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PART 2 - PRODUCTS
2.1 GEOMEMBRANE

A. Membrane Resin Specifications
1. Geomembrane shall be from first-quality resin containing no recycled
polymer (product run may be recycled). The resin shall be the same for
the Geomembrane and the extrudite rod or bead and shall meet the
following specifications:

Property Test Method Value
ASTM D1238 ;
Melt Index Condition 190/2.16 <1.0 grams (g)/10 min.
Specific Gravity ASTM D4883 0.94 g/cm3

B. Geomembrane Specifications
1. The Geomembrane Manufacturer shall deliver Geomembrane that is in
conformance with the specifications below.

Property Test Method Value
Thickness (min. ave.): 57 mil
Lowest individual of 8 out of 10 values ASTM D5994 54 mil
Lowest individual for any of the 10 values 51 mil
Asperity Height (min. ave.) ASTM D7466 16 mil

. ASTM D1505 or
Formulated Density D792 0.94 g/cc
Tensile strength (min. ave.)()
Yield strength 126 lb/in. width
Break strength ASTM D6693 90 Ib/in. width
Yield elongation 12 percent
Break elongation 100 percent
Tear resistance (min. ave.) ASTM D1004 42 lbs
Puncture resistance (min. ave.) ASTM D4833 90 Ibs
Stress Crack Resistance (min. ave.) (®) ASTM D5397 2 500 hours
Carbon Black Content (range) ASTM D4218 2 to 3 percent
Carbon Black Dispersion ASTM D5596 (C)
Oxidative Induction Time (min. ave.) ASTM D3895 2 100 minutes
Notes:

A. Test in Machine direction and cross machine direction. The average values should be based on 5

test specimens each direction.
* Yield elongation is calculated using a gage length of 1.3 inches.
« Break elongation is calculated using a gage length of 2.0 inches.
B. This test is not appropriate for testing geomembranes with textured or irregular rough surfaces.
The test should be conducted on smooth edges of textured rolls or on smooth sheets made from

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the same formulation as being used for the textured sheet materials. The yield stress used to
calculate the applied load for the test should be the manufacturer's mean value obtained from
the manufacturer’s quality control testing of the same sample.

Carbon black dispersion (only near spherical agglomerates) for 10 different views:

* Qin Categories 1 or 2; and

*® lin Category 3.

2. The Geomembrane shall contain a minimum of 2 percent but not more
than 3 percent carbon black according to ASTM D1603, and have a carbon
black dispersion rating of Category 1 or Category 2 according to ASTM
D5596.

3. The Geomembrane shall consist of unreinforced HDPE containing 3
percent by weight maximum additives, fillers, or extenders, including
carbon black.

4. The Geomembrane shall have no striations, pinholes, or bubbles and shall
be free of holes, blisters, undispersed raw materials, or any sign of
contamination by foreign matter.

5. The Geomembrane delivered to the site shall be accompanied by a QC
Certificate for each roll (roll Certificates must be provided to the CQA
Consultant prior to shipment to the job site), and shall be identified with a
distinctive code that will serve as the identification number on the as-
built drawing.

6. Samples shall be taken from the delivered material by the CQA
Consultant, at a frequency of one sample per 50,000 ft2, and shall be sent
to an Independent Testing Laboratory to assure conformance with the
specifications listed in Paragraphs 2.1, B.1, B.2, and B.3 of this Section.
Geomembrane Manufacturer’s certifications that the environmental
stress crack testing and dimensional stability requirements are met will
be accepted.

7. The texturing of the Gcomembrane shall be regular and uniform. Rolls of
Geomembrane containing irregular texturing (bald areas or clumps of
texturing material) shall be rejected by the CQA Consultant and must be
removed from the site at no cost to OWNER.

8. See Section 02560 for information on interface strength requirements.

PART 3 - EXECUTION

3.1 DELIVERY, STORAGE, AND HANDLING

A.

Transportation to the site and unloading and storage at the site shall be the
responsibility of the Installation Contractor. Damaged Geomembrane or
Geomembrane not meeting these Specifications shall be immediately removed
from the site and replaced, at no cost to OWNER. Once delivered and accepted
by the CQA Consultant, the Geomembrane rolls shall be stored on a prepared
surface approved by the CQA Consultant, no more than three rolls high, and
protected from dirt, grease, water, abrasions, excessive heat or cold, or other
damage.

