HDPE Geomembranes are most often used for large projects; however, apart from quality products, the installation of these liners is also vital. When these high-quality liners fail due to improper handling or installation, it can lead to leaks, environmental contamination, and costly repairs.

Gundle Geosynthetics are not only suppliers of high-quality HDPE Geomembranes but also professional installers with decades of experience.

The process of extrusion fillet welding.

Why installation matters

Proper installation ensures durability, impermeability and compliance with environmental standards.

HDPE liners are designed to be impermeable, but poor welding or surface preparation can cause seam failures and punctures, allowing contaminants to seep into the soil and groundwater. In these cases, hazardous leachate from landfills, mining tailings and wastewater lagoons can contaminate the surrounding ecosystem.

Improper installation reduces the liners’ effectiveness, which can lead to expensive repairs and downtime. On the other hand, properly installed liners resist UV exposure, chemical degradation and stress cracking, maintaining their integrity under harsh conditions.

When installed correctly, these liners can last up to 50 years in buried applications.

The process of double hot edge welding.

The proper way to install HDPE Geomembranes

Extrusion welding and fusion welding are two of the approved ways to weld HDPE Geomembranes. Welding equipment is fitted with temperature monitoring devices to ensure the proper measurement of the applicable fusion welding wedge temperature or the extrusion barrel temperature.

The two ways to weld are:

• Double hot wedge weld: This is a thermal technique that melts the two opposing geomembrane surfaces together by running a hot metal wedge or knife between them.
• Extrusion fillet weld: This seaming technique involves extruding molten polyethylene at the overlapping edge of geomembranes to form a continuous bond.

To ensure the quality and longevity of the products and the welds, all seams are tested by Gundle Geosynthetics via the peel and air pressure tests before general seaming operations can proceed. Gundle Geosynthetics can also perform vacuum and spark tests if required.

Gundle Geosynthetics puts their welds through rigorous peel and air pressure tests.

Quality control

Gundle Geosynthetics has developed a Quality Control Plan (QCP) that incorporates the Geosynthetic Research Institute’s (GRI) standard specifications and ISO 9001:2015.

These specifications are used as the backbone of the QCP to ensure that quality is the determining factor for every project. Because each project is unique, Gundle Geosynthetics also ensures that they adhere to the  specific requirements that each unique project has.

The project contract, or document, covers most of the geosynthetic components used during the construction of a synthetic lining system, including geomembranes, geotextiles, geonets, geocomposites and geosynthetic clay liners. The document also outlines the quality control procedures and recommended standards to which these products must be installed.

The QCP covers the following:

• Personnel functions and duties on site
• Pre-construction meetings
• Geomembranes layout and process tests
• Geotextiles layout and process tests
• Geocomposites layout and process tests
• Geosynthetic Clay Liners layout and process tests
• All on-site test logs (destructive and non-destructive)

Ultimately, the success of any containment project relies equally on superior materials and flawless execution. By combining industry-leading HDPE Geomembranes with a rigorous, ISO-compliant QCP, Gundle Geosynthetics delivers an end-to-end solution that safeguards both your investment and the surrounding environment.

Trusting experienced professionals for your installation needs ensures long-term durability, regulatory compliance and peace of mind for decades to come. Visit their website at https://www.gundlegeo.co.za/ for more information.