3 Liner Integrity Testing Methods
Posted on: 29 August 2022
Specialized liners are always used when the movement and migration of liquids must be strictly controlled in man-made structures or systems. The integrity of these liners will determine how susceptible the structure or system is to leaks over time.
The membranes and barriers used in modern applications must be tested at regular intervals to ensure they are capable of safely containing any toxic or harmful liquids housed within man-made structures and systems.
Here are three liner integrity testing methods used to secure the safety and performance of liners over time.
1. Water Puddle Method
Any type of liner that is nonconductive and doesn't feature any steep slopes can be tested using the water puddle method. Water puddle liner testing tends to work best when the material a liner is installed over can conduct electricity.
One of the electrodes of a low-voltage power supply is placed in contact with the conductive material opposite the liner. Another electrode is placed directly into a puddle of water that has been sprayed into the lined substrate. This completes an electrical circuit that can be used to test the liner for leaks.
Whenever the electrodes and water pass over a leak in the liner, the voltage within the circuit is increased and an audible sound is emitted. A technician can mark the area where the sound occurred for future repairs.
2. Water Lance Method
The water lance method is similar to the water puddle method, but water lance testing is typically reserved for liner with steep slopes. It's impossible to get a puddle of water to remain in one position on a steep slope long enough for proper liner testing.
The water lance method relies on a stream of moving water instead of a puddle.
The electrode that would be placed in a puddle is held under the stream of water when testing using the water lance method. The stream of water is moved across the surface of the liner, and an audible sound is emitted whenever the stream passes over a leak.
3. Dipole Method
The dipole method sometimes referred to as the water-covered geomembrane method can be utilized to test liners that are not completely bare. Any liquid or sediment present over the top of the liner will not interfere with the results of dipole testing.
To complete this type of testing, a technician must utilize a special dipole scanning probe to manually inspect the entire surface of the liner. The dipole probe is capable of sensing leaks and will map the coordinates of these leaks for future repairs.
For more information, contact a company like Beyond Leak Detection.
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