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Geomembrane rolls shall be handled with appropriate equipment to prevent
damaging or stressing of the Gcomembrane. Loading and unloading shall be
performed using equipment such as spreader bars and cloth chokers.
Deployment shall be performed using equipment such as roll bars and vise-
grip pliers designed to handle sheet materials. Any damaged Geomembrane
shall be repaired or replaced immediately, at the discretion of the CQA
Consultant, and at no cost to OWNER.

Geomembrane shall not be stockpiled or stored within the limits of the area to
be lined.

3.2. WEATHER CONDITIONS

A.

Geomembrane panels shall not be installed, seamed, or repaired during
periods of precipitation, excessively high winds, or in areas of ponded water or
excessive moisture. Geomembrane panels may be installed and seamed only if
the ambient air temperature, measured 6-inches above the Gecomembrane, is
less than 110 degrees (°) Fahrenheit (F). Installation and seaming of
Geomembrane panels in ambient temperatures below 40°F shall only be
performed with approval of ENGINEER, and only if trial seams demonstrate
the ability to meet seaming specifications. The Installation Contractor shall
submit for ENGINEER’s review and approval a plan for installation and
seaming Geomembrane in temperatures between 0°F and 32°F.

3.3. GENERAL INSTALLATION

A.

The Installation Contractor shall be responsible for field handling, storing,
placing, and seaming, plus any other processes required to assemble a
continuous secure GGomembrane.

Installation shall be performed under the direction of a competent field
technical representative. The technical representative shall be in charge of the
installation and shall be responsible for the work performed.

Smoking is prohibited on the Gcomembrane or other geosynthetics associated
with the project. Installation Contractor personnel who are reminded by
CONTRACTOR, ENGINEER, OWNER, or the CQA Consultant more than 3 times
of the no smoking requirements will be asked to leave the site.

Subgrade preparation and bedding placement shall be performed in
accordance with Section 02200. Surfaces to be lined shall be smooth and free
of all rocks, stones, sticks, roots, sharp objects, or debris of any kind. The
surface should be smooth and provide a firm, unyielding foundation for the
Geomembrane with no sudden, sharp, or abrupt changes or breaks in grade.
No standing water or excessive moisture shall be allowed. Prior to the
installation of any Geomembrane, the Installation Contractor and the CQA
Consultant shall observe the surface that the Geomembrane will be installed.

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The Installation Contractor will direct any remedial work required to bring the
surface into compliance with the Specifications required for Geomembrane
installation. Upon satisfactory surface preparation, the Installation Contractor
and the CQA Consultant will issue a letter to OWNER indicating acceptance of
the subgrade.

E. The Geomembrane shall be placed over the prepared surfaces in a manner that
results in minimum handling. Any portion of Gomembrane damaged during
installation by any cause shall be removed or repaired at no additional cost to
OWNER.

F. Geomembrane panels to be installed on slopes shall be oriented such that
seams are parallel to the line of slope. The seams shall be terminated or
extended a minimum of 25 feet from the toe of slope.

G. Each Geomembrane panel shall be assigned a simple and logical identification
number or letter. In addition, the Installation Contractor shall record the roll
number, location, and date of installation of each panel placed. The panels
shall be marked by their identification number or letters, and shall be recorded
on the as-built drawings by the Installation Contractor. Upon completion of
the Work, the Installation Contractor shall submit as-built drawings with panel
identifications to the CQA Consultant.

H. The panel layout pattern will be decided upon prior to placement in a meeting
between OWNER, ENGINEER, CONTRACTOR, the CQA Consultant, and the
Installation Contractor. The panel overlap pattern should be similar to that
used for shingles, to facilitate the drainage of water. No more panels shall be
deployed during a single day than can be seamed or tack-welded together that
same day.

I. All deployed Geomembrane panels shall be protected from wind uplift by
placing suitable ballast that will not damage the Geomembrane during its
placement or removal.

