Background and development of GRI's geosynthetics specifications: Fid-Bau Portal

Background and development of GRI's geosynthetics specifications

Koerner, Robert N. / Koerner, George R.

When the National Sanitation Foundation ceased servicing and distributing its NSF 54 specification for geomembranes in 1991, the task fell upon the Geosynthetic Research Institute (GRI) for continuation. With a bit of trepidation we started on HDPE but only after considerable in-house research were undertaken, particularly on stress crack resistance and oxidative induction time. After the specification was finalized in 1997, LLDPE followed in 2000 and then fPP in 2002. Upon investigating a number of fPP failures the fPP specification was withdrawn followed by a major in-house research project on exposed durability and then reinstated in 2009. Scrim reinforced polyethylene specifications were adopted between 2003 and 2009 for fPP, LLDPE and MDPE as well as for EPDM both nonreinforced and scrim reinforced. The seaming specification for all of the polyolefins was adopted in 2002. Other specifications were developed where the need was evidenced. The geotextile tube specification in 1999, geotextile cushion specification in 2002 and 2004, geotextile separators specification 2004 and 2008, and the GCL specification in 2005. Current efforts are focused on a geocell specification. Other possible geosynthetics specifications for geogrids, geonets/geonet composites and turf reinforcement mats have not been successful to date although many draft versions have been attempted. In spite of the lack of a complete set of specifications, however, it is felt (and sincerely hoped) that the GRI geosynthetic materials specifications have brought a considerable amount of order to an otherwise turbulent scene. While some manufacturers are understandably reluctant to enter such efforts, the specifying community is certainly pleased with the results to date as evidenced by their widespread use. We will certainly continue to maintain and update the existing specifications and attempt to get the draft efforts into final approved status.