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ASTM Drafting Test for Sewer Coatings

Friday, October 7, 2011

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ASTM International is developing a standard to help evaluate protective coatings for sewerage systems with a new test specific to these coatings.

Sprayroq

The new testing protocol is based on headspace conditions characteristic of actual sewerage systems, said task group chairman Vaughn O’Dea.

Subcommittee G01.05 on Laboratory Corrosion Tests is developing ASTM WK33537, Practice for Operating the Severe Wastewater Analysis Testing Apparatus. G01.05 is under the jurisdiction of Committee G01 on Corrosion of Metals.

New Vapor Phase Testing

The testing apparatus at issue is a laboratory chamber with two phases: 1) a liquid phase, containing a 10 percent concentration of sulfuric acid and 0.4 percent saline solution; and 2) a vapor phase, consisting of air, humidity and concentrated sewer gas (for example, hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide and methane).

“It is the vapor phase that makes the severe wastewater analysis testing apparatus novel, compared to other senescent laboratory testing regimens often used by the wastewater industry,” says Vaughn O’Dea, director of Water-Wastewater Treatment for Tnemec Co. and chairman of the task group that is developing the standard.

Tnemec

The Severe Wastewater Analysis Testing Apparatus is a laboratory chamber with two phases: liquid and vapor.

The testing protocol “was established based on headspace conditions characteristic of actual sewerage systems,” O’Dea added.

‘Premier Laboratory Evaluation Procedure’

Primary users of the proposed standard will include specifying architects/engineers and municipal wastewater owners seeking to extend the service life of their infrastructure assets.

“The severe wastewater analysis testing apparatus has been the subject of many technical articles and presentations over the last 10 years and, as such, has become the premier laboratory evaluation procedure for candidate protective coatings for severe wastewater,” says O’Dea.

All interested parties, particularly those who deal with wastewater and testing laboratories capable of handling high levels of sewer gases, are invited to participate in the development of ASTM WK33537.

Contact O’Dea at 816-519-2267 or odea@tnemec.com or visit www.astm.org to learn more.

ASTM International is one of the world’s largest international standards development and delivery systems.

Comment from Jerry Trevino, (10/11/2011, 10:38 AM)

The testing of polymers to withstand stated exposure is good data, however, in reality, coating or lining system's ease or difficulty of application is a key reason why many coatings and lining systems fail. The application of liners in underground structures are subjected to curing in wet contaminated environments, water and chemical logged structures, constant hydrostatic pressure, and applications in confined spaces, create challenges not encountered in a laboratory setting. Chemical and gas resistant testing in a lab will not necessarily mean the coating will bond, stop infiltration, resist the dynamic movements of the structure, however it will provide some datum points. I do feel however, that testing in important, however real life applications will also provide interesting datum points.

Comment from Jerry Trevino, (10/11/2011, 10:46 AM)

Cementitous coatings are extensively used in the waster water collection system to rehabilitate old mic corroded structures. Cementitious coating will not pass this test. One important point is that the more Trenchless Technologies rehab is performed, the more infiltration is eliminated, the more septic and corrosive the sewer environment gets. Thus coatings that may work today may not be corrosion resistant in the future more corrosive atmospheres in the sewer system.