J. All disturbed subgrade or other underlying material shall be repaired and
observed by the CQA Consultant prior to deploying Geomembrane panels.

K. Vehicle traffic shall not be allowed directly on Geomembrane panels.
Equipment shall not damage panels by handling, leakage, transporting across
panels, or any other means. Personnel working on or with Geomembrane
panels shall not wear shoes that may damage the panels.

L. |Geomembrane panels shall be deployed using methods that will not stretch,
crimp, abrade, or otherwise damage panels. Placement of panels shall employ
methods that limit wrinkles and differential wrinkles between adjacent panels.

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M. Placement of soil shall not occur on Geomembrane that is under stress due to
thermal contraction or other causes, or that has large winkles that may fold
over and crimp, or when the ambient air temperature, measured 6-inches
above the Geomembrane, is greater than 104°F or lower than 40°F without
prior approval of ENGINEER. Panels under tensile stress due to thermal
contraction or any other cause shall be cut and a patch shall be placed to
provide compensation for Gcomembrane contraction. Equipment shall not be
operated directly on the GGomembrane during placement of soil.

N. Geomembrane panels shall be secured in the anchor trench as indicated on the
Drawings.

O. All pipe penetrations through the Gcomembrane shall be sealed with a boot of
the same material as the panels, meeting the same resin specifications, and
installed in accordance with the Drawings.

3.4 GEOMEMBRANE SEAMING

A. Geomembrane seams shall be arranged so that the seams are oriented parallel
to the line of maximum slope. Cross or butt seams on slopes, seams located in
corners, and unusual geometric panel shapes shall be minimized and shall be
installed such that the upgradient sheet is installed over the edge of the
downgradient sheets.

B. The seam identification system shall be related to and be compatible with the
panel identification system.

C. Seaming equipment shall be equipped with temperature gauges and readout
devices that enable continuous monitoring of equipment temperatures during
seaming. Electric generators shall be capable of providing constant voltage
under load and shall be underlain with a splash pad to collect spilled fuel or oil
when located on the GGomembrane.

D. Surfaces to be seamed shall be overlapped a minimum of 4 inches and cleaned
of moisture, grease, dust, dirt, debris, and any other foreign material. No
solvent or adhesive shall be used for seaming without approval from the
manufacturer and the ENGINEER.

E. Where moisture or dirt interferes with the seam, a protective sheet of plastic
shall be placed below the seam overlap to protect the panels being seamed.
This may consist of a “rub sheet” of plastic that is pulled along beneath the
seaming apparatus.

F. Surfaces to be seamed using extrusion welding shall be cleaned of oxidation by
disc grinder not more than one hour before extruding the seam. Abrasion of
the seam area with the disc grinder shall not extend beyond the extrusion bead
area unless inspected and approved by the CQA Consultant. Tack welding of

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the panels to be seamed shall not damage the Geomembrane or adversely
affect the seaming operation. The top Geomembrane of the seam overlap shall
be beveled and the extrusion apparatus shall be purged of heat-degraded
extrudite before seaming.

Should wrinkles occur, a cut shall be made along the ridge of the wrinkle and
laid flat so the edges of the material overlap. The overlap shall be extrusion-
seamed and any portion of the seam with less than 3 inches of overlap shall be
patched with a circular or oval patch extending a minimum of 6 inches beyond
the cut in all directions.

All T-seams and air testing needle holes are to be capped with a circular or oval
patch extending a minimum of 6 inches beyond the spot weld in all directions.

The Installation Contractor shall log the ambient air temperature 6 inches
above the Geomembrane elevation, extruded temperatures in extrusion
equipment barrels and nozzles, and operating temperatures of hot wedge
seamers at intervals specified by the CQA Consultant.

The Installation Contractor shall visually inspect seams and panels for holes,
crimps, abrasions, or defects, and shall mark each suspect location. All repair
locations shall be assigned an appropriate identifying label that shall be clearly
marked on the panel adjacent to the repair location and shall be shown on the
as-built drawings. Each marked location shall be repaired, non-destructively
tested, and recorded on the as-built drawings. No repairs shall be covered
until passing results of non-destructive tests are achieved and accepted by the
CQA Consultant.

