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Large empty industrial warehouse with a concrete floor that is sealed with Naue Carbofol® geomembranes for groundwater protection.

Protect groundwater at industrial facilities

Single-component Carbofol® sealing systems

Single-component sealing systems use Carbofol® HDPE geomembranes as the sealing layer to protect groundwater and soil at facilities for storing, filling and transferring (LAU) and for manufacturing, treating and using (HBV) water-hazardous substances. Combined with Secutex® protective nonwovens above and below the geomembrane, they form durable, chemically resistant single-layer sealing systems for collection sumps and bunded areas. Typical facilities include chemical warehouses, filling stations, collection sumps, liquid and container depots, chemical plants and scrapyards.

At a glance

  • Groundwater protection at LAU (storing/filling/transferring) and HBV (manufacturing/treating/using) facilities handling water-hazardous substances
  • Carbofol® HDPE geomembrane (from 1.5 mm; up to 3.0 mm for the most aggressive media); Secutex® PP protective nonwovens above and below the geomembrane
  • Product-specific DIBt approval plus a water-law construction-type approval (Bauartzulassung) as part of a complete system; expert acceptance per AwSV
  • Chemical warehouses, filling stations, collection sumps and bunds, liquid and container depots, chemical plants, scrapyards

Secure industrial containment: challenge, solution, result

Challenges

  • Water-hazardous substances threaten groundwater and soil at industrial sites
  • Aggressive media (up to media group 6) require proven chemical resistance
  • Collection sumps and bunds need reliable, weldable sealing at complex details
  • Strict WHG/AwSV requirements and mandatory expert acceptance

Solution

  • A single Carbofol® HDPE geomembrane (from 1.5 mm; 3.0 mm for the most aggressive media)
  • Excellent weldability for gas- and water-tight overlaps and connections
  • Secutex® PP nonwovens above and below protect the geomembrane
  • Optional leak-detection system below the geomembrane

Result

  • Reliable, chemically resistant single-layer groundwater protection; even for highly aggressive media
  • A durable seal protected against mechanical damage
  • Compliant with WHG/AwSV and accepted by an expert
  • Optional permanent monitoring and documentation of integrity

Typical applications for single-component sealing systems

  • Barrier against critical liquids

    Chemical warehouses

    Sealed floors where hazardous chemicals are stored

  • Waterproofing with bentofix

    Filling stations

    Groundwater protection under forecourts and dispensing areas

  • Base sealing system

    Collection bunds

    Sumps and bunded areas that capture spills and leaks

  • Industrial plant

    Container depots

    Industrial areas and sealed storage for liquids and containers

Installation of black Naue Carbofol® waterproofing geomembranes on the floor of an industrial facility.
Installation of black Naue Carbofol® waterproofing geomembranes on the floor of an industrial facility.

How the single-component sealing system works

A single-component system seals with one Carbofol® HDPE geomembrane, optionally protected above and below by Secutex® nonwovens. Where monitoring is required, a leak-detection system can be installed below the membrane. Proper execution is certified by an expert in accordance with the AwSV.

Practical benefits:

  • Single Carbofol® HDPE sealing layer (from 1.5 mm; 3.0 mm for the most aggressive media)
  • DIBt and water-law construction-type approval
  • Excellent weldability for gas- and water-tight overlaps and details
  • Fewer installation phases than multi-layer systems

Carbofol® HDPE geomembrane: sealing and chemical resistance

Single-layer Carbofol® HDPE (PE-HD) geomembranes protect groundwater and soil at collection sumps and bunded areas. Carbofol® geomembranes at least 1.5 mm thick meet the wide range of required chemical resistance in the DIBt media list, along with all physical requirements. Besides the product-specific DIBt approval, Carbofol® also holds a water-law construction-type approval. Even for collection sumps handling media group 6 substances (e.g. trichloroethylene), a 3.0 mm DIBt-approved Carbofol® seals the structure reliably. It welds excellently, so overlaps and complex connections can be made gas- and water-tight.

Protective nonwovens (Secutex®) above and below

High-quality single-layer systems require appropriately dimensioned, mechanically bonded Secutex® protective nonwovens above and below the Carbofol® geomembrane, depending on the project. For a low-gravel sand base (gravel content below 30%) or corresponding fill material, a 400 g/m² mechanically bonded PP Secutex® nonwoven is sufficient; for coarser-grained soils, mechanically bonded Secutex® nonwovens with a mass per unit area of up to 1,200 g/m² are used. The nonwovens protect the Carbofol® geomembrane against mechanical damage during installation and operation.

