Standardization News

A new ASTM International standard will help those who construct and install geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs), which are used to help with containment for:

• Landfills;
• Coal combustion residual storage cells;
• Mining operations; and,
• Remediation and environmental protection projects.

The new standard (D8204) focuses on evaluating both best practices as well as possible negative impacts of installing and constructing GCLs. ASTM’s committee on geosynthetics (D35) developed the standard.

According to ASTM International member Kent von Maubeuge, the new standard is meant to be used with full-scale GCL installation test pads, not laboratory evaluations.

“The practices outlined in the standard provide for project-specific parameters and, thus, can provide real project insight into how GCL materials should be installed on a specific site to achieve optimal engineered barrier performance,” says von Maubeuge, director, corporate identity and corporate communication, as well as senior product manager, NAUE GmbH & Co. KG.

According to von Maubeuge, who chairs the GCLs subcommittee (D35.04), insights from using the new standard will help design engineers, facility and project owners, specification writers, certified quality auditors, and geosynthetic installers. Also, manufacturers will benefit from the variations in data from different test pads, which may support the development of future GCL products.