ASTM D7240-06
(Practice)Standard 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)
Standard 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)
SCOPE
1.1 This standard is a performance-based practice for using the spark test to electrically locate leaks in exposed geomembranes with an insulating layer that are in intimate contact with a conductive layer. For clarity, this document uses the term leak to mean holes, punctures, tears, cuts, cracks and similar breaches over the partial or entire area of an installed geomembrane (as defined in ).
1.2 This test method can be used on exposed geomembranes installed in basins, ponds, tanks, ore and waste pads, landfill cells, landfill caps, and other containment facilities. This standard is applicable for geomembranes in direct and intimate contact with a conductive surface or with a conductive layer integrally included.
1.3 SAFETY WARNING: The electrical methods used for geomembrane leak location use high voltage, low current power supplies, resulting in the potential for electrical shock. The electrical methods used for geomembrane leak location should be attempted by only qualified and experienced personnel. Appropriate safety measures must be taken to protect the leak location operators as well as other people at the site.
This standard does not purport to address all of the safety and liability 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
Relations
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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:D7240–06
Standard 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)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7240; 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 3. Terminology
1.1 This standard is a performance-based practice for using 3.1 Definition of terms applying to this test method appear
the spark test to electrically locate leaks in exposed geomem- in Terminology D4439.
branes with an insulating layer that are in intimate contact with 3.2 Definitions:
a conductive layer. For clarity, this document uses the term 3.2.1 electrical leak location, n—a method which uses
‘leak’to mean holes, punctures, tears, cuts, cracks and similar electrical current or electrical potential to detect and locate
breaches over the partial or entire area of an installed geomem- leaks.
brane (as defined in 3.2.3). 3.2.2 geomembrane, n—an essentially impermeable mem-
1.2 Thistestmethodcanbeusedonexposedgeomembranes brane used with foundation, soil, rock, earth or any other
installed in basins, ponds, tanks, ore and waste pads, landfill geotechnical engineering related material as an integral part of
cells, landfill caps, and other containment facilities. This a man made project, structure, or system.
standard is applicable for geomembranes in direct and intimate 3.2.3 leak, n—For the purposes of this document, a leak is
contact with a conductive surface or with a conductive layer anyunintendedopening,perforation,breach,slit,tear,puncture
integrally included. or crack. Significant amounts of liquids or solids may or may
1.3 SAFETY WARNING: The electrical methods used for not flow through a leak. Scratches, gouges, dents, or other
geomembrane leak location use high voltage, low current aberrations that do not completely penetrate the geomembrane
power supplies, resulting in the potential for electrical shock. are not considered to be leaks.
The electrical methods used for geomembrane leak location Leaks detected during surveys have been grouped into three
should be attempted by only qualified and experienced person- categories:
nel. Appropriate safety measures must be taken to protect the • Holes – round shaped voids with downward or upward
leak location operators as well as other people at the site. protruding rims
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the • Tears – linear or circular voids with irregular edge borders
safety and liability concerns, if any, associated with its use. It • Linear cuts – linear voids with neat close edges
is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish 3.2.4 intimate contact, n—for the purposes of this docu-
appropriate safety and health practices and determine the ment, intimate contact is when a conductive layer is in direct
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. contact with the insulating geomembrane, and there are no
gaps between the two layers to prohibit the flow of current.
2. Referenced Documents
3.2.5 leak detection sensitivity, n—The smallest size leak
2.1 ASTM Standards: that the leak location equipment and survey methodology are
D4439 Terminology for Geosynthetics
capable of detecting under a given set of conditions. The leak
D6747 Guide for Selection of Techniques for Electrical detection sensitivity specification is usually stated as a diam-
Detection of Potential Leak Paths in Geomembranes
eter of the smallest leak that can be reliably detected.
3.2.6 wand, n—for the purposes of this document, any rod
that has a conductive brush that is attached to a power source
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D35 on Geosyn-
to initiate the spark test.
thetics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D35.10 on Geomembranes.
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2006. Published February 2006. DOI: 10.1520/
4. Summary of Practice
D7240-06.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
4.1 The principle of this electrical leak location method is to
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
use a high voltage pulsed power supply to charge a capacitor
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. formed by the underlying conductive layer, the non-conductive
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D7240–06
layer of the geomembrane and a coupling pad. The area is then lating layer(s)) of the geomembrane act as a dielectric in a
swept with a test wand to locate points where the capacitor capacitor which stores electrical potential across the geomem-
discharges through a leak. Once the system senses the dis-
brane.
charge current, it is converted into an audible alarm.
4.2.2 Agrid, test lanes or other acceptable system should be
4.2 General Principles
used to ensure that the entire area is tested with the test wand.
4.2.1 Fig. 1 shows a wiring diagram of the coupling pad,
4.2.3 Either a hand held wand or a larger wand mounted to
power supply and test wand for the electrical leak location
an all terrain vehicle may be used. Generally a hand held wand
methodofageomembranewithalowerconductivelayer.Once
is a more efficient method unless the area is quite large and flat.
all necessary connections are made, the pad is placed on the
4.3 Preparations and Measurement Considerations
upper surface of the geomembrane. The nonconductive (insu-
FIG. 1 Wiring Diagram of the Equipment Required for Spark Testing Geomembrane in Intimate Contact With a Conducti
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.