ASTM E2993-23
(Guide)Standard Guide for Evaluating Potential Hazard in Buildings as a Result of Methane in the Vadose Zone
Standard Guide for Evaluating Potential Hazard in Buildings 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 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). Buildings in this context include normal below grade utilities associated with a building.
1.3 Objectives—This guide: (1) provides a practical and reasonable industry standard for evaluating, prioritizing, and addressing potential methane hazards based on mass flow and (2) provides a tool for screening out low-risk sites.
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 sta...
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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 − 23
Standard Guide for
Evaluating Potential Hazard in Buildings as a Result of
1
Methane in the 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 1.5.2 Safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
1.1 This guide provides a consistent basis for assessing
priate safety and health practices and determine the applicabil-
methane in the vadose zone, evaluating hazard and risk,
ity of regulatory limitations prior to use;
determining the appropriate response, and identifying the
1.5.3 Emergency response situations such as sudden rup-
urgency of the response.
tures of gas lines or pipelines;
1.2 Purpose—This guide covers techniques for evaluating
1.5.4 Methane entry into an enclosure from other than
potential hazards associated with methane present in the
vadose zone soils (for example, methane evolved from well
vadose zone beneath or near existing or proposed buildings or
water brought into an enclosure; methane generated directly
other structures (for example, potential fires or explosions
within the enclosure; groundwater intrusion, methane from
within the buildings or structures), when such hazards are
leaking natural gas lines or appliances within the enclosure,
suspected to be present based on due diligence or other site
direct migration into buildings from mine entries, etc.);
evaluations (see 6.1.1). Buildings in this context include
1.5.5 Methane entry into an enclosure situated atop or
normal below grade utilities associated with a building.
immediately adjacent to a municipal solid waste (MSW)
1.3 Objectives—This guide: (1) provides a practical and
landfill or a Construction and Demolition (C&D) landfill;
reasonable industry standard for evaluating, prioritizing, and
1.5.6 Methane from oil & gas reservoirs, injection wells, or
addressing potential methane hazards based on mass flow and
other sources potentially under high pressures relative to
(2) provides a tool for screening out low-risk sites.
typical vadose zone pressures;
1.4 This guide offers a set of instructions for performing one
1.5.7 Methane risk during construction activities, work in
or more specific operations. This guide cannot replace educa-
trenches, and confined space work (which are all best ad-
tion or experience and should be used in conjunction with
dressed via real-time monitoring);
professional judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be
1.5.8 Potential hazards from other gases and vapors that
applicable in all circumstances. This guide is not intended to
may also be present in the subsurface such as hydrogen sulfide,
represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy
carbon dioxide, and/or volatile organic compounds (VOCs);
of a given professional service should be judged, nor should
1.5.9 Anoxic conditions in enclosed spaces;
this guide be applied without consideration of a project’s many
1.5.10 The forensic determination of methane source; or
unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title means only
1.5.11 Potential consequences of fires or explosions in
that the guide has been approved through the ASTM Interna-
enclosed spaces or other issues related to safety engineering
tional consensus process.
design of structures or systems to address fires or explosions.
1.5 Not addressed by this guide are:
1.6 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded
1.5.1 Requirements or guidance or both with respect to
as the standard.
methane sampling or evaluation in federal, state, or local
1.6.1 Exception—Values in inch/pound units are provided
regulations. Users are cautioned that federal, state, and local
for reference.
guidance may impose specific requirements that differ from
those of this guide;
1.7 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 appro-
1 priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E50 on Environmental
Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action and is the direct responsibil-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
ity of Subcommittee E50.02 on Real Estate Assessment and Management.
1.8 This international standard was developed in accor-
Current ed
...
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: E2993 − 16 E2993 − 23
Standard Guide for
Evaluating Potential Hazard in Buildings as a Result of
1
Methane in the 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
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). Buildings
in this context include normal below grade utilities associated with a building.
1.3 Objectives—This guide: (1) provides a practical and reasonable industry standard for evaluating, prioritizing, and addressing
potential methane hazards based on mass flow and (2) raises awareness of the key variables needed to properly evaluate such
hazards.provides a tool for screening out low-risk sites.
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 the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use;
1.5.3 Emergency response situations such as sudden ruptures of gas lines or pipelines;
1.5.4 Methane entry into an enclosure from other than vadose zone soils (for example, methane evolved from well water brought
into an enclosure; methane generated directly within the enclosure; groundwater intrusion, methane from leaking natural gas lines
or appliances within the enclosure, direct migration into buildings from mine entries, etc.);
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E50 on Environmental Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action and is the direct responsibility
of Subcommittee E50.02 on Real Estate Assessment and Management.
Current edition approved March 15, 2016Sept. 1, 2023. Published May 2016November 2023. Originally approved in 2016. Last previous edition approved in 2016 as
E2993–16. DOI: 10.1520/E2993–1610.1520/E2993–23
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
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E2993 − 23
1.5.5 Methane entry into an enclosure situated atop or immediately adjacent to a municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill or a
Construction and Demolition (C&D) landfill;
1.5.6 Methane from oil & gas reservoirs, injection wells, or other sources potentially under high pressures relative to typical
vadose zone pressures;
1.5.7 Methane risk during construction activities, work in trenches, and confined space work (which are all best addressed via
real-time monitoring);
1.5.8 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);
1.5.9 Anoxic conditions in enclosed spaces;
1.5.10 The forensic determination of methane source; or
1.5.11 Potential consequences of fires or explosions in enclosed spaces or other issues related to safet
...
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