Membrane assemblies with sealing fault detection and location, and related methods

The assembly of any one of the preceding claims, with the plenum area virtually divided into 100 equal-area subdivisions, and wherein a continuous capillary pathway exists from at least 50% of said equal-area subdivisions to said leak-alarm target.

The assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the leak-alarm target includes the battery and wherein the battery is a water-activated battery.

The assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the leak-alarm circuit is configured to transmit information related to its status in response to being polled.

The assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the leak-alarm circuit is configured to transmit information about the identity and/or location of the assembly in response to being polled.

The assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmitted signal includes information about the identity and/or location of the assembly.

The assembly of any one of the preceding claims, additionally comprising a plurality of capillary-pathway extensions, said extensions passing through slits in the lower water-impermeable membrane and in contact with said capillary pathway within said plenum, so as to provide a pathway for transport of a water-containing liquid by capillary action from outside the plenum and below the lower water-impermeable membrane, to said leak-alarm target inside the plenum.

The assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the capillary pathway comprises at least one of a plant-based fiber, a polymer-based fiber, a glass fiber and a carbon fiber.

The assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plenum area is at least 0.6 square meters, and optionally, at least 0.8 square meters.

The assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said ratio of said leak-alarm target footprint to the plenum area is less than 0.025, and optionally, less than 0.01.

The assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper and lower water-impermeable membranes are further bonded to each other at a plurality of points within the plenum.

The assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one membrane of the upper and lower water-impermeable membranes is characterized by grooves and/or channels in a respective plenum-facing surface, and wherein the capillary pathway is disposed in at least some of said grooves and/or channels.

A super-assembly comprising a plurality of water-impermeable membrane assemblies as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the assemblies being arranged in a continuous strip.