ASTM D7909-21a

Standard Guide for Placement of Intentional Leaks During Electrical Leak Location Surveys of Geomembranes

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Geomembranes are used as low-permeability barriers to control liquids from leaking from landfills, ponds, and other containments. The liquids may contain contaminants that, if released, can cause damage to the environment. Leaking liquids can also erode the subgrade. 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 result even when the quality of the subgrade preparation, the quality of the material placed on the geomembrane, and the quality of the workmanship are not deficient.  
4.3 Electrical leak location methods are an effective final quality assurance (QA) measure to locate previously undetected leaks in electrically insulating geomembranes. Practices for these implementations are contained in Guide D6747 and Practices D7002, D7007, D7240, D7703, D7953, and D8265.  
4.4 It is important to realize that the detection of leaks depends not only on the capabilities of the leak location equipment, procedures, and experience of the leak location practitioner, but also on local site conditions that are not under the control of the leak location practitioner. In particular, to detect a leak, there shall be an electrical conduction path through the leak and through the materials above and below the leak to allow sufficient electrical current through the leak for detection. Some site conditions, such as a leak not making contact with the subgrade, dry geotextile, or geocomposite above or below the leak; dry materials above or below the leak; degree of isolation between the materials above and below the geomembrane; and other factors, may preclude the detection of leaks. Therefore, the use of a properly placed leak is also a test of site preparations and conditions.  
4.5 It is not necessarily proper to conclude that, if a leak is not detected, a leak location survey using...
SCOPE
1.1 This guide is for placing leaks in geomembranes before performing an electrical leak location survey. The geomembranes can be bare (not covered) or can be covered with water or moist soil.  
1.2 This guide is intended to serve as an additional quality control/quality assurance (QC/QA) measure to ensure that leaks through the geomembrane are detectable, site conditions are proper for leak location surveys, and a valid and complete leak location survey is performed. Because various leak location practitioners use a wide variety of equipment to perform these surveys and have a wide range of expertise, placement of leaks by the owner or owner’s representative helps ensure that the leak location survey is being performed correctly and completely.  
1.3 Placing leaks should be done with the consent and knowledge of all involved parties and specifically the “owner” of the geomembrane. Geomembranes are typically purchased and installed by dedicated geosynthetic installers who “own” the geomembrane until the ownership gets transferred to the end user. A project meeting should be set up with the owner, the consultant, the geosynthetic installers, and the leak location contractor. The intention to create leaks should be clearly stated by the owner or consultants or both, and the scope and number to be placed should be understood by all parties. The consultant should broadly identify to the lining contractor a location that can be easily repaired after the test. It is critical that all leaks be included on the liner documentation and repair record drawing.  
1.4 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 electrically insulating materials. (Warning—The electrical methods used for geomembrane leak location could use high voltages, resulting in the p...

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Apr-2021
• ICS: 59.080.70 - Geotextiles
• Technical Committee: D35 - Geosynthetics
• Drafting Committee: D35.10 - Geomembranes

Standards Content (Sample)

