ASTM D7953-20
(Practice)Standard Practice for Electrical Leak Location on Exposed Geomembranes Using the Arc Testing Method
Standard Practice for Electrical Leak Location on Exposed Geomembranes Using the Arc Testing Method
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 Electrical leak location methods are an effective and proven quality assurance measure to detect and locate leaks.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice is a performance-based standard for an electrical method for locating leaks in exposed geomembranes. For clarity, this practice uses the term “leak” to mean holes, punctures, tears, knife cuts, seam defects, cracks, and similar breaches in an installed geomembrane (as defined in 3.2.6).
1.2 This practice can be used for geomembranes installed in basins, ponds, tanks, ore and waste pads, landfill cells, landfill caps, canals, and other containment facilities. It is applicable for geomembranes made of materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, bituminous geomembrane, and any other sufficiently electrically insulating materials. This practice is best applicable for locating geomembrane leaks where the proper preparations have been made during the construction of the facility.
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 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.
1.5 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.
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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: D7953 − 20
Standard Practice for
Electrical Leak Location on Exposed Geomembranes Using
1
the Arc Testing Method
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7953; 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
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 This practice is a performance-based standard for an
D4439 Terminology for Geosynthetics
electrical method for locating leaks in exposed geomembranes.
D6747 GuideforSelectionofTechniquesforElectricalLeak
For clarity, this practice uses the term “leak” to mean holes,
Location of Leaks in Geomembranes
punctures, tears, knife cuts, seam defects, cracks, and similar
D7002 Practice for Electrical Leak Location on Exposed
breaches in an installed geomembrane (as defined in 3.2.6).
Geomembranes Using the Water Puddle Method
1.2 This practice can be used for geomembranes installed in D7703 Practice for Electrical Leak Location on Exposed
basins, ponds, tanks, ore and waste pads, landfill cells, landfill Geomembranes Using the Water Lance Method
caps, canals, and other containment facilities. It is applicable
3. Terminology
for geomembranes made of materials such as polyethylene,
3.1 Definitions—For general definitions used in this
polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, chlorosulfonated
practice, refer to Terminology D4439.
polyethylene, bituminous geomembrane, and any other suffi-
ciently electrically insulating materials. This practice is best
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
applicable for locating geomembrane leaks where the proper
3.2.1 artificial leak, n—an electrical simulation of a leak in
preparations have been made during the construction of the
a geomembrane.
facility.
3.2.2 conductive-backed geomembrane, n—a specialty
geomembrane manufactured using coextrusion technology fea-
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
turing an insulating layer in intimate contact with a conductive
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
layer.
standard.
3.2.3 current, n—the flow of electricity or the flow of
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
electric charge.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.2.4 electrical leak location, n—a method which uses
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
electrical current or electrical potential to locate leaks in a
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
geomembrane.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.2.5 electrically isolated conductive-backed geomembrane
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
installation, n—an installation of conductive-backed geomem-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
brane that achieves a continuously conductive surface on the
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
bottom layer while electrically isolating the bottom conductive
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
layer from the top insulating layer of the entire geomembrane
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
installation.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
3.2.6 leak, n—for the purposes of this document, a leak is
any unintended opening, perforation, breach, slit, tear,
puncture, crack, or seam breach. Significant amounts of liquids
or solids may or may not flow through a leak. Scratches,
gouges, dents, or other aberrations that do not completely
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D35 on Geosyn-
2
thetics 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, 2020. Published January 2020. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2014. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as D7953 – 14. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D7953-20. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D7953 − 20
penetrate the geomembrane are not considered to be leaks. 5.1.1 The principle of the electrical leak location methods is
Types of leaks detected during surveys include but are not to place a voltage across a geomemb
...
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: D7953 − 14 D7953 − 20
Standard Practice for
Electrical Leak Location on Exposed Geomembranes Using
1
the Arc Testing Method
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7953; 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 practice is a performance-based standard for an electrical method for locating leaks in exposed geomembranes. For
clarity, this practice uses the term “leak” to mean holes, punctures, tears, knife cuts, seam defects, cracks, and similar breaches in
an installed geomembrane (as defined in 3.2.43.2.6).
1.2 This practice can be used for geomembranes installed in basins, ponds, tanks, ore and waste pads, landfill cells, landfill caps,
canals, and other containment facilities. It is applicable for geomembranes made of materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene,
polyvinyl chloride, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, bituminous geomembrane, and any other sufficiently electrically insulating
materials. This practice is best applicable for locating geomembrane leaks where the proper preparations have been made during
the construction of the facility.
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 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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 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 Electrical Leak Location of Leaks in Geomembranes
D7002 Practice for Electrical Leak Location on Exposed Geomembranes Using the Water Puddle Method
D7703 Practice for Electrical Leak Location on Exposed Geomembranes Using the Water Lance Method
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions: Definitions—For general definitions used in this practice, refer to Terminology D4439.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 artificial leak, n—an electrical simulation of a leak in a geomembrane.
3.2.2 conductive-backed geomembrane, n—a specialty geomembrane manufactured using coextrusion technology featuring an
insulating layer in intimate contact with a conductive layer.layer.
3.2.3 current, n—the flow of electricity or the flow of electric charge.
3.2.4 electrical leak location, n—a method which uses electrical current or electrical potential to locate leaks in a geomembrane.
3.2.5 electrically isolated conductive-backed geomembrane installation, n—an installation of conductive-backed geomembrane
that achieves a continuously conductive surface on the bottom layer while electrically isolating the bottom conductive layer from
the top insulating layer of the entire geomembrane installation.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D35.10 on Geomembranes.
Current edition approved July 1, 2014Jan. 1, 2020. Published July 2014January 2020. Originally approved in 2014. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as D7953 – 14.
DOI: 10.1520/D7953–14.10.1520/D7953-20.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. 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 ----------------------
D7953 − 20
3.2.6 leak, n—for the purposes of this document, a leak is any unintended opening, perforation, breach, slit, tear, puncture,
crack, or seam breach. Significant amounts of liquids or solids may or may not flow through a leak. Scratches, gouges, dents, or
other aberrations that do not completely penetrate the geom
...
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