scope:

1. Scope

1.1 This document defines the terminology used in the field of spill response barriers. Only those terms commonly used or peculiar to this field have been included; no attempt has been made to list all terms used. Where a second term is in common use, "aka" is used to mean "also known as."

1.2 Design, engineering, and performance terms are listed separately: barrier design terminology (1.3), barrier engineering terminology (1.4), and barrier performance terminology (1.5).

1.3 Barrier Design Terminology--Terms associated with Spill Response Barrier Design:

1.3.1 General

boom--floating mechanical barrier used to control the movement of substances that float.

boom section--length of boom between two end connectors.

boom segment--repetitive identical portion of the boom section.

1.3.2 Types

air bubble barrier--special-purpose barrier created by rising stream of air bubbles and entrained water, produced by injecting air at some depth below water surface.

bottom-tension boom--boom with tension member located along the bottom of the skirt.

calm water boom--boom intended for use in calm waters (see Practice F 625 for environmental descripters).

"curtain type" boom--boom consisting of a flexible skirt supported by flotation.

"fence type" boom--boom consisting of a self-supporting or stiffened membrane supported by flotation.

fire resistant boom (aka fire containment boom)--boom intended for containment of burning oil slicks.

ice boom--boom intended for use in ice-infested waters, designed to withstand effects of ice contact.

inflatable boom--boom that uses inflated gas-filled chambers as the flotation.

net boom--special purpose boom in which all or part of the membrane material is netting.

open water boom--boom intended for use in open waters (see Practice F 625 for environmental descripters).

permanent boom--boom intended for long-term or permanent deployment.

plunging water jet barrier--special purpose barrier created by a series of coherent streams of water directed vertically downward into a body of water.

protected water boom--boom intended for use in protected waters with moderate environmental conditions (see Practice F 625 for environmental descripters).

river boom (aka fast water boom)--boom intended for use in currents greater than 1 knot.

short seal boom--boom that, when grounded, seals against the shoreline.

silt barrier--boom with very deep skirt used to control the movement of suspended sediments.

sorbent boom--sorbent material contained or arranged in the form of a long cylinder.

special purpose boom--boom that departs from the general characteristics of "fence type" and "curtain type" booms, either in design or intended use.

submersible boom--boom that normally resides on the seabed and is positioned by inflating with air, causing it to rise to the water surface.

water jet barrier--barrier created by stream of pressurized water spray directed across the water surface.

weir boom (aka skimming boom/barrier)--boom that has a weir skimming device(s) built into its face.

1.3.3 Components

accessories--optional mechanical devices used on or in conjunction with a boom system but not included with the basic boom and end connector; for example, lights, paravanes, drogues, buoys, anchor systems, storage bags, boxes or reels, bulkhead connectors or repair kits, and so forth.

anchor point--structural point on the end connector or along the length of a boom section designed for the attachment of anchor or mooring lines.

ancillary equipment--mechanical devices essential to the operation of a given boom system; for example, air pumps, hydraulic power supplies, control manifolds, and so forth.

ballast--weight applied to the skirt to improve boom performance.

bridle--device attached to a boom to distribute the load exerted by towing or anchoring the boom.

buoyancy chamber (aka flotation chamber)--enclosed compartment of air or other buoyant material providing flotation for the boom.

end connector--device permanently attached to the boom used for joining boom sections to one aother or to other accessory devices.

external flotation (aka outboard flotation)--flotation element located external to the boom membrane.

external tension--external tension member separated from the boom membrane by bridles.

fin--portion of the boom membrane above the float.

float--separable component of a boom that provides buoyancy.

flotation--portion of a boom that provides buoyancy.

handhold--any strap, handle, depression, or other provision for grasping the boom by hand.

hinge--location between boom segments at which the boom can be folded back 180° upon itself.

internal flotation--flotation element located within the boom membrane.

lifting point--structural point on the end connector or along the length of a boom section designed for the attachment of a lifting device, such as a crane.

membrane--continuous portion of a boom that serves as a barrier to the movement of a substance.

pressure inflated--inflatable boom that requires pressurized gas for its flotation.

self-inflating--boom that automatically inflates as it is deployed.

skirt--continuous portion of the boom below the floats.

solid flotation--boom that uses solid buoyant material for the flotation element.

stiffener--component that provides support to the membrane.

tension member--any component that carries horizontal (axial) tension loads imposed upon the boom.

