Leak Testing Mechanical Attachments

- Cannot conduct electronic leak locate survey near metalattachments because of interference so need some other type of testing ofattachments

- Place ballast tubes around penetration, inject airbelow geomembrane, soap the attachment, and watch for bubbles along or aroundattachment

- Thermal imaging – not tried yet but possibly effective onsunny day to measure cooler air being pumped below geomembrane and exiting atleak(s) along attachment

- Vacuum below the geomembrane in tank or attachment and listen for vacuum sound along attachment

- Vacuum Acoustic Leak Identification (VALID) method – apply vacuum between primary and secondary geomembranes and listen for vacuum soundalong attachments; tests both geomembranes; the top surface of the geomembrane is scanned with ultrasonic microphones that can detect distinctive sounds of a vacuum leak.

 - Smoke Test – smoke exits at attachment surrounded by ballast tubes

- Spark test with material embed but cannot be used at landfills and oil and gas sites

- Vacuum boxes for strips and corners but limited because not straight segments for box

- Dye test – divers places dye along attachment or concrete joint and see if dye disappears into attachment or crack (see video)

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