ASTM D7852-23

Standard Practice for Use of an Electrically Conductive Geotextile for Leak Location Surveys

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 With the increased use of geomembranes as a barrier material to restrict liquid migration from one location to another, a need has been created for standardized tests by which the continuity of the installed geomembrane, including the seams, can be evaluated. This practice is intended to meet such a need whenever the subgrade soil is nonconductive, or a geomembrane is installed on a nonconductive material.  
5.2 The use of a suitably conductive geotextile installed between a nonconductive soil or material and the geomembrane will permit electrical leak location survey to be conducted.  
5.3 The compatibility of a conductive geotextile and leak location equipment shall be assessed for each leak location technique considered (covered or exposed, when applicable). A realistic small-scale test shall have been conducted by the supplier of geotextile and/or leak detection equipment to demonstrate their mutual compatibility for a given leak detection technique.
SCOPE
1.1 This standard practice describes standard procedures for using a conductive geotextile with electrical methods to locate leaks in exposed geomembranes and geomembranes covered with water or earth materials containing moisture.  
1.2 This standard practice provides guidance for the use of appropriate conductive geotextile used in leak location surveys on geomembranes. This guide includes all types of conductive geotextiles with sufficient conductivity for the particular electrical leak location method. A conductive geotextile is applicable to all types of geoelectric surveys when there is otherwise not a conductive layer under the geomembrane.  
1.3 This standard practice is intended to ensure that leak location surveys can always be performed with a reasonable level of certainty. This standard practice provides guidance for the use of appropriate conductive geotextiles used in leak location surveys on geomembranes.  
1.4 Leak location surveys can be used on nonconductive geomembranes installed in basins, ponds, tanks, ore and waste pads, landfill cells, landfill caps, other containment facilities, and building applications such as in parking garages, decks, and green roofs. The procedures are applicable for geomembranes made of nonconductive materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, bituminous material, and other electrically insulating materials. Leak location surveys involving conductive or partially conductive geomembranes are not within the scope of this document.  
1.5 Warning—The electrical methods used for geomembrane leak location could use high voltages, resulting in the potential for electrical shock or electrocution. This hazard might be increased because operations might be conducted in or near water. In particular, a high voltage could exist between the water or earth material and earth ground, or any grounded conductor. These procedures are potentially VERY DANGEROUS, and can result in personal injury or death. Because of the high voltage that could be involved, and the shock or electrocution hazard, do not come in electrical contact with any leak unless the excitation power supply is turned off. The electrical methods used for geomembrane leak location should be attempted only by qualified and experienced personnel. Appropriate safety measures must be taken to protect the leak location operators as well as other people at the site.  
1.6 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.  
1.7 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...

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 14-Jun-2023
• ICS: 59.080.70 - Geotextiles
• Technical Committee: D35 - Geosynthetics
• Drafting Committee: D35.10 - Geomembranes

Standards Content (Sample)

