ASTM D6497/D6497M-02(2021)

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: D6497/D6497M − 02 (Reapproved 2021)
Standard Guide for
Mechanical Attachment of Geomembrane to Penetrations or
Structures
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6497/D6497M; 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 2. Referenced Documents
1.1 This guide covers procedures that can be employed to 2.1 ASTM Standards:
mechanically attach fabricated geomembranes to structures, C717 Terminology of Building Seals and Sealants
pipes, etc. C822 Terminology Relating to Concrete Pipe and Related
Products
1.2 This guide does not address all problems or situations a
D4439 Terminology for Geosynthetics
geomembrane installer or design engineer may face in the
D4848 Terminology Related to Force, Deformation and
attachment of geomembranes to structures, pipes, etc. The sole
Related Properties of Textiles
purpose of this standard guide is to point out typical problems
F118 Definitions of Terms Relating to Gaskets
with geomembrane attachments and clearly state objectives of
2.2 EPA Document:
each component of the geomembrane attachment(s).
Quality Assurance and Quality Control for Waste Contain-
1.3 This guide has been generated for geomembrane appli-
ment Facilities, Technical Guidance Document, United
cation(s); however, a geomembrane installer or design
States Environmental Protection Agency, EPA/600/R-93/
engineer, or both, may find portions of this guide applicable to
182, September 1993
other geosynthetics.
3. Terminology
1.4 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in 3.1 Definitions:
each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to 3.1.1 banding strap, n—a flexible narrow strip of metal,
ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be plastic, or other material, which compresses the geomembrane
used independently of the other, and values from the two around a penetration by acting as a clamp around the penetra-
systems shall not be combined. tion.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the 3.1.2 batten, n—a rigid narrow strip of metal, wood, plastic,
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the or other material which distributes the forces to compress the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- geomembrane against a penetration or structure.
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
3.1.3 boot, n—a factory or field-fabricated geomembrane
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
wrap used to seal around a pipe penetration prior to attachment
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
(see Fig. 1).
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
3.1.4 clamp, n—a flexible narrow strip of metal, plastic, or
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
other material, which compresses the geomembrane against a
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
penetration by tightening the bolt(s) or screw(s) of the clamp
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
(see Fig. 2).
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D35.10 on Geomembranes. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved July 1, 2021. Published July 2021. Originally approved the ASTM website.
ɛ1 3
in 1999. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as D6497/D6497M – 02 (2015) . Available from U.S. Government Publishing Office, 732 N. Capitol St., NW,
DOI: 10.1520/D6497_D6497M-02R21. Washington, DC 20401-0001, http://www.gpo.gov.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D6497/D6497M − 02 (2021)
FIG. 1 Pipe Penetration—Perpendicular Face
3.1.5 concrete, n—a homogeneous mixture of portland Components of the geomembrane attachment are addressed as
cement, aggregates, and water which may contain admixtures. to the type and use of each component.
(C822)
4.2 Although this guide does not address all aspects of
3.1.6 gaskets, n—a material, which may be clamped be-
geomembrane attachments, the user of this guide may note
tweencontactsurfacesthatactsasastaticseal.Gasketsarecut,
important objectives and design issues of each component of
formed, or molded into the desired configuration. They may
the geomembrane. All these objectives and design issues may
consist of any of the following construction: one or more plies
or may not be required to obtain an appropriate geomembrane
of a sheet material; composites of dissimilar materials; and
attachment. By describing these areas of concern, it is hoped
materials applied as a bead or other form to one or both mating
that the user of this guide will be able to design geomembrane
faces prior to assembly. (F118)
attachments, develop specifications or construct geomembrane
attachments, or both, which fulfill the requirements of its
3.1.7 geomembrane, n—anessentiallyimpermeablegeosyn-
design intent.
thetic composed of one or more synthetic sheets. (D4439)
3.1.8 rondel, n—a strip of polymeric material formed to a
5. Types of Connection
geometry, which is embedded and secured to a penetration or
5.1 Batten(s)—Battens are commonly used to attach a
structure (for example, concrete structure) (see Fig. 3).
geomembrane to a smooth, flat surface. Anchor bolts are
3.1.9 sealant—in building construction, a material that has
embedded into the penetration or structure at set locations. A
the adhesive and cohesive properties to form a seal. (C717)
gasket is placed in-line with the bolts to form a seal between
3.1.10 torque,n—amovement(offorces)whichproducesor
the geomembrane and structure. Geomembrane is pushed or
tends to produce rotation or torsion. (D4848)
forced over the bolts to ensure a tight fit and then placed
3.1.11 void space, n—in engineered structures, space(s)
against the penetration or structure. The batten, which has
between the geomembrane and penetration or structure, which
holes in it that are in alignment with the bolts, is placed over
allow liquid or vapor migration, or allow the geomembrane to
the geomembrane. Nuts are placed on the bolts and tightened
deform into the space(s) due to overburden pressure. (New, to
with sufficient torque to compress the geomembrane against
be balloted under Terminology Committee.)
the penetration or structure. The geomembrane is held in place
by the friction generated by the compression effect of the
4. Significance and Use
batten (see Fig. 4).