Methods of repair shall consist of spot welding small tears or over-abraded
areas where thickness of the Geomembrane was reduced by more than 6 mils
(0.006 inches) abrading and re-welding small sections of defective extrusion
welds and removing a defective seam and replacing with a new strip of
material. The surface of the Gcomembrane in the seam/repair area shall be
abraded no more than one hour before the repair is made. All GGomembrane
surfaces shall be cleaned and dried at the time of the repair. Patches over
larger holes and other defects shall extend a minimum of 6 inches beyond the
edges of the defect. All corners of patches shall be rounded with a radius of at
least 3 inches.

3.5 TRIAL SEAM TESTING

A.

Trial seams shall be performed with each seam welder at the beginning (start
of shift) of each day, and at the beginning of each period after which the welder
has been turned off or disconnected from its power supply, or has been idle for
30 minutes (extrusion welder) or 60 minutes (hot wedge welder), and after
any change in operator personnel on a welder, after 5 hours of continuous
seaming, or at any other time deemed necessary by the CQA Consultant.

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B. The Installation Contractor is responsible for providing and operating an on-
site tensiometer and corresponding sample cutting equipment to perform all
trial and field seam testing.

C. Trial seams shall be produced under the same physical conditions as
production seaming.

D. Trial seam sample testing:

1. Trial seams shall be a minimum of 5 feet long and 12 inches wide
(perpendicular to the seam).

2. One-inch wide samples shall be cut perpendicular to the seam and tested
according to ASTM D6392 in a tensiometer for bonded seam strength
(shear) and peel adhesion.

3. Two (2) samples will be tested for shear and five (5) samples for peel (10
peel tests total for fusion welds as both edges of the weld must be tested).
Two passing shear tests and 4 out of 5 passing peel tests (9 out of 10 for
fusion welds) are required for an acceptable trial seam.

4. Each sample failure must consist of a ductile break that is film tearing
bond and must meet the strength requirements of the following table:

Peel Adhesion Extrusion ASTM D6392 78 lb/in

E. Ifa trial seam test fails, then another trial seam shall be performed and tested.
If the second trial seam fails, then the seam welder shall not be used until it is
repaired or faulty conditions are corrected, and two trial seams pass the
destructive tests.

F. Arecord of the date, time, ambient weather conditions, test results, operator,
and equipment number shall be kept by the Installation Contractor, and
submitted to the CQA Consultant on a weekly basis. A properly identified
unused section of the trial weld seam will be retained by the OWNER.

3.6 INSTALLATION CONTRACTOR QC TESTING

A. The Installation Contractor shall non-destructively test the full length of all
seams to ensure watertight, homogeneous seams. Test methods shall consist
of vacuum box testing, air-pressure testing of double-fusion seams, or other
methods approved by the manufacturer and the CQA Consultant. The test shall
be performed as work progresses, rather than at the completion of all field
seaming.

B. Vacuum box testing shall be performed on extrusion welds using a vacuum box
with a rigid housing, transparent viewing window, a soft rubber gasket on the
bottom edge, and a valve assembly with a vacuum gauge. The vacuum box

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must be approved by the CQA Consultant prior to use. The CQA Consultant has
the right to reject any vacuum box that he feels may not provide accurate
results.

C. Vacuum box testing shall be performed by applying a soap-and-water solution
to the seam and placing the box over the seam so a leak-tight seal is obtained,
applying a vacuum of 5 psi to the box. The seam shall be examined through the
viewing window for at least 10 seconds by the CQA Consultant for the presence
of soap bubbles. If soap bubbles are detected in the viewing window, the
location will be marked and repaired in accordance with these Specifications.
Vacuum testing shall be performed in accordance with ASTM D5641.

D. Air pressure testing shall be performed on double-fusion seams having an air
channel between the seams. Both ends of the seam shall be heat-sealed and a
hollow needle with a pressure gauge and valve attached shall be inserted into
the air channel. A pump shall be attached to the needle and an air pressure of
25 psi shall be applied to the air channel. The valve shall be closed and the
pressure shall be observed for a minimum of 5 minutes. If the pressure drops
more than 2 psi or doesn't stabilize, then the defective area shall be located,
marked, and repaired in accordance with these Specifications. After
completing the air pressure test, the needle shall be removed and the hole shall
be sealed and tested with the vacuum box. The CQA Consultant shall witness
the entire test, including the release of pressure or vacuum, to monitor for a
defective pressure or vacuum gauge. Air pressure testing shall be performed
in accordance with ASTM D5820.

