ASTM F2682-07(2024)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F2682 − 07 (Reapproved 2024)
Standard Guide for
Determining the Buoyancy to Weight Ratio of Oil Spill
Containment Boom
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2682; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.5 reserve buoyancy—gross buoyancy minus boom weight.
F818
1.1 This guide describes a practical method for determining
the buoyancy to weight (B/W) ratio of oil spill containment
4. Significance and Use
booms.
4.1 This guide describes a method of determining the
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
buoyancy to weight ratio of spill response booms. The prin-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
ciple is based on Archimedes Law, which states that a body
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
either wholly or partially immersed in a fluid will experience
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
an upward force equal and opposite to the weight of the fluid
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
displaced by it.
1.3 This international standard was developed in accor-
4.2 Unless otherwise specified, when used in this guide, the
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
term buoyancy to weight ratio (B/W ratio) refers to the gross
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
buoyancy to weight ratio. Buoyancy is an indicator of a spill
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
response boom’s ability to follow the water surface when
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
exposed to current forces, fouling due to microbial growth
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
(which adds weight), and wave conditions. Surface conditions
other than quiescent will have an adverse effect on collection or
2. Referenced Documents
containment performance. When waves are present, confor-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
mance to the surface is essential to prevent losses. Minimum
F818 Terminology Relating to Spill Response Booms and
buoyancy to weight ratios for oil spill containment booms are
Barriers
specified in Guide F1523 for various environmental conditions.
F1523 Guide for Selection of Booms in Accordance With
4.3 This guide provides the methodology necessary to
Water Body Classifications
determine the buoyancy to weight ratio using a fluid displace-
3. Terminology
ment method. This method is typically applied to booms
having relatively low B/W ratios (in the range of 2:1 to 10:1).
3.1 boom section—length of boom between two end
connectors. F818 Booms with greater buoyancies may also be tested in this
manner. It is acceptable to use calculation methods to estimate
3.2 boom segment—repetitive identical portion of the boom
boom displacement for booms with buoyancies greater than
section. F818
10:1, where the potential error in doing so would have a less
3.3 buoyancy to weight ratio—gross buoyancy divided by
significant effect on performance.
boom weight. F818
4.4 When evaluating the B/W ratio of a spill response boom,
3.4 gross buoyancy—weight of fresh water displaced by a
consideration must be given to the inherent properties of the
boom totally submerged.
boom that may affect the net B/W ratio while in use. These
considerations include, but are not limited to, absorption of
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F20 on Hazardous
fluids into flotation materials, membranes that are abraded
Substances and Oil Spill Response and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
during normal use, and entry of water into components of the
F20.11 on Control.
boom.
Current edition approved March 1, 2024. Published March 2024. Originally
The entry of water into boom components is of particular
approved in 2007. Last previous edition approved in 2018 as F2682 – 07 (2018).
DOI: 10.1520/F2682-07R24.
concern with booms that contain their flotation element within
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
an additional membrane. (This is the case for many booms that
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
use rolled-foam flotation and relatively lightweight material for
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. the boom membrane.) It is also important for booms that have
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F2682 − 07 (2024)
pockets that enclose cable or chain tension members or ballast. bers. A means of allowing water to fill these air pockets must
When new, the membrane enclosure may contain air that be provided for accurate results.
would result in increased buoyancy. In normal use, the mem-
7.4 Place the boom within the (empty) tank, orienting it in
brane material may be easily abraded such that it would no
a close to upright position as it would be deployed for use.
longer contain air, and water would be allowed in at abrasion
When placing the boom in the tank, care shall be taken to not
locations. For such booms, the membrane enclosure shall not
introduce folds in the boom skirt that could trap air, and
be considered as part of the flotation of the boom, and the
orienting the boom in a close to upright position is recom-
membrane shall be intentionally punctured to allow water to
mended to aid in this.
enter during the test procedure.
7.5 Place the submerging grid (or other device to restrain
the boom below water) in position. There shall be enough
5. Summary of Test Method
space for the boom to float freely as the tank is filled.
5.1 Displacement Method—Buoyancy to weight ratio is
estimated using two key values, the dry weight of the boom 7.6 Fill the tank with water and allow sufficient time for
and the gross buoyancy of the boom. Weight of the boom is trapped air to escape. Filling the tank to submerge the boom
measured directly. The gross buoyancy is equal to the weight of shall take no less than one hour, during which time the flotation
fresh water displaced by a boom totally submerged. Gross element and the skirt shall be moved around to facilitate the
buoyancy is measured by submerging the boom, measuring the release of trapped air. (Note that this must be done periodically,
volume of water that is displaced, and calculating the weight of and will be difficult or impossible once the boom is submerged
the displaced water. and its buoyant force is holding the boom against the restrain-
ing grid.)
6. Equipment Requirements
7.7 Once the boom and the restraining grid have been
6.1 This method requires a scale to measure the dry weight
submerged, record the volume of water that has been delivered
of the boom, an open-top tank sufficient in volume and and mark the water level from the datum.
footprint area to physically hold the boom section or segment,
7.8 Remove the boom from the tank and empty the tank.
a means of submerging the test section, a fresh water supply,
With the boom removed and the restraining grid back in place,
and a method of accurately measuring the volume of water that
fill the tank again to the same water level. Record the volume
is delivered to the tank. A recommended method of restraining
of water that is delivered
...