ASTM E1002-11

Practice A—This practice is useful for locating and estimating the size of pressurized gas leaks, either as a quality control test or as a field inspection procedure. It is also valuable as a pretest before other more time consuming and more sensitive leak tests are employed. It should not be used exclusively to locate highly toxic or explosive gas leaks.

Practice B—This practice is useful for locating leaks in systems that are not under pressure or vacuum as either a quality control or a field inspection procedure. It is not useful for estimating the size of a leak. It is also valuable as a pretest before leak tests using pressurized gas methods and more sensitive leak tests are employed.

1.1 Practice A, Pressurization—This practice covers procedures for calibration of ultrasonic instruments, location, and estimated measurements of gas leakage to atmosphere by the airborne ultrasonic technique.

1.2 In general practice this should be limited to leaks detected by two classifications of instruments, Class I and Class II. Class I instruments should have a minimum detectable leak rate of 6.7 × 10⁻⁷ mol/s (1.5 × 10⁻² std. cm³/s at 0°C) or more for the pressure method of gas leakage to atmosphere. Class II instruments should have a minimal detectable leak rate of 6.7 × 10⁻⁶ mol/s (1.5 × 10⁻¹ std. cm³/s at 0°C) or more for the pressure method of gas leakage to atmosphere. Refer to Guide E432 for additional information.

1.3 Practice B, Ultrasonic Transmitter—For object under test not capable of being pressurized but capable of having ultrasonic tone placed/injected into the test area to act as an ultrasonic leak trace source.

1.3.1 This practice is limited to leaks producing leakage of 6.7 × 10⁻⁶ mol/s (1.5 × 10⁻¹ std. cm³/s at 0°C) or greater.

1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.

1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to consult and establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.