Leak detection and expert acceptance

Below the Carbofol® geomembrane, either a drainage-and-inspection-pipe system or an electro-resistive leak-location system can be installed for permanent monitoring and documentation of the seal's functionality. After completion, proper execution of the single-layer sealing system must be certified by an expert in accordance with the AwSV (which replaced the former VAwS).

Single-component sealing systems: frequently asked questions

They protect groundwater and soil at LAU (storing, filling, transferring) and HBV (manufacturing, treating, using) facilities that handle water-hazardous substances. Industrial groundwater protection application areas are for example chemical warehouses, filling stations, collection sumps, liquid and container depots, chemical plants and scrapyards.

A single Carbofol® HDPE geomembrane as the sealing layer, plus mechanically bonded Secutex® PP protective nonwovens above and below. No geosynthetic clay liner is used in this Naue single-component solution.

Carbofol® geomembranes of at least 1.5 mm meet the wide range of chemical resistance in the DIBt media list, along with all physical requirements. A 3.0 mm DIBt-approved membrane seals reliably even against media group 6 substances.

For a low-gravel sand base (gravel content below 30%), a 400 g/m² mechanically bonded PP Secutex® nonwoven is sufficient. For coarser-grained soils, Secutex® nonwovens of up to 1,200 g/m² are used and placed above and below the geomembrane.

Yes. Below the geomembrane, a drainage-and-inspection-pipe system or an electro-resistive leak-location system can be installed for permanent monitoring and documentation of the seal's functionality.

Carbofol® holds a product-specific DIBt approval and a water-law construction-type approval (Bauartzulassung). In Germany the WHG (Water Resources Act) and the AwSV govern LAU/HBV facilities; after installation, an expert (Sachverständiger) must certify proper execution in accordance with the AwSV.

Where the regulatory framework and the media permit, a single DIBt-approved Carbofol® layer with Secutex® protection provides reliable, cost-effective groundwater protection with fewer installation phases. Where higher monitoring requirements apply, a double-liner system with a monitored control zone is used instead. Please contact us for support in your system selection process.

Carbofol® geomembranes are heat-welded; overlaps and complex connections are made gas- and water-tight and verified by non-destructive weld testing as part of quality assurance.

Yes. Naue is a certified WHG specialist company and provides engineering support, seam welding and quality assurance, and on-site installation.

Regulations and standards

Single-component sealing systems for LAU/HBV facilities are designed and installed in accordance with German water-protection law and the relevant approvals. Naue provides engineering support and installation as a certified WHG specialist company.

  • WHG (Wasserhaushaltsgesetz): German Water Resources Act, requirements for installations handling water-hazardous substances
  • AwSV (formerly VAwS): Ordinance on installations for handling water-hazardous substances (LAU/HBV); expert acceptance of the completed seal
  • Certified WHG specialist company: Installation of the sealing system by a certified WHG specialist company
  • DIBt approval: Product-specific approval plus water-law construction-type approval (Bauartzulassung); Carbofol® meets the DIBt media list
  • DIBt media list/media groups: Classification of substances by chemical aggressiveness (e.g. media group 6) for geomembrane selection
Close-up of a pillar that is surrounded with Naue Carbofol® liners with sealed seams.
Close-up of a pillar that is surrounded with Naue Carbofol® liners with sealed seams.

System at a glance

  • Single Carbofol® HDPE sealing layer from 1.5 mm to 3.0 mm for the most aggressive media
  • Meets the DIBt media list; DIBt approval plus water-law construction-type approval
  • Secutex® nonwovens above and below protect the geomembrane
  • Optional leak-detection system below the membrane for monitoring
  • Expert acceptance per AwSV; installed by a certified WHG specialist company

Geotechnical software

Naue Portal - the free digital platform for geotechnical engineers.

Naue Portal: your all-in-one free geotechnical software solution for planning and cost estimation

  • One platform – multiple solutions: access a wide range of geotechnical design tools in a single portal.
  • User-friendly and accessible: available anytime, anywhere via desktop or mobile.
  • Optimised cost and material usage: reduce construction costs while ensuring long-term project stability.
  • Compliant with industry standards: aligns with AASHTO, and other engineering guidelines.