Significance and Use
4.1 There are a large number of geomembrane types and seaming techniques. This guide is intended to help practitioners select the appropriate seam test methods for their material.
4.2 Geomembranes are relatively impermeable planar materials sheets that are shipped either as rolls or folded panels. The panels may be seamed in a factory or in the field. This guide provides geomembrane users with the most appropriate seam evaluation techniques for the most common geomembrane materials available on the market.
4.3 Some types of geomembrane may not be listed and some seam evaluation techniques may offer a good performance with a given material although this may not be indicated in Table 1. Users who are aware of this situation are invited to contact ASTM to propose an update of this guide.
X = Applicable
— = Not Applicable
O = May Be Applicable
(A) This type of test not commonly performed on this type of material, but it can be performed if desired.
(B) Only provides evaluation of seam continuity, but not seam strength.
(C) May not be applicable to very flexible geomembranes, especially thinner ones, that will highly deform into the vacuum box.
(D) There are some experiences with air lance on HDPE geomembrane seams for hole detection, although this is not common practice.
(E) Typically applicable to materials that are 1.0 mm and thinner.
(F) When applicable.
(G) Applicable to dual track seam only.
(H) Not applicable to extrusion fillet.
(I) Applicable to factory seams only.
(J) Refer to Guide D6747.
(K) Electrical leak location surveys are useful to monitor the continuity of seams, as well as to survey the entire sheet after installation and, where applicable, while covered with earthen or liquid materials. They do not verify material or seam integrity.
4.4 The relevance of a seaming technique within a particular engineering context is beyond the scope of this guide.
Scope
1.1 This guide is intended for use as a summary of test methods necessary to evaluate geomembrane seams. It is intended to guide geomembrane users toward the appropriate evaluation techniques to assess geomembrane seam quality.
1.2 Geomembrane seams covered by this guide are: high-density polyethylene (HDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), very low-density polyethylene (VLDPE), flexible polypropylene (fPP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM), prefabricated bituminous geomembranes (PBGM), ethylene interpolymer alloy (EIA), and reinforced geomembranes
1.3 Although a significant effort has been made to gather all types of geomembranes and related evaluation techniques which were on the market at the date of completion of this document, some available materials and technologies may have been omitted. The information presented in this document shall thus be considered to be non-exhaustive.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.5 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.
1.6 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.