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.
Designation: D7909 − 21a
Standard Guide for
Placement of Intentional Leaks During Electrical Leak
1
Location Surveys of Geomembranes
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7909; 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 This hazard might be increased because operations might be
conducted in or near water. In particular, a high voltage could
1.1 This guide is for placing leaks in geomembranes before
exist between the water or earth material and earth ground or
performing an electrical leak location survey. The geomem-
any grounded conductor. These procedures are potentially very
branes can be bare (not covered) or can be covered with water
dangerous and can result in personal injury or death. The
or moist soil.
electrical methods used for geomembrane leak location should
1.2 This guide is intended to serve as an additional quality
be attempted only by qualified and experienced personnel.
control/quality assurance (QC/QA) measure to ensure that
Appropriate safety measures shall be taken to protect the leak
leaks through the geomembrane are detectable, site conditions
location operators as well as other people at the site.)
are proper for leak location surveys, and a valid and complete
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
leak location survey is performed. Because various leak
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
location practitioners use a wide variety of equipment to
standard.
perform these surveys and have a wide range of expertise,
placement of leaks by the owner or owner’s representative 1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
helps ensure that the leak location survey is being performed safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
correctly and completely. responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
1.3 Placing leaks should be done with the consent and
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
knowledge of all involved parties and specifically the “owner”
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
of the geomembrane. Geomembranes are typically purchased
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
and installed by dedicated geosynthetic installers who “own”
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
the geomembrane until the ownership gets transferred to the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
end user. A project meeting should be set up with the owner,
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
the consultant, the geosynthetic installers, and the leak location
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
contractor. The intention to create leaks should be clearly
stated by the owner or consultants or both, and the scope and
2. Referenced Documents
number to be placed should be understood by all parties. The
2
consultant should broadly identify to the lining contractor a
2.1 ASTM Standards:
location that can be easily repaired after the test. It is critical
D4439 Terminology for Geosynthetics
that all leaks be included on the liner documentation and repair
D6747 GuideforSelectionofTechniquesforElectricalLeak
record drawing.
Location of Leaks in Geomembranes
D7002 Practice for Electrical Leak Location on Exposed
1.4 Leak location surveys can be used on geomembranes
Geomembranes Using the Water Puddle Method
installed in basins, ponds, tanks, ore and waste pads, landfill
D7007 Practices for Electrical Methods for Locating Leaks
cells, landfill caps, and other containment facilities. The
in Geomembranes Covered with Water or Earthen Mate-
procedures are applicable for geomembranes made of electri-
rials
cally insulating materials. (Warning—The electrical methods
D7240 Practice for Electrical Leak Location Using
used for geomembrane leak location could use high voltages,
Geomembranes with an Insulating Layer in Intimate
resulting in the potential for electrical shock or electrocution.
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 May 1, 2021. Published May 2021. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2014. Last prev
...

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: D7909 − 21 D7909 − 21a
Standard Guide for
Placement of (Blind) Actual Intentional Leaks During
1
Electrical Leak Location Surveys of Geomembranes
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7909; 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 guide is for placing (blind) actual leaks in geomembranes before performing an electrical leak location survey. The
geomembranes can be bare (not covered) or can be covered with water or moist soil.
1.2 This guide is intended to serve as an additional quality control/quality assurance (QC/QA) measure to ensure that leaks through
the geomembrane are detectable, site conditions are proper for leak location surveys, and a valid and complete leak location survey
is performed. Because various leak location practitioners use a wide variety of equipment to perform these surveys and have a wide
range of expertise, placement of actual leaks by the owner or owner’s representative helps ensure that the leak location survey is
being performed correctly and completely.
1.3 Placing actual leaks should be done with the consent and knowledge of all involved parties and specifically the “owner” of
the geomembrane. Geomembranes are typically purchased and installed by dedicated geosynthetic installers who “own” the
geomembrane until the ownership gets transferred to the end user. A project meeting should be set up with the owner, the
consultant, the geosynthetic installers, and the leak location contractor. The intention to use actual create leaks should be clearly
stated by the owner or consultants or both, and the scope and number to be placed should be understood by all parties. The
consultant should broadly identify to the lining contractor a location that can be easily repaired after the test. It is critical that all
actual leaks be included on the liner documentation and repair record drawing.
1.4 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 electrically insulating materials.
(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 shall be taken to
protect the leak location operators as well as other people at the site.)
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.6 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
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, 2021May 1, 2021. Published February 2021May 2021. Originally approved in 2014. Last previous edition approved in 20142021 as
D7909 – 14.D7909 – 21. DOI: 10.1520/D7909-21.10.1520/D7909-21A.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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D7909 − 21a
1.7 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
D6747 Guide for Selection of Techniques for Electrica
...