ASTM F2683-11
(Guide)Standard Guide for Selection of Booms for Oil-Spill Response
Standard Guide for Selection of Booms for Oil-Spill Response
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This guide is intended to aid in the selection of oil spill containment boom for various response conditions. It is not intended to define rigid sets of boom selection standards.
This guide is intended to be used by persons generally familiar with the practical aspects of oil spill cleanup operations including on-scene response coordinators, planners, oil spill management teams, oil spill removal organizations, and plan evaluators.
Minimum requirements for boom dimensions, buoyancy, and tensile strength are specified in Guide F1523. This guide provides additional qualitative information to aid in boom selection.
Seven general types of boom systems are described in this standard. Each description includes a summary of the operating principle and a list of selection considerations.
Definitions relating to boom design, boom types, boom components, boom characteristics, and boom performance can be found in Terminology F818.
Selection considerations are included to help the user on the selection of a particular boom type or category. Users are cautioned that within each category there may be a wide variation in performance among the various booms.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers the selection of boom for the containment and recovery of marine oil spills.
1.2 This guide does not address the compatibility of spill-control equipment with spill products. It is the user’s responsibility to ensure that any equipment selected is compatible with anticipated products and conditions.
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Designation: F2683 − 11
Standard Guide for
Selection of Booms for Oil-Spill Response
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2683; 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 tions including on-scene response coordinators, planners, oil
spill management teams, oil spill removal organizations, and
1.1 This guide covers the selection of boom for the contain-
plan evaluators.
ment and recovery of marine oil spills.
3.3 Minimum requirements for boom dimensions,
1.2 This guide does not address the compatibility of spill-
buoyancy, and tensile strength are specified in Guide F1523.
control equipment with spill products. It is the user’s respon-
This guide provides additional qualitative information to aid in
sibility to ensure that any equipment selected is compatible
boom selection.
with anticipated products and conditions.
3.4 Seven general types of boom systems are described in
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
this standard. Each description includes a summary of the
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
operating principle and a list of selection considerations.
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
and are not considered standard. 3.5 Definitions relating to boom design, boom types, boom
components, boom characteristics, and boom performance can
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
be found in Terminology F818.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.6 Selection considerations are included to help the user on
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
the selection of a particular boom type or category. Users are
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
cautioned that within each category there may be a wide
variation in performance among the various booms.
2. Referenced Documents
4. Boom Selection Considerations
2.1 ASTM Standards:
4.1 Selecting a boom for a particular application involves
F818 Terminology Relating to Spill Response Barriers
examining the boom’s likely performance with regards to a
F1093 Test Methods for Tensile Strength Characteristics of
range of operational requirements. The following recommen-
Oil Spill Response Boom
dations are a guide to this process with the requirements
F1523 Guide for Selection of Booms in Accordance With
grouped together according to the operating environment, the
Water Body Classifications
slick conditions, and boom performance criteria. Comments on
F2152 Guide for In-Situ Burning of Spilled Oil: Fire-
each of these operational requirements, specific to each boom
Resistant Boom
type, are given in Section 6.
3. Significance and Use
4.2 The general statements below describe likely boom
performance with regards to individual design elements, and
3.1 This guide is intended to aid in the selection of oil spill
shouldbeusedwiththeunderstandingthatoverallperformance
containment boom for various response conditions. It is not
is affected by a combination of design elements. For example,
intended to define rigid sets of boom selection standards.
lower than typical buoyancy may be counteracted by providing
3.2 This guide is intended to be used by persons generally
increased longitudinal flexibility.
familiar with the practical aspects of oil spill cleanup opera-
4.3 Wave and Current Conditions—In general, booms work
best in calm conditions or in a long, gentle swell with no
current. Performance is degraded in high waves, in short,
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F20 on Hazardous
Substances and Oil Spill Response and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
choppy or breaking waves, and in strong currents.
F20.11 on Control.