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: D7852 − 23
Standard Practice for
Use of an Electrically Conductive Geotextile for Leak
1
Location Surveys
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7852; 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 DANGEROUS, and can result in personal injury or death.
Because of the high voltage that could be involved, and the
1.1 This standard practice describes standard procedures for
shock or electrocution hazard, do not come in electrical contact
using a conductive geotextile with electrical methods to locate
with any leak unless the excitation power supply is turned off.
leaks in exposed geomembranes and geomembranes covered
The electrical methods used for geomembrane leak location
with water or earth materials containing moisture.
should be attempted only by qualified and experienced person-
1.2 This standard practice provides guidance for the use of
nel. Appropriate safety measures must be taken to protect the
appropriate conductive geotextile used in leak location surveys
leak location operators as well as other people at the site.
on geomembranes. This guide includes all types of conductive
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
geotextiles with sufficient conductivity for the particular elec-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
trical leak location method. A conductive geotextile is appli-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
cable to all types of geoelectric surveys when there is otherwise
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
not a conductive layer under the geomembrane.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.3 This standard practice is intended to ensure that leak
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
location surveys can always be performed with a reasonable
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
level of certainty. This standard practice provides guidance for
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
the use of appropriate conductive geotextiles used in leak
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
location surveys on geomembranes.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1.4 Leak location surveys can be used on nonconductive
geomembranes installed in basins, ponds, tanks, ore and waste
2. Referenced Documents
pads, landfill cells, landfill caps, other containment facilities,
2
and building applications such as in parking garages, decks, 2.1 ASTM Standards:
and green roofs. The procedures are applicable for geomem- D4439 Terminology for Geosynthetics
branes made of nonconductive materials such as polyethylene, D6747 Guide for Selection of Techniques for Electrical Leak
polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, chlorosulfonated Location of Leaks in Geomembranes
polyethylene, bituminous material, and other electrically insu-
3. Terminology
lating materials. Leak location surveys involving conductive or
partially conductive geomembranes are not within the scope of
3.1 For general definitions related to geosynthetics, see
this document.
Terminology D4439.
1.5 Warning—The electrical methods used for geomem-
3.2 For definitions of conductive geotextile, electrical leak
brane leak location could use high voltages, resulting in the
location, and leak, see the Terminology section of Guide
potential for electrical shock or electrocution. This hazard
D6747.
might be increased because operations might be conducted in
4. Summary of Practice
or near water. In particular, a high voltage could exist between
the water or earth material and earth ground, or any grounded
4.1 The principle of the electrical leak location method is to
conductor. These procedures are potentially VERY
place a voltage across a geomembrane and then locate areas
where electrical current flows through discontinuities in the
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 June 15, 2023. Published July 2023. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2013. Last previous edition approved in 2022 as D7852 – 13 (2022). Standards volume information, refer to the standard’
...

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: D7852 − 13 (Reapproved 2022) D7852 − 23
Standard Practice for
Use of an Electrically Conductive Geotextile for Leak
1
Location Surveys
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7852; 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 standard practice describes standard procedures for using a conductive geotextile with electrical methods to locate leaks
in exposed geomembranes and geomembranes covered with water or earth materials containing moisture.
1.2 This standard practice provides guidance for the use of appropriate conductive geotextile used in leak location survey on
geomembrane.surveys on geomembranes. This guide includes all types of conductive geotextilegeotextiles with sufficient
conductivity for the particular electrical leak location method. A conductive geotextile is applicable to all types of geoelectric
surveys when there is otherwise not a conductive layer under the geomembrane.
1.3 The leak stream itself being adequately conductive. A conductive geotextile is applicable to all types of geoelectric surveys
when there is otherwise not a conductive layer under the geomembrane.
1.3 This standard practice is intended to ensure that leak location surveys can always be performed with a reasonable level of
certainty. This standard practice provides guidance for the use of appropriate conductive geotextilegeotextiles used in leak location
surveysurveys on geomembranes.
1.4 Leak location surveys can be used on nonconductive geomembranes installed in basins, ponds, tanks, ore and waste pads,
landfill cells, landfill caps, other containment facilities, and building applications such as in parking garages, decks, and green
roofs. The procedures are applicable for geomembranes made of nonconductive materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene,
polyvinyl chloride, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, bituminous material, and other electrically insulating materials. Leak location
surveysurveys involving conductive or partially conductive geomembranes are not within the scope of this document.
1.5 Warning—The electrical methods used for geomembrane leak location could use high voltages, resulting in the potential for
electrical shock or electrocution. This hazard might be increased because operations might be conducted in or near water. In
particular, a high voltage could exist between the water or earth material and earth ground, or any grounded conductor. These
procedures are potentially VERY DANGEROUS, and can result in personal injury or death. Because of the high voltage that could
be involved, and the shock or electrocution hazard, do not come in electrical contact with any leak unless the excitation power
supply is turned off. The electrical methods used for geomembrane leak location should be attempted only by qualified and
experienced personnel. Appropriate safety measures must be taken to protect the leak location operators as well as other people
at the site.
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 Jan. 15, 2022June 15, 2023. Published January 2022July 2023. Originally approved in 2013. Last previous edition approved in 20132022 as
D7852 – 13.D7852 – 13 (2022). DOI: 10.1520/D7852-13R22.10.1520/D7852-23.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D7852 − 23
1.6 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.
1.7 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 Locati
...