Designation: D 3633 – 98 (Reapproved 2006)

Standard Test Method for

Electrical Resistivity of Membrane-Pavement Systems1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 3633; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope 3. Terminology
1.1 This test method covers the measurement of the electri- 3.1 For definitions of terms used in this specification, refer
cal resistivity of water-barrier membrane-pavement systems to Terminology D 3743.
when applied to concrete bridge decks.
1.2 Measurements shall be performed on the bituminous 4. Significance and Use
pavement surface covering the water-barrier membrane. 4.1 This test method for measuring the electrical resistivity
1.3 This test method utilizes a measure of electrical resis- of water-barrier membrane-pavement systems may be inter-
tance between the saturated top surface of the water-barrier preted to indicate the effectiveness of such systems.
membrane and the reinforcing steel embedded in the concrete 4.2 This test method is predicated on the fact that an
bridge deck. electrical connection between the surface of the pavement and
1.4 The values measured represent the electrical resistance the reinforcing steel in the concrete pavement cannot be made
obtained with the equipment and procedures stated herein and through an impermeable water-barrier membrane.
do not necessarily agree or correlate with those using other 4.3 This test method may be used for acceptance when the
equipment or procedures. accepting agency specifies the minimum resistance value
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the desired.
standard.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the 5. Apparatus
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 5.1 Ohmmeter, dc, 20 000 V/V rating connected to a
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- double-pole, double-throw switch box or ac ohmmeter (switch
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- box not required).
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. NOTE 1—When this test method is used for acceptance, the accepting
agency should specify the type of ohmmeter to be used.
2. Referenced Documents
5.2 Insulated Wire, No. 18, Belden test probewire or equiva-
2.1 ASTM Standards: 2
C 670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements lent. Two spools, minimum 38 m (125 ft).
for Test Methods for Construction Materials 5.3 Copper Plate, 305 by 305 by 3.0 mm (12 by 12 by 1⁄8
in.), with the means for connecting the ohmmeter lead and a
D 3743 Terminology Relating to Bridge Deck and Sub-
wooden handle approximately 1 m (39 in.) in length.
structure Protection3
D 4071 Practice for Use of Portland Cement Concrete 5.4 Polyurethane Sponge, 305 by 305 by 13 mm (12 by 12
Bridge Deck Water Barrier Membrane Systems by 1⁄2 in.), to be attached to the copper plate with rubber bands
E 105 Practice for Probability Sampling Of Materials or other suitable means. When assembled this apparatus is
called the probe.
5.5 Pressure Spray Can, 12-L (3-gal) capacity, with a hose
and spray nozzle.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D04 on Road
and Paving Materials and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D04.32 on 6. Reagent
Bridges and Structures. 6.1 A wetting agent which, when added to the water, will
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2006. Published December 2006. Originally
approved in 1977. Last previous edition approved in 1998 as D 3633 – 98. break the surface tension and promote the penetration of the
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or water through the bituminous pavement.
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on NOTE 2—An example of a wetting agent is a super-saturated solution of
the ASTM website. cupric sulfate crystals in warm water to which is added 19 mL/gal of
3
Withdrawn. Dioctyl Sodium Sulfo-succinate (Tradename “Aerosol” OT Clear, 10 %).

