Exposed Geomembrane Arc Testing
SENSOR DDS® MIT Arc Tester

Exposed geomembrane arc testing using SENSOR DDS® MIT Arc Tester provides confidence that the liner surface is truly intact before cover placement – free from hidden defects and risk areas that could later cause costly repairs or reduce the performance of the entire waterproofing system.
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How Exposed Geomembrane Arc Testing Works with SENSOR DDS® MIT Arc Tester

This exposed geomembrane arc testing, also known as an Electrical Leak Location – ELL – method, has two key purposes. The first is to detect damage that may occur during installation, for example due to improper handling or lack of care during work. The second, often overlooked risk, is damage that may already occur during manufacturing, transport, storage or further handling of the liner material. Even very small pinholes, punctures or seam defects can appear during these stages, and standard visual inspection cannot reliably detect them.
SENSOR DDS® MIT Arc Tester is a unique technology designed for exposed geomembrane arc testing as part of Electrical Leak Location – ELL. The Arc Testing Method is recommended immediately after geomembrane installation, when the liner surface is dry and cleaned of dust and other contaminants. At this stage, waterproofing liner integrity testing is performed in accordance with the applicable standard, while being faster, more accurate and more reliable.

If a protective or cover layer is later applied over a surface tested in this way, the investor has confidence that no existing leaks will be hidden beneath it. If the liner needs to be checked after cover placement, this is handled by covered geomembrane testing using SENSOR DDS® Mobile. Repairing such defects later is usually many times more expensive than the initial inspection performed with the SENSOR DDS® MIT Arc Tester.

This 4th generation device enables the operator to detect anomalies in the waterproofing liner smaller than 1 mm², including defects invisible to the naked eye. As part of Electrical Leak Location – ELL, the system electronically checks the integrity of the entire liner surface, including critical seams and welds. When a defect is detected, it alerts the operator with an audible alarm and a visual signal.

SENSOR DDS® MIT Arc Tester operates in accordance with ASTM D7953 and is used across all industries where reliable waterproofing liner integrity testing is required.
Iskrová skúška hydroizolácie pred zakrytím - SENSOR DDS® MIT Arc Tester

Why Test the Geomembrane Before Cover Placement?

Exposed geomembrane arc testing, as part of Electrical Leak Location – ELL, is the most effective way to detect leaks while the liner surface is still fully accessible for inspection and repair. At this stage, punctures, cracks, seam defects and other liner damage can be precisely identified before additional layers are installed, when later leak location and repair would be significantly more expensive. The inspection is recommended immediately after waterproofing liner installation, when the surface is dry, clean and ready for accurate detection. Early arc testing helps confirm that the waterproofing system is truly watertight before cover placement and ready for the next stage of construction. If the liner has already been covered, the appropriate follow-up method is covered geomembrane testing using SENSOR DDS® Mobile.
The most common defects detected during this inspection include:
  • mechanical damage caused during installation
  • punctures and cuts caused by material handling
  • local defects in details and connections
  • leaks and imperfections in seams and welds
  • defects that are not reliably visible to the naked eye

Most Common Application Areas

Comprehensive SENSOR DDS® Services

Exposed geomembrane arc testing is designed for an exposed liner or geomembrane. If the waterproofing system has already been covered, or if the project requires long-term liner integrity monitoring, a different method should be selected according to the specific situation. Choosing the right SENSOR DDS® technology is essential for accurate results, faster diagnostics and lower costs for any subsequent intervention.

SENSOR DDS® MIT Arc Tester Applications

SENSOR DDS® MIT Arc Tester can be used on any non-conductive waterproofing liner, such as HDPE, LDPE, PVC, bituminous membranes and others, or on conductive geomembranes. The liner surface must be dry and sufficiently clean. SENSOR DDS® MIT Arc Tester is most commonly used for:
  • Roofs
  • Ponds
  • Water reservoirs
  • Building foundations
  • Balconies
  • Mining ponds
  • Tunnels
  • Bridges
  • Waste landfills
  • Landfill capping
  • Industrial lagoons
  • Dams

Why Choose Our Exposed Geomembrane Arc Testing?

Advanced ELL Technology

We use SENSOR DDS® MIT Arc Tester, an advanced Electrical Leak Location - ELL - technology for exposed geomembrane arc testing and fast detection of even very small liner defects.

Reliable Result

Waterproofing liner integrity testing is performed on an exposed, dry and prepared surface, allowing defects to be detected before the liner is covered by the next layer.

