ASTM F2682-07

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Designation:F2682–07
Standard Guide for
Determining the Buoyancy to Weight Ratio of Oil Spill
Containment Boom
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2682; 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 4.2 Unless otherwise specified, when used in this guide, the
term buoyancy to weight ratio (B/W ratio) refers to the gross
1.1 This guide describes a practical method for determining
buoyancy to weight ratio. Buoyancy is an indicator of a spill
the buoyancy to weight (B/W) ratio of oil spill containment
response boom’s ability to follow the water surface when
booms.
exposed to current forces, fouling due to microbial growth
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
(which adds weight), and wave conditions. Surface conditions
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
otherthanquiescentwillhaveanadverseeffectoncollectionor
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
containment performance. When waves are present, confor-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
mance to the surface is essential to prevent losses. Minimum
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
buoyancy to weight ratios for oil spill containment booms are
2. Referenced Documents
specifiedinGuideF1523forvariousenvironmentalconditions.
4.3 This guide provides the methodology necessary to
2.1 ASTM Standards:
determine the buoyancy to weight ratio using a fluid displace-
F818 Terminology Relating to Spill Response Barriers
ment method. This method is typically applied to booms
F1523 Guide for Selection of Booms in Accordance With
having relatively low B/W ratios (in the range of 2:1 to 10:1).
Water Body Classifications
Booms with greater buoyancies may also be tested in this
3. Terminology
manner. It is acceptable to use calculation methods to estimate
boom displacement for booms with buoyancies greater than
3.1 boom section—length of boom between two end con-
10:1, where the potential error in doing so would have a less
nectors. F818
significant effect on performance.
3.2 boom segment—repetitive identical portion of the boom
4.4 WhenevaluatingtheB/Wratioofaspillresponseboom,
section. F818
consideration must be given to the inherent properties of the
3.3 buoyancy to weight ratio—gross buoyancy divided by
boom that may affect the net B/W ratio while in use. These
boom weight. F818
considerations include, but are not limited to, absorption of
3.4 gross buoyancy—weight of fresh water displaced by a
fluids into flotation materials, membranes that are abraded
boom totally submerged. F818
during normal use, and entry of water into components of the
3.5 reserve buoyancy—gross buoyancy minus boom
boom.
weight. F818
4.5 The entry of water into boom components is of particu-
4. Significance and Use
lar concern with booms that contain their flotation element
within an additional membrane. (This is the case for many
4.1 This guide describes a method of determining the
booms that use rolled-foam flotation and relatively lightweight
buoyancy to weight ratio of spill response booms. The prin-
material for the boom membrane.) It is also important for
ciple is based on Archimedes Law, which states that a body
booms that have pockets that enclose cable or chain tension
either wholly or partially immersed in a fluid will experience
members or ballast. When new, the membrane enclosure may
an upward force equal and opposite to the weight of the fluid
contain air that would result in increased buoyancy. In normal
displaced by it.
use, the membrane material may be easily abraded such that it
would no longer contain air, and water would be allowed in at
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F20 on Hazardous
abrasion locations. For such booms, the membrane enclosure
Substances and Oil Spill Response and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
F20.11 on Control.
shall not be considered as part of the flotation of the boom, and
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2007. Published November 2007. DOI:
the membrane shall be intentionally punctured to allow water
10.1520/F2682-07.
2 to enter during the test procedure.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
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F2682–07
5. Summary of Test Method shalltakenolessthanonehour,duringwhichtimetheflotation
element and the skirt shall be moved around to facilitate the
5.1 Displacement Method—Buoyancy to weight ratio is
releaseoftrappedair.(Notethatthismustbedoneperiodically,
estimated using two key values, the dry weight of the boom
and will be difficult or impossible once the boom is submerged
and the gross buoyancy of the boom. Weight of the boom is
and its buoyant force is holding the boom against the restrain-
measureddirectly.Thegrossbuoyancyisequaltotheweightof
ing grid.)
fresh water displaced by a boom totally submerged. Gross
7.7 Once the boom and the restraining grid have been
buoyancy is measured by submerging the boom, measuring the
submerged, record the volume of water that has been delivered
volume of water that is displaced, and calculating the weight of
and mark the water level from the datum.
the displaced water.
7.8 Remove the boom from the tank and empty the tank.
With the boom removed and the restraining grid back in place,
6. Equipment Requirements
fill the tank again to the same water level. Record the volume
6.1 This method requires a scale to measure the dry weight
of water that is delivered to achieve this. The difference
of the boom, an open-top tank sufficient in volume and
between this and the measurement in 7.7 will be the displace-
footprint area to physically hold the boom section or segment,
ment of the boom.
a means of submerging the test section, a fresh water supply,
and a method of accurately measuring the volume of water that
8. Accuracy
is delivered to the tank.Arecommended method of restraining
8.1 Given the use of the data, a reasonable goal in this test
the boom’s buoyant force is to use a fabricated grid of
would be to achieve an accuracy of the buoyancy-to-weight
dimensional lumber or steel that fits inside the tank surface
ratio of less than 610 %. With an accurate and recently
area.
calibrated load cell, the tester should be able to determine the
6.2 The preferred method of determining the displacement
weight of the boom to within less than 61 %. Therefore, the
of the boom is to use a complete boom section including end
main test requirement is to measure the buoyancy of the boom
connectors,tensionmembersandballast,andsoforth.Depend-
to an accuracy of less than 610 %.
ing on the size of the boom, it may be m
...