1.3.4 Characteristics

boom weight--dry weight of a fully assembled boom section including end connectors.

compactibility--measure of a boom's storage volume per unit length (m3/m).

draft--minimum vertical depth of the membrane below the water line.

freeboard--minimum vertical height of the boom above the waterline.

height--sum of draft and freeboard.

maximum draft--maximum vertical dimension of the boom below the water line.

overall height--maximum vertical dimension of boom.

1.4 Barrier Engineering Terminology--Terms associated with Spill Barrier Engineering:

catenary drag force--load imposed on a boom, deployed in a catenary configuration, resulting from towing, current, and/or wind forces.

current response--change in freeboard or draft due to current forces acting to displace the boom from rest.

gross buoyancy--weight of fresh water displaced by a boom totally submerged.

gross buoyancy to weight ratio--gross buoyancy divided by boom weight.

heave response--ability of the boom to react to the vertical motion of the water surface.

maximum dynamic load--sum of all instantaneous dynamic loads including those due to acceleration, wave forces, and so forth.

reserve buoyancy--gross buoyancy minus boom weight.

reserve buoyancy to weight ratio--reserve buoyancy divided by boom weight.

roll response--rotation of the boom from rest due to wave, wind, or current forces.

straight line drag forces--load on a boom that results from towing it from one end.

wind response--change in freeboard or draft due to wind force acting to displace the boom from rest.

1.5 Barrier Performance Terminology--Terms associated with Spill Response Barrier Performance:

apex (aka pocket)--pocket formed at the downstream end of a U, V, J, or W shaped configuration.

boom planing--heeling over of a boom and loss of draft.

boom submergence (aka submarining)--containment failure due to loss of freeboard.

bridging failure--portions of a boom emerging from the water due to poor wave conformance, with resulting containment failure.

catenary configuration (aka "U," "J" configuration)--booming configuration formed by towing or anchoring each end of a length of boom, resulting in a characteristic" U" or "J" shape.

cascading booms--booming configuration formed by positioning two or more booms in a deflection mode such that successive booms progressively move oil to the desired area.

chevron configuration--booming configuration used in narrow watercourses, formed by positioning two lengths of boom in a deflection mode, the leading end of each length is positioned in the middle of the watercourse and the trailing ends lead to opposite shores.

conformance--ability of a boom to maintain freeboard and draft when subjected to a given set of environmental conditions.

containment mode--placement of a boom to prevent free movement of a floating substance.

deployment--placing a boom in the water and making it operational.

diversion mode--placement of a boom to redirect the movement of a floating substance.

drainage loss--oil accumulating and pooling against the boom skirt and escaping with the flow of water down and along the skirt.

entrainment loss--oil droplets escaping with the flow of water diverted under the skirt.

exclusion booming--placement of a boom to protect an area from the entry of a floating substance.

first-loss tow/current velocity--minimum tow/current velocity normal to the membrane at which oil escapes past a boom.

gap ratio--sweep width divided by boom length.

loss rate--rate at which oil is lost past a boom (m3/h).

performance--ability of a boom to contain or deflect oil under a given set of environmental conditions.

retrieval--removing a deployed boom from the water.

splashover--oil splashing over a boom's freeboard.

stability--resistance to overturning moment.

sweep width (aka swath)--width intercepted by a boom in collection mode, the projected distance between the ends of a boom deployed in a "U," "V," or "J" configuration.

sweeping mode--movement of a boom relative to the water for the purpose of controlling or collecting a floating substance.

towing--transporting a boom from one place to another by pulling from one end.

vortex loss--oil escaping past a boom due to drainage vortices produced at the boom.

"J" configuration--boom positioned in a "J" shape.

"U" configuration (aka catenary configuration)--boom positioned in a "U" shape.

"V" configuration--boom positioned in a "V" shape.

"W" configuration (aka "3" configuration)--boom positioned in a "W" shape.