Precise Detection

The device can locate damage, punctures, cracks and problematic seams or welds, including defects that are practically invisible to the naked eye.

Fast Area Inspection

Exposed geomembrane arc testing makes it possible to inspect large areas quickly, speeding up construction work and helping the project stay on schedule.

Lower Repair Costs

Early leak detection on an exposed liner significantly reduces the risk of costly repairs after cover placement or after the structure has been put into operation.

Confidence for Investor and Contractor

Testing with SENSOR DDS® MIT Arc Tester gives both the investor and the contractor confidence that the waterproofing system has been thoroughly inspected before cover placement.

Frequently Asked Questions

SENSOR DDS® MIT Arc Tester is designed for Electrical Leak Location – ELL – on exposed waterproofing liners or geomembranes after installation and before cover placement. In practice, it is used as a quality control method to confirm that the liner surface and seams are free from leaks while any required repair can still be carried out quickly and without unnecessary cost. ASTM D7953 defines this method as a standard practice for locating defects in exposed geomembranes. If the liner has already been covered, the appropriate method is covered geomembrane testing using SENSOR DDS® Mobile.
The test verifies the continuity of the waterproofing liner, detecting defects such as punctures, cracks, cuts, leaks, damaged areas or seam defects. From the investor’s point of view, this is important because it is not just a random inspection of details, but a systematic Electrical Leak Location – ELL – check of the entire exposed liner surface, including seams and welds.
It is most useful immediately after installation, when the waterproofing liner is still accessible, dry and ready for inspection. At this stage, defects caused by installation, handling, transport or storage can be detected before they are covered by additional layers. For reliable Electrical Leak Location – ELL – the manufacturer also states that the exposed geomembrane should be dry and sufficiently clean during testing.
Not for every system. MIT Arc Tester is designed mainly for electrically non-conductive geomembranes and waterproofing liners, such as HDPE, LDPE, PVC or bituminous systems, as well as conductive-backed solutions. Suitability always depends on the build-up beneath the liner and whether the conditions for Electrical Leak Location – ELL – are met.
For a reliable result, the following conditions are especially important:
  • the liner surface should be dry and sufficiently clean
  • there must be a conductive layer or suitable electrical background beneath the liner
  • the test should not be performed in rain, snow or on a wet surface
  • the inspection should be carried out systematically, so that no areas, seams or welds are missed
These conditions are important because the ELL method works with an electrical field through the insulating liner. If they are not met, the result may be less reliable or a different testing method may need to be selected.
Yes, this is exactly where its practical advantage lies. Official Arc Tester materials state that the device can locate very small perforations, including holes smaller than 0.1 mm, while alerting the operator with an audible and visual signal when a defect is detected. In technical practice, however, real sensitivity always depends on the liner type, thickness, substrate, details and site conditions.
No. This is a very important distinction. Electrical Leak Location – ELL – is excellent for verifying continuity and watertightness, but it does not, by itself, prove the material or mechanical integrity of a seam. ASTM D7700 clearly states that electrical leak location surveys are useful for checking seam continuity and the entire installed liner surface, but they do not verify material integrity or seam integrity in the mechanical sense. Therefore, MIT Arc Tester should be part of a wider QA/QC procedure, not its only element.
Yes. In practice, this is one of its strong benefits. The method is used not only on large areas, but also on welded seams, details and local repairs, where it is necessary to quickly confirm that no new leak has been created after intervention. Sensor technical materials and specialist partner sources state that the system checks the entire surface, including seams and welds, and can also identify defects in repaired areas.
For the investor, the main benefit is simple – the defect is detected at a stage when it is still quick and inexpensive to repair. If a leak is discovered only after the waterproofing liner has been covered, costs usually increase due to layer removal, problem location, repair and reinstatement of the build-up. This is why Electrical Leak Location – ELL – on exposed geomembranes is considered a highly effective risk management tool in professional practice before the next construction phase is handed over.

Detect leaks early,
before they become an expensive problem

We have been protecting investments since 1990. Exposed geomembrane arc testing costs only a fraction of what you would pay for later leak location, layer removal and subsequent repairs. With SENSOR DDS® MIT Arc Tester, we detect defects early, precisely and before a small defect becomes a major problem. Get quality assurance, lower warranty risk and a reliable basis for the next stage of construction.
  • Fast return – leaks are detected before cover placement
  • Cost savings – avoid unnecessary repairs and layer removal
  • Immediate result – clear ELL inspection of the waterproofing liner after testing
+421 2 20 90 10 80
office@sensorgroup.com

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