Developments and guidance in global geosynthetic specification and regulations

In past history, advancements and increases in the usage of geosynthetic materials have been affected by improvements in technology and product utility and function, but regulatory requirements have also been a component of many significant advancements. Regulatory requirements embody the techno-logical advances and mandate the utilization of improvements in performance, longevity and effectiveness. As geosynthetic systems have matured, this regulatory framework has become more complex, reaching beyond descriptions and requirements for individual products and increasingly embodying a systemic ap-proach utilizing multiple materials, installation techniques and equipment, manufacturing and construction quality assurance systems and the coordinated execution of these items. This paper summarizes the char-acteristics and techniques of successful specifications and regulations and presents recent examples from around the world. Multiple applications are included, advancing beyond waste management into other ap-plications that use geosynthetics in increasingly large quantities.