4.4 Roll Response in Currents—Good roll response is im-
Current edition approved April 1, 2011. Published April 2011. DOI: 10.1520/
F2683–11.
portant to effective containment in high currents and waves.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Roll response is improved with: sufficient ballast; ballast
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
located low on the skirt; flotation located away from the boom
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. centerline; and tension members located low on the skirt.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F2683 − 11
4.5 Heave Response in Waves—Good heave response will tension members, strength of end connectors where the towline
reduce losses due to splashover. Heave response is a function is attached, and stability of the boom under tow.
of the buoyancy, boom mass, and the float water plane area. 4.7.2 Towing a boom in a catenary configuration (U or J)
Heave response is improved with increased waterplane area will generate much higher drag forces than towing in a straight
and buoyancy-to-weight ratio. line. Booms are towed in this way at very low speeds, typically
4.5.1 Heave response is also a function of the longitudinal (0.5 to 0.75 knots). Tow forces are easily estimated as a
flexibility of a boom as a wave moves along its length. Boom function of boom draft, length, gap ratio, and tow or current
4,5
freeboard and draft are reduced if a boom is too rigid to move speed.
with the wave pattern.Water plane area and buoyancy are good
4.8 Boom Strength Criteria—Tensile strength is an impor-
measures of heave response if a boom has the flexibility to
tant boom criterion and also one of the most difficult to
move with the wave pattern. Good flexibility helps a boom
measure accurately and to understand. There are several
follow the surface of a moving wave. Boom flexibility is
problems. If a boom is stressed to failure, tension members
generally enhanced by shorter float sections and closer float
may not all fail together. This means that the strength of a
spacing, providing flex between floats is allowed by the fabric.
boom is not necessarily equal to the aggregate strength of its
Good flexibility is also provided by a continuous, but limber
assembled components.Although all tension members contrib-
flotation material, such as a continuously inflated flotation
ute to overall strength, boom strength may be determined by its
chamber.
weakest component. For example, boom connectors may fail
4.5.2 Calm Water booms should have a gross buoyancy-to-
long before the tension members, so boom strength would be
weight (BW) ratio of at least 3:1, Protected Water booms 4:1,
limited to the strength of the weakest component. The only
and Open Water booms 8:1. (See “Recommendations for
way to accurately determine boom strength is to test a sample
Selection of Spill Containment Booms,” Guide F1523.)
to failure. (See Test Methods F1093.)
4.5.3 In general, booms with buoyancy-to-weight ratios
lower than those specified in Guide F1523 may not be as
5. Boom Selection Checklist
effective in other than benign conditions (that is, no wind,
5.1 The primary selection criteria are generally draft and
waves, or currents). Exceptions to the specified minimum BW
freeboard dimensions, strength, and buoyancy-to-weight ratio.
ratios include booms designed for special applications, such as
Buoyancy-to-weight ratios greater than those listed may result
boom designed for static containment (that is, not towed),
in improved boom performance under certain conditions;
fire-resistant boom, and permanent boom. The latter two types
however, further research is required before minimum values
of boom typically have low buoyancy-to-weight ratios as a
greater than those shown can be established. As a result, users
result of their use of heavy, durable materials for fire-resistance
should be alert to special requirements that would demand
and long-term deployment, respectively. These booms may
higher buoyancy-to-weight ratios than those listed in the guide.
have BW ratios lower than the minimums listed in Guide
The user should be particularly alert when selecting heavy,
F1523.
permanent boom. Many of these products have size and
4.6 Freeboard Height and Skirt Depth—Adequate freeboard
strength appropriate for Protected Water or Open Water, but
is desirable to prevent splashover losses. Excessive freeboard
some have very low buoyancy-to-weight ratios and therefore
can lead to problems in high winds, with the wind depressing
may not be as effective except in Calm Water.
the freeboard and raising the skirt if the appropriate relation-
5.2 Boomflexibilityisimportantforapplicationsinmedium
ships between freeboard, draft, and ballast are not maintained.
swells and short-period waves. Shorter flotation elements
4.6.1 Skirt depth is typically half to two-thirds of the total
generally provide better flexibility. Further, the distance be-
boom height.Adeeper skirt does not contain more oil and may
tween flotation sections should be less than one half the
be detrimental in high current conditions. In a fast current,
average wave length to prevent out of phase motions being set
wateracceleratestomovearoundthebottomoftheskirt,which
up. Good flexibility is also provided by a continuous but
is likely to cause entrainment losses. Generally a skirt should
flexible flotation material or an inflated flotation chamber.
not be deeper than 6 in. (150 mm) in a current greater than 1.5
5.3 Externalflotation,rigginglines,orothersurfacefeatures
knots and 3 in. (75 mm) for speeds greater than 3 knots. In
1 1
may interrupt the fluid flow along the boom. A boom that has
shallow water, the skirt should be no greater than ⁄3 rd to ⁄5 th
a consistent profile along its length, and that is free of surface
the depth of the water or the acceleration of the water in the
irregularities will promote laminar fluid flow along the boom
restricted area between the bottom of the skirt and the stream
and reduce losses related to eddy currents. A consistent profile
bed may cause entrainment losses.
is also less prone to collecting debris.