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
 D 3633 – 98 (2006)
When ambient test site temperature is below 50°F (10°C), add 15 % by 8.2.1 Check the ohmmeter battery for satisfactory charge,
volume of either isopropyl or denatured alcohol to prevent clouding of the then zero the ohmmeter dial indicator. Connect the two wire
wetting agent. Clouding of the wetting agent may inhibit penetration. leads to the ohmmeter and check for circuit continuity.
7. Sampling 8.2.2 Check for overall equipment operation and satisfac-
tory circuit by placing the probe on exposed concrete deck
7.1 Determine locations on the bridge deck to be tested by
curbing and observing the resistance reading on the ohmmeter.
using either a grid pattern similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1 or
This reading will normally range from 1000 to 3000 V for
by a random location system, based upon Practice E 105 or a
various bridge decks. Place the probe at several locations along
similar method, that will ensure that the bridge deck area to be
the curb and observe the readings, which must remain rela-
tested will be adequately represented.
tively constant as an indication of a complete electrical circuit
8. Procedure and especially to ensure a good contact with the reinforcing
steel.
8.1 Prepare the surface to be tested by removing all foreign
material by sweeping or scraping, or both. Do not use water to NOTE 4—Excessive moisture in the pavement would cause invalid
clean. The surface must be dry and clean before testing. resistance readings. To give a measure of assurance against this, the
resistance between any two test sites may be checked prior to the testing
8.1.1 Locate the reinforcing steel with a pachometer. Drill
sequence described in 8.3 through 8.4. This is accomplished by attaching
with a rotary impact hammer at selected locations to expose the the ohmmeter to two probes, rather than a single probe, and the reinforcing
reinforcing steel to allow attachment of ohmmeter leads. steel. Immediate low readings (10 000 6 V) will indicate excessive
Alternately, drill until the drill bit contacts the steel firmly to moisture in the pavement and on top of the membrane and further testing
allow ohmmeter lead attachment. of the entire deck, or at least such identified portions of it, should be
8.2 Uncoil an ample length of wire to reach all areas to be postponed.
tested, attach the minus (−) jack of the ohmmeter to the 8.3 By means of the pressure spray can containing water
reinforcing steel and the plus ( + ) jack to the 305 by 305 by mixed with 8 mL/L (1 oz/gal) of wetting agent, wet a spot at
3.0-mm (12 by 12 by 1⁄8-in.) copper plate of the probe. Then each test location as determined in 7.1. Each spot should be
saturate the sponge with water containing the wetting agent. large enough to accommodate the probe. Repeat the wetting of
NOTE 3—A direct connection from the ohmmeter to the top layer of each test site three to five times in series. Take care that the
reinforcing steel in the deck is desirable. However, if it is not practical to wetted areas do not interconnect, either on the surface or at the
do this, the bridge railing, expansion joints, light standards, drainage pavement water-barrier membrane interface.
scuppers, or other exposed steel, which is known to have contact with the 8.3.1 In order to be sure that the applied water has pen-
top mat of reinforcing steel, may be used to provide this connection. etrated the pavement and is in contact with the water-barrier
membrane, select a representative, well-compacted, test loca-
tion as a check point. After allowing ample time for moisture
penetration at all test sites, place the probe on the check point
and determine the resistance with the test apparatus assembled
as described in 8.2. Repeat the wetting of all test sites followed
by a determination of the resistance at the check point. Do this
until the check point resistance reading has stabilized. The time
required for the wetting process will vary, depending on the
thickness and permeability of the pavement layer (30 min is
normally sufficient).
NOTE 5—The reasoning behind the above requirement is that when the
dense, very well-compacted pavement at the check point, which has been
wetted equally along with all other test locations, achieves a stabilized
resistance, then logically all other test sites should have stabilized also. It
has been found expedient in some cases (due to high ambient tempera-
tures) to place prewetted sponges at each test site after wetting in order to
maintain saturation.
8.4 Proceed to test the bridge deck for electrical resistance.
Place the probe at each test location and allow the ohmmeter
reading to settle; note it. For a d-c ohmmeter, reverse the leads
by tripping the double-pole switch. When the reading has
settled again, note it and record the average of two such
readings as the resistance for each point. (See Fig. 2 for an
example of the recording procedure.)
NOTE 6—Reversal of the dc meter leads by means of the switch box and
averaging the readings reduces the error induced by galvanic coupling of
the probe and the reinforcing steel. This is not necessary when using an ac
ohmmeter. If readings are taken using scales other than the highest range
FIG. 1 Layout for Test Grid provided by the ohmmeter, note the scale used.

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 D 3633 – 98 (2006)
9. Report
9.1 The resistance values shall be reported in a manner
similar to that shown in Fig. 2. Areas that fail to meet any
minimum requirements may be outlined on the grid sheet. If
desired, these same areas may be outlined on the bridge deck.
Any repairs or corrections that need to be made shall be noted
on the report sheet.

10. Precision and Bias

10.1 Data were developed for precision statement from a
water-barrier membrane-pavement system that had been in
service for some time. The precision statements may not be
applicable when testing new installations since an effective
membrane should produce readings of infinite resistance.
10.2 The single operator coefficient of variation of a single
test result has been found to be 79 %.4 Therefore, results of two
properly conducted tests by the same operator on the same day
should not differ by more than 2.23 times the average of the
two results.
10.3 The multi-operator coefficient of variation of a single
test result has been found to be 79 %.Therefore, results of two
properly conducted tests by different operators on the same day
should not differ by more than 2.23 times the average of the
two results.
10.4 Bias—Since there is no accepted reference material
available at this time for determining bias for this test method,
FIG. 2 Typical Resistance Values no statement on bias is being made.

8.5 If it is desired to further define areas of low-resistance 11. Keywords

readings, establish a grid pattern with intersections at interme-
11.1 membrane-pavement systems; reinforcing steel; water
diate points not previously tested. These points should only be
barrier resistivity
tested after allowing sufficient time for the moisture in the
pavement to dissipate. Time for this will depend on the density
and thickness of the pavement, as well as the ambient and
pavement temperatures (usually a minimum of 24 h should be 4
These numbers represent, respectively, the (1s %) and (d2s %) limits as
allowed). described in Practice C 670.

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