ASTM E2993-16
(Guide)Standard Guide for Evaluating Potential Hazard as a Result of Methane in the Vadose Zone
Standard Guide for Evaluating Potential Hazard as a Result of Methane in the Vadose Zone
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Several different factors should be taken into consideration when evaluating methane hazard, rather than, for example, use of a single concentration-based screening level as a de-facto hazard assessment level. Key variables are identified and briefly discussed in this section. Legal background information is provided in Appendix X3. The Bibliography includes references where more detailed information can be found on the effect of various parameters on gas concentrations.
5.2 Application—This guide is intended for use by those undertaking an assessment of hazards to people and property as a result of subsurface methane suspected to be present based on due diligence or other site evaluations (see 6.1.1).
5.2.1 This guide addresses shallow methane, including its presence in the vadose zone; at residential, commercial, and industrial sites with existing construction; or where development is proposed.
5.3 This guide provides a consistent, streamlined process for deciding on action and the urgency of action for the identified hazard. Advantages include:
5.3.1 Decisions are based on reducing the actual risk of adverse impacts to people and property.
5.3.2 Assessment is based on collecting only the information that is necessary to evaluate hazard.
5.3.3 Available resources are focused on those sites and conditions that pose the greatest risk to people and property at any time.
5.3.4 Response actions are chosen based on the existence of a hazard and are designed to mitigate the hazard and reduce risk to an acceptable level.
5.3.5 The urgency of initial response to an identified hazard is commensurate with its potential adverse impact to people and property.
5.4 Limitations—This guide does not address potential hazards from other gases and vapors that may also be present in the subsurface such as hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, and/or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that may co-occur with methane. If the presence of hydrogen sulfide or other...
SCOPE
1.1 This guide provides a consistent basis for assessing site methane in the vadose zone, evaluating hazard and risk, determining the appropriate response, and identifying the urgency of the response.
1.2 Purpose—This guide covers techniques for evaluating potential hazards associated with methane present in the vadose zone beneath or near existing or proposed buildings or other structures (for example, potential fires or explosions within the buildings or structures), when such hazards are suspected to be present based on due diligence or other site evaluations (see 6.1.1).
1.3 Objectives—This guide: (1) provides a practical and reasonable industry standard for evaluating, prioritizing, and addressing potential methane hazards and (2) raises awareness of the key variables needed to properly evaluate such hazards.
1.4 This guide offers a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. This guide cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all circumstances. This guide is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service should be judged, nor should this guide be applied without consideration of a project's many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title means only that the guide has been approved through the ASTM International consensus process.
1.5 Not addressed by this guide are:
1.5.1 Requirements or guidance or both with respect to methane sampling or evaluation in federal, state, or local regulations. Users are cautioned that federal, state, and local guidance may impose specific requirements that differ from those of this guide;
1.5.2 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 th...
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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: E2993 − 16
Standard Guide for
Evaluating Potential Hazard as a Result of Methane in the
1
Vadose Zone
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2993; 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 priate safety and health practices and determine the applicabil-
ity of regulatory limitations prior to use;
1.1 This guide provides a consistent basis for assessing site
1.5.3 Emergency response situations such as sudden rup-
methane in the vadose zone, evaluating hazard and risk,
tures of gas lines or pipelines;
determining the appropriate response, and identifying the
1.5.4 Methane entry into an enclosure from other than
urgency of the response.
vadose zone soils (for example, methane evolved from well
1.2 Purpose—This guide covers techniques for evaluating
water brought into an enclosure; methane generated directly
potential hazards associated with methane present in the
withintheenclosure;methanefromleakingnaturalgaslinesor
vadose zone beneath or near existing or proposed buildings or
appliances within the enclosure, etc.);
other structures (for example, potential fires or explosions
1.5.5 Methane entry into an enclosure situated atop or
within the buildings or structures), when such hazards are
immediately adjacent to a municipal solid waste (MSW)
suspected to be present based on due diligence or other site
landfill;
evaluations (see 6.1.1).
1.5.6 Potential hazards from other gases and vapors that
mayalsobepresentinthesubsurfacesuchashydrogensulfide,
1.3 Objectives—This guide: (1) provides a practical and
reasonable industry standard for evaluating, prioritizing, and carbon dioxide, and/or volatile organic compounds (VOCs);
1.5.7 Anoxic conditions in enclosed spaces;
addressing potential methane hazards and (2) raises awareness
of the key variables needed to properly evaluate such hazards. 1.5.8 The forensic determination of methane source; or
1.5.9 Potential consequences of fires or explosions in en-
1.4 Thisguideoffersasetofinstructionsforperformingone
closed spaces or other issues related to safety engineering
or more specific operations. This guide cannot replace educa-
design of structures or systems to address fires or explosions.
tion or experience and should be used in conjunction with
1.6 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded
professional judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be
applicable in all circumstances. This guide is not intended to as the standard.