4.7 Forces on a Boom:
5.4 Materials should be strong enough to resist puncture by
4.7.1 Straight-line drag force is tension on a boom caused
debris. With air flotation booms, puncture resistance is a prime
by towing it from one end. This may limit transit speed of
consideration.
vessels en route to a spill. Tow speed should be adjusted to
account for the strength of the towline, strength of the boom
World Catalog of Oil Spill Response Products, 9th Edition, 2008.
Schulze, R. and Potter, S. “Estimating Forces on Oil Spill Containment
Hansen, K. and Coe, T., Oil Spill Response in Fast Currents: A Field Guide, Booms,” Spill Technology Newsletter, Vol 27, Jan-Dec 2002, Environment Canada,
U.S. Coast Guard Report CG-D-01-02, 2001 . Ottawa, Ontario.
F2683 − 11
TABLE 1 Boom Selection Criteria
Boom Type Typical General Buoyancy Roll Heave
Applications Comments Response Response
Fence Permanent or long-term Easy to deploy, Generally low, Generally low; Generally low;
deployment; resistant to varies with may be improved may be improved
fueling areas, damage, but design. by ballast and by increasing water
around ships, relatively bulky off-center float plane area and
power plant for storage. area. B:W ratio.
outfalls, and other
calm and protected
water applications.
Curtain, internal Various calm and Fairly easy B:W ratios Good; helped by Good; improved
foam flotation protected water to store. generally in the flexibility and by short float
applications. range of 2 to 8. bottom tension sections to increase
member. flexibility.
Curtain, external Industrial, permanent, Durable. Easy to B:W ratios Good; helped by Fair to good;
foam flotation and other calm store and deploy; generally in the flexible fabric and helped by B:W
and protected water generally more range of 2 to 8. ballast. ratio and flexibility.
applications. expensive than
curtain boom
with internal
foam.
Self-inflatable Calm, protected, Rapid deployment. B:W ratios Good; good Good resulting
curtain and open water Low storage generally >10. flexibility and from high B:W
applications. volume. Typically Buoyancy could bottom tension and flexibility.
Generally not used stored be lost from puncture help roll.
for industrial on reels. or leaking valve.
applications or
long-term
deployment.
Pressure-inflatable Calm, protected, Deployment B:W ratios Good due to Good due to high
curtain and open water somewhat slower generally >10. bottom tension B:W ratio and
applications. than self-inflatable Buoyancy could and flexibility. flexibility.
Generally not curtain. Typically be lost from puncture
used for industrial stored on reels. or leaking valve.
applications or
long-term
deployment.
Fire resistant Used to contain Generally designed B:W ratios Generally poor Generally poor
an oil slick for for one burn generally in the range due to weight and due to weight and
in situ burning. application; some of2to5; low B:W; low B:W;
Conventional can be stored generally low depends on boom depends on
booms may be used and reused. due to use of type. boom type.
to direct oil into relatively heavy
burn pocket of fire-resistant
fire-resistant materials.
boom.
Tidal seal Used in the Used to bridge Only enough Generally good; Poor due to low
intertidal zone, the gap between to rise with tide; controlled by B:W (note: generally
perpendicular or land and water. controlled by buoyancy and not an issue in
parallel to shore, water ballast. ballast. intertidal applications).
to prevent oil
from moving
along shoreline
or into intertidal
areas.
5.5 Anchor points are recommended at about 50 ft (15 m) 6. Description of Boom Types
intervals.
6.1 The following describes the operating principles and
5.6 Booms should be packaged for ease in transportation.
key selection considerations of seven main types of boom
Storage volume is important for storage and handling.
systems. In some cases, subcategories are used to describe
different configurations of a common operating principle.
5.7 Booms should be easy to assemble, deploy, and retrieve.
Selection considerations are summarized in Table 1 at the end
5.8 Handles located along the top of the boom aid in
of this section.
deployment and handling.
6.2 Fence Boom:
5.9 Booms can deteriorate in storage, particularly when
6.2.1 A fence boom is rigid or nearly rigid in the vertical
exposed to the elements, to extreme temperatures, to extreme
humidity, and when handled in extreme temperatures. Selec- pla
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