New Standards for PVC Geomembranes Introduced

In 1994 the PVC Geomembrane Institute pooled its resources, and, with the help and input of the membership, introduced the first ever PVC Geomembrane Institute Construction Quality Control Document. The document was developed in order to aid designers, engineers and regulators in properly specifying PVC Geomembranes for appropriate environmental applications.

The CQC manual sets forth to outline the current industry standards and methods for the manufacturing, fabrication and installation of PVC, Geomembranes. The guidelines outlined in the document, at its inception, were in accordance with the most updated practices available.

In 1996 the PVC Geomembrane Institute embarked on a new task - to rewrite, update and replace the current working standard for geomembranes. Once again the membership joined forces to create the all new PVC Geomembrane Institute Construction Quality Control Document. Along with the introduction of the new Quality Control Document, the PGI also introduced the new standard for PVC Geomembranes, PGI-1197.

PGI-1197 is the result of a year long effort on behalf of the PGI and its membership and will serve as the replacement to the outdated (no longer valid) National Sanitation Foundation 54 standard for geomembranes.

"We felt is was necessary to raise the standards to which PVC geomembranes are manufactured, fabricated and installed," explains Dave Lauwers, PGI president and manager of compounds and film technology for Occidental Chemical Corporation, Burlington, NJ. "To raise just one aspect of this specification is simply not enough. The industry has needed this for a long time and we felt it was our responsibility to take action."

On average the minimum requirements for PVC geomembranes listed in PGI-1197 are 20 percent higher than the numbers listed in the former geomembrane specification, NSF-54. The PVC Geomembrane Institute also took the initiative to raise the minimum requirements for factory fabricated seams by as much as 50 percent.

PGI-1197 outlines the minimum specifications required for 10 through 60 mil PVC geomembrane, highlighting the following typical properties:

Factory Fabricated Seams

Peel Strength

Shear Strength

PGI-1197 was introduced into the geomembrane marketplace at a very opportune time for industry professionals. Since the withdrawal of NSF 54 from the marketplace, in December 1996, there has not been an active industry standard for Flexible Membrane Liners. However, the minimum specifications listed in PGI-1197 can only be assured when the material is either manufactured or fabricated by a PGI member. They can not assure this quality for any company that is not an active member of the organization.

Since its introduction into the marketplace in December the PGI has been marketing the new standard through various outlets including trade publications and the Internet. A copy of the new specification can also be seen in table A on page three. For more Information on the PVC Geomembrane Institute or PGI-1197, please contact the PGI at 217-333-3929. 

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