1.6.1 Exception—Values in inch/pound units are provided
representorreplacethestandardofcarebywhichtheadequacy
of a given professional service should be judged, nor should for reference.
thisguidebeappliedwithoutconsiderationofaproject’smany
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title means only
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
that the guide has been approved through the ASTM Interna-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
tional consensus process.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 Not addressed by this guide are:
1.5.1 Requirements or guidance or both with respect to
2. Referenced Documents
methane sampling or evaluation in federal, state, or local
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
regulations. Users are cautioned that federal, state, and local
D653Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
guidance may impose specific requirements that differ from
Fluids
those of this guide;
D1356Terminology Relating to Sampling and Analysis of
1.5.2 Safetyconcerns,ifany,associatedwithitsuse.Itisthe
Atmospheres
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
D1946Practice for Analysis of Reformed Gas by Gas
Chromatography
1
ThisguideisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeE50onEnvironmental
2
Assessment, Risk Management and CorrectiveAction and is the direct responsibil- For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
ity of Subcommittee E50.02 on Real Estate Assessment and Management. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Current edition approved March 15, 2016. Published May 2016. DOI: 10.1520/ Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
E2993–16 the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-
...
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: E2993 − 16
Standard Guide for
Evaluating Potential Hazard as a Result of Methane in the
1
Vadose Zone
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2993; 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 priate safety and health practices and determine the applicabil-
ity of regulatory limitations prior to use;
1.1 This guide provides a consistent basis for assessing site
1.5.3 Emergency response situations such as sudden rup-
methane in the vadose zone, evaluating hazard and risk,
tures of gas lines or pipelines;
determining the appropriate response, and identifying the
1.5.4 Methane entry into an enclosure from other than
urgency of the response.
vadose zone soils (for example, methane evolved from well
1.2 Purpose—This guide covers techniques for evaluating
water brought into an enclosure; methane generated directly
potential hazards associated with methane present in the
within the enclosure; methane from leaking natural gas lines or
vadose zone beneath or near existing or proposed buildings or
appliances within the enclosure, etc.);
other structures (for example, potential fires or explosions
1.5.5 Methane entry into an enclosure situated atop or
within the buildings or structures), when such hazards are
immediately adjacent to a municipal solid waste (MSW)
suspected to be present based on due diligence or other site
landfill;
evaluations (see 6.1.1).
1.5.6 Potential hazards from other gases and vapors that
1.3 Objectives—This guide: (1) provides a practical and may also be present in the subsurface such as hydrogen sulfide,
carbon dioxide, and/or volatile organic compounds (VOCs);
reasonable industry standard for evaluating, prioritizing, and
addressing potential methane hazards and (2) raises awareness 1.5.7 Anoxic conditions in enclosed spaces;
1.5.8 The forensic determination of methane source; or
of the key variables needed to properly evaluate such hazards.
1.5.9 Potential consequences of fires or explosions in en-
1.4 This guide offers a set of instructions for performing one
closed spaces or other issues related to safety engineering
or more specific operations. This guide cannot replace educa-
design of structures or systems to address fires or explosions.
tion or experience and should be used in conjunction with
professional judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be 1.6 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded
as the standard.
applicable in all circumstances. This guide is not intended to
represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy 1.6.1 Exception—Values in inch/pound units are provided
for reference.
of a given professional service should be judged, nor should
this guide be applied without consideration of a project’s many
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title means only
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
that the guide has been approved through the ASTM Interna-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
tional consensus process.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 Not addressed by this guide are:
1.5.1 Requirements or guidance or both with respect to
2. Referenced Documents
methane sampling or evaluation in federal, state, or local
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
regulations. Users are cautioned that federal, state, and local
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
guidance may impose specific requirements that differ from
Fluids
those of this guide;
D1356 Terminology Relating to Sampling and Analysis of
1.5.2 Safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Atmospheres
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
D1946 Practice for Analysis of Reformed Gas by Gas
Chromatography
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E50 on Environmental
2
Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action and is the direct responsibil- For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
ity of Subcommittee E50.02 on Real Estate Assessment and Management. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Current edition approved March 15, 2016. Published May 2016. DOI: 10.1520/ Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
E2993–16 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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