E. Destructive testing of seam samples shall be performed at a minimum
frequency of one per 500 linear feet of seam. Seam sampling for destructive
testing shall be performed as work progresses to obtain test results before
seams are covered. The CQA Consultant will select the seam samples locations
and, at its discretion, may take samples more frequently than one per 500 feet.
If a lower testing sampling frequency is desired, the CQA Consultant will
prepare and submit proposed guidelines for selecting variable sampling
intervals based on a method of attributes to the New Hampshire Department of
Environmental Services Solid Waste Bureau for consideration.

F. The Installation Contractor shall cut seam samples at the locations designated
by the CQA Consultant. The seam samples shall be 12-inches wide and 48-
inches long with the seam centered lengthwise. Each test sample shall be
assigned an identification number and the locations shall be recorded on the
as-built drawings.

G. All holes resulting from seam sampling shall be repaired immediately and
tested with the vacuum box in accordance with these Specifications on the
same day the samples are taken.

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H. Laboratory testing of each seam sample shall be coordinated by the CQA
Consultant and performed by an independent geosynthetic testing laboratory
paid for by OWNER. Two samples will be tested for shear and five samples for
peel (10 peel tests total for fusion welds as both edges of the weld must be
tested). Two passing shear tests and 4 out of 5 passing peel tests (9 out of 10
for fusion welds) are required for an acceptable seam. The minimum
acceptable values for passing the tests shall be those listed in Paragraph
3.5.D.4 of this Section.

]. Field testing (peel and shear) of all seam samples obtained from production
seams shall be performed by the Installation Contractor and observed by the
CQA Consultant prior to the shipment of the samples to an independent
geosynthetics testing laboratory. Failed field tests may constitute a failed seam
and further 3rd party testing may or may not be performed by OWNER. The
Installation Contractor is responsible for providing and operating an on-site
tensiometer and corresponding sample cutting equipment to perform all field
destructive seam testing.

J. If the results of either the field or laboratory tests do not meet the above
requirements, then the associated seam shall be reconstructed or capped
between any two passing test seam locations, or intermediate tests may be
performed on both sides of the location of the failed test sample to further
isolate the defective seam area. If intermediate field test seams pass,
laboratory test seams shall be performed on samples from the same locations.
If laboratory test seams also pass, then the seam shall be reconstructed or
capped between the intermediate sample locations. If either of the test seams
fail, then the process shall be repeated with intermediate samples further away
from the original failing seam location to determine the defective seam area.

K. Each seam shall be bounded by two locations where seam samples passed the
laboratory tests. Whenever a reconstructed seam exceeds 150 feet, an
additional sample for laboratory testing shall be obtained from along the
reconstructed seam. At the CQA Consultant’s discretion, it may be necessary to
take additional samples from seams welded on the same day by seaming
equipment that produced seams that did not pass seam strength requirements.

L. After large areas of GGomembrane are seamed and before they are covered,
large wrinkles shall be cut, re-seamed, and tested.

M. If a seam is located where non-destructive testing cannot be performed, the
seam shall, at the discretion of the CQA Consultant, be liner-stripped (capped)
and the liner-stripping operation shall be observed by the CQA Consultant and
Installation Contractor for completeness.

N. Results and locations for all laboratory and field destructive testing and non-
destructive field testing shall be displayed by the Installation Contractor on the
as-built drawing.

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3.7. FINAL INSPECTION

A. A final inspection shall be performed by the Installation Contractor, the CQA
Consultant, ENGINEER, and OWNER prior to the Installer’s crew demobilizing
from the site. All identified problem areas shall be repaired by the Installation
Contractor and accepted by the CQA Consultant prior to the installation crew
demobilizing from the site.

[END OF SECTION 02550]

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File No. 3066.09.00 Geomembrane 02550 - 14 of 14 December 2017