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ASTM geosynthetics committee developing proposal
A proposed new ASTM International standard will provide guidance for the installation and
use of factory fabricated geomembrane panels at jobsites, according to an Aug. 1 press release. ASTM WK38128, Guide for Identification,
Packaging, Handling, Storage and Deployment of Fabricated Geomembrane Panels, is being developed by Subcommittee D35.10 on Geomembranes, part of ASTM
International Committee D35 on Geosynthetics.
“Many geomembranes are delivered to the field in wide rolls of single wound sheet and require extensive welding in the field to complete an
installation,” said Gary Kolbasuk, director of product development at Raven Industries,
and chairman of D35.10. “Factory fabricated geomembanes reduce the amount of field welding, shorten installation times and, potentially, improve
quality since most of the seams are made in a controlled factory environment.”
Kolbasuk said that the proposed standard will give contractors, owners, and site engineers direction on how to proceed with installation when
fabricated geomembrane panels arrive at a jobsite. One important aspect of the guide will be to provide definitions for commonly used terms such
as fabricated panel, accordion-folded panel and fabricator, according to the ASTM press release.
D35.10 welcomes participation from all interested parties, particularly fabricators, design engineers, contractors, owners and third-party quality
control companies that will verify identification and handling of fabricated panels on a job site. Input is encouraged from anyone who will potentially
use the proposed standard, once it has been approved.
ASTM International, formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), is a globally recognized leader in the
development and delivery of international voluntary consensus standards.
For more information, visit www.astm.org/sn-construction.
ASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics next meeting: Jan. 30–Feb. 1, 2013, Jacksonville, Fla.
Technical contact: Gary M. Kolbasuk, Raven Industries, Sioux Falls, S.D., 605-331-0324, gary.kolbasuk.revenind.com
ASTM staff contact: Katerina Koperna, 610-832-9728, kkoperna@astm.org