4.1 This guide attempts to detail specific areas of concern 5.1.1 A compression sealant or gasket can be used between
regarding the attachment of geomembranes to structures. the geomembrane and the penetration or structure or batten, or
D6497/D6497M − 02 (2021)
FIG. 2 Clamp Detail
both. The compression sealant or gasket will limit the migra- accomplished as long as both materials are thermoplastic. It is
tion of liquid or vapor through the batten connection. recommended that welding criteria for dissimilar materials be
reviewed with the material manufacturer before constructing
5.2 Clamp(s) or Banding Strap(s)—Clamps or banding
the attachment.
straps are commonly used to attach a geomembrane to a
5.3.1 The welded connections are commonly made to a
smooth,roundpenetrationorstructure(forexample,pipe).The
rondel or pipe (see Fig. 5) composed of similar polymeric
geomembrane is placed around the penetration or structure and
material as the geomembrane. The rondel is embedded into the
welded as close as possible to the circumference of the
penetration or structure during its construction. For example,
penetration or structure.Agasket is placed around the penetra-
rondels are commonly embedded into a concrete structure.The
tion or structure at the location of the clamp placement to form
material used for the penetration or structure is allowed to cure
a seal between the geomembrane and penetration or structure.
beforeattachmentofthegeomembrane.Thecuringtimeallows
The geomembrane is then put in place and over the gasket.The
the rondel to become secured in the penetration or structure.
clamp or banding strap is commonly tightened by applying a
torquetoaboltorbolts,ascreworscrews,orothermechanical Once the material used for the penetration or structure has
cured sufficiently to reduce the risk of pulling the rondel from
device, which applies a pulling force that decreases the length
of the clamp, or banding strap, thereby compressing the thepenetrationorstructure,thegeomembranecanbeweldedto
the rondel (see Fig. 3).
geomembrane and gasket to the penetration or structure. The
geomembrane is held in place by the friction generated by
5.3.2 Weldinggeomembranestorondelsandpipesissimilar
tightening the clamp or banding strap and compressing the
to welding geomembrane panels together. The geomembrane
geomembrane against the penetration or structure.
must be placed flush against the rondel or pipe during the
5.2.1 A compression sealant or gasket can be used between
weldingprocess.Thegeomembraneandrondelorpipemustbe
the geomembrane and the penetration or structure or clamp, or
clean or prepared, or both, according to the prescribed
both. The compression sealant or gasket will limit the migra-
geomembrane manufacturer’s procedure before welding.
tion of liquid or vapor through the clamp connection.
5.3.3 Welding the geomembrane to the penetration or struc-
5.3 Welded—Welded connections can be either a solvent ture may provide an attachment that has a lower possibility of
weld or heat weld. Heat welding of dissimilar materials can be leakage. Since the geomembrane is attached directly to the
D6497/D6497M − 02 (2021)
FIG. 3 Rondel Connection
FIG. 4 Anchor Bolt Geomembrane Connection
structure, sealants are usually not required. However, special spaces or gaps between the individual sections or pieces could
attention should be noted for rondels used for attachment of occur during their embedment and during the curing of the
geomembranes to concrete structures. If several sections or concrete. This would especially occur for rondels made of
pieces of rondels are required to construct an attachment, polymeric material that expands and contracts according to the
D6497/D6497M − 02 (2021)
FIG. 5 Pipe Boot
temperature of the concrete during the curing process. Sealants walls, tanks, manholes, and pylons. The use of battens, clamps
may be required to fill the spaces or gaps between the rondels or banding strips, or bonding can attach a geomembrane to
to further limit the migration of liquid or vapor through the concrete structures. When attaching a geomembrane to any
batten connection. concrete structure, consider each critical concern detailed in
5.3.4 Pre-fabrication of the complete rondel attachment Section 7.
before placement into the concrete is recommended. The
6.2 Metal—Metal structures that require attachment of
pre-fabricated rondel is composed of welded sections or pieces
geomembranes include, but are not limited to: pads, floors,
of rondels, thereby eliminating the possibility of gaps between
walls, pipes, and tanks. The use of battens, clamps, or banding
sections or pieces on rondels after the concrete cures.
strips can attach a geomembrane to metal structures. When
5.4 Bonded—Bonded connections commonly require the
attaching a geomembrane to any metal structure, consider each
use of an adhesive to construct the attachment. The use of an
critical concern detailed in Section 7.
adhesive allows the geomembrane to be attached to dissimilar
6.3 Pipe—Pipe structures can be composed of concrete,
material. The adhesive used must be compatible with both the
metal, or polymer. Clamps, banding strips, solvent weld, or
geomembrane and the surface material of the penetration or
heat weld can attach a geomembrane to pipe structures. The
structure. The application and curing of the adhesive should
attachment of a geomembrane to any pipe structure should
not significantly deteriorate the strength of the geomembrane
consider critical concerns detailed in 7.1, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, and 7.6.
or the material surface of the penetration or structure beyond
the design requirements of the attachment.
7. Critical Areas for the Protection of the Geomembrane
5.4.1 The geomembrane and the surface of the penetration
or structure should be clean and prepared according the
7.1 Surface Characteristics—The surface of the structure
adhesive manufacturer’s and geomembrane manufacturer’s
for which the geomembrane is to be attached should be
recommendation.
constructed or formed to limit damage to the geomembrane.
5.4.2 Bonding the geomembrane to the penetration or struc-
This is particularly important in cases where the geomembrane
ture may provide an attachmen
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