Flood test (hydrostatic test) a plaza deck waterproofing installation before covering it

Steps

1. Confirm scope: ASTM D5957 (Standard Guide for Flood Testing Horizontal Waterproofing Installations) applies to near-horizontal surfaces with a slope not exceeding roughly 2% (20 mm/m) — plaza decks and parking-structure decks over occupied space, not steep roofs.
2. Follow the guide's method: construct a temporary, non-penetrating, removable containment dam sealed to the membrane surface around the test area, flood it to a minimum depth around 1 in up to a maximum around 4 in at the lowest point, and hold for the project-specified duration while checking for leaks.
3. Perform the test before any protection board, insulation, wearing course, or overburden is placed — the guide's purpose is to verify the membrane while it's still exposed and repairable.
4. Note the guide's stated limitation: it is not intended for continuously submerged or long-term water-storage conditions (pools, fountains, tanks) — use a different approach for those.
5. Confirm the current edition on ASTM's store page before citing it in a spec (recently reapproved editions carry a suffix like "-98(2021)").