Sump pallets are no match for bunded storage

Portable sump pallets are used extensively in the UK for temporary storage of liquids, including wastes, in drums and IBCs.  Often marketed as being capable of providing secondary spill containment, in practice these devices do not provide the protection many users think they do.

Although sump pallets like the one shown here do offer users a degree of protection when liquids are being charged or discharged, they don't provide anything like the sort of spill containment in storage that is afforded by purpose-built bunded storage.

A full 205L drum pierced close to the bottom, for example by a forklift truck, will actually see its contents exit under pressure and overshoot the pallet sump. 

Unless some form of additional containment is provided, the sump pallet will provide few benefits in such circumstances - rendering their 110% capacity useless.

Businesses that store hazardous and potentially polluting liquids in drums and IBCs should think twice about relying too heavily on portable sump pallets and instead consider building a properly constructed containment bund.

When designing a storage bund, the size and construction method (masonary or concrete) will depend on several factors.  If used for the storage of containers such as drums and IBCs, then the bund should be capable of containing 25% of the nominal maximum content of all the containers being stored.  By way of example, if you intend to store 80 x 210L drums of liquid waste, your bund needs to be sized so as to be able to contain the equivalent of 4,200 litres of spilled material.  Different sizing requirements apply to storage tanks.

The Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA) report 163 provides information on how to construct good quality bunds, details of which can be found at the following link: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Business/concretebunds.pdf

If budget or space constraints mean that building a properly bunded storage area isn't possible, then using sump pallets in conjunction with a pull-over cover such as the one pictured here may help to overcome problems with drums and IBCs that spring leaks near the base. 

Keep well-stocked spill kits close by and ensure that staff are appropriately trained in spill response and clean-up.

As a final word of caution, the Environment Agency do not consider underground interceptors to be an effective form of secondary containment.

For help assessing your current storage arrangements, to purchase spill response equipment or to book our highly interactive 1 day spill response training, why not contact us today?