply the leak rate by (T +273)/273.
ref ref
3
ForreferencedASTMstandards,visittheASTMwebsite,www.astm.org,[e-mail] Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
4
Available from American Society for Nondestructive Testing, 1711 Arlingate Plaza, P.O. Box 28518, Columbus, OH 43228–0518.
4
Available from American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT), P.O. Box 28518, 1711 Arlingate Ln., Columbus, OH 43228-0518, http://www.asnt.org.
5
Available from American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 345 E. 47th Street, New York, NY 10017.
5
Available from American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), ASME International Headquarters, Three Park Ave., New York, NY 10016-5990, http://
www.asme.org.
6
Available from Aerospace Industries Association of America, Inc. (AIA), 1250 Eye St., NW, Washington, DC 20005.
6
Available from Aerospace Industries Association of America, Inc. (AIA), 1000 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1700, Arlington, VA 22209-3928, http://www.aia-aerospace.org.
7
Available from Standardization Documents Order Desk, DODSSP, Bldg. 4, Section D, 700 Robbins Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094, Attn: NPODS.19111-5098,
http://dodssp.daps.dla.mil.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E515–11
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this test method, see Terminology E1316, Section E.
4. Summary of Test Method Summary of Practice
4.1 The basic principle of this method consists of creating a pressure differential across a leak and observing for bubbles in a
liquid medium located on the low pressure side. The sensitivity of the method is dependent on the pressure differential,
...