Welding work on a Carbofol® geomembrane lining inside an slurry silo.

Sealing of a slurry silo in accordance with the Water Resources Act (WHG), Germany

An existing slurry silo in Nortrup, Germany, required subsequent sealing. In February 2024, the 16 m diameter tank was lined with a 3 mm Carbofol^® 612 HDPE geomembrane and Secutex^® R 401 protection nonwoven.

Interior of a silo with standing water and a central support column before installation of Carbofol®. — Tank in cleaned state before the installation of the geomembrane

Groundwater protection for agricultural applications

Naue has long been active in the field of groundwater protection, particularly in agriculture. Naue provides geosynthetic sealing solutions for applications involving substances hazardous to water. Depending on the project requirements, these systems can be used to create a technically secure barrier between the stored substance and the surrounding soil and groundwater.

Carbofol® geomembrane lining installed along the silo walls and Secutex® protection strips in the area of the outstanding heads of the screws. — Secutex^® protection strips in the area of the outstanding heads of the screws

Geomembrane sealing of the existing slurry silo

In February 2024, an existing slurry silo on a farm in Nortrup, Germany, was subsequently sealed using Carbofol^® 612 HDPE geomembrane and Secutex^® R 401 protection nonwoven. The existing tank, with a concrete base 16 metres in diameter and a steel wall 3 metres high, required subsequent waterproofing to protect the building structure acting as barrier from the aggressive substances contained in the liquid slurry.

Our Naue Carbofol^® 612 high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane (3mm thick, DIBt approved) was used. These geomembranes meet the wide range of chemical resistance required by the German Institute for Building Technology (DIBt) media list, as well as all physical requirements. Carbofol^® geomembranes can be thermally welded to form continuous seams, including at overlaps and complex connection details.

When using single-layer geomembrane sealing systems, appropriately dimensioned mechanically bonded Secutex^® protection nonwovens may be required above and/or below the Carbofol^® geomembrane, depending on the project requirements. In this project, a Naue Secutex^® R 401 with a mass per unit area of 400 g/m² was used between the tank and the geomembrane to protect the geomembrane from, for example, punctual impacts caused by the protruding screw heads on the inner wall of the tank.

Compliance with strict legislation

This is particularly important as the handling of these substances is subject to strict legal regulations, such as the German Water Resources Act (WHG) and the Ordinance on Installations for the Handling of Substances Hazardous to Water (AwSV). These regulations also apply to agricultural facilities such as JGS plants (for slurry, liquid manure and silage seepage) and biogas plants, and are implemented by specially developed Technical Rules for Substances Hazardous to Water (TRwS).

Installation solutions from certified installers

Particular challenges in this project included the detailed connection solutions, such as the attachment of the geomembrane to the upper edge of the tank using a PE connection profile, the professional connections for the inlet and outlet, and the cladding of the wooden support column for the roof support. A PE pipe of the appropriate diameter was cut in half lengthwise and rejoined with an extrusion seam. In this case, it was not possible to fit the pipe over the support column as the existing roof structure blocked access. Sealing work of this kind is routine for Naue’s fitters, who are certified in accordance with the German Water Resources Act (WHG) and is carried out with the utmost precision. Naue Sealing’s specialist company is certified in accordance with §62 of the AwSV (German Ordinance on Installations for the Handling of Substances Hazardous to Water).

Project benefits

Installation by an AwSV-certified specialist company
Naue Sealing’s specialist company is certified in accordance with §62 of the AwSV (German Ordinance on Installations for the Handling of Substances Hazardous to Water).
Reliable protection against aggressive substances
Carbofol^® provides a chemically resistant, gas- and watertight barrier that protects the tank structure and groundwater.