Containment Berms And What They Are
Spill containment berms can be found wherever vehicles are loading or unloading dangerous chemicals or fuels. They are physical barriers made of heavy-duty chemical-resistant materials and used to keep liquids from flowing out of a certain area. Chemical and petroleum companies use these barriers in order to comply with US regulations to protect the environment from possible spillage of harmful chemicals.
The EPA, also known as the US Agency for Environmental Protection, has established standards for containment systems. That means the flooring underlying the drums or containers for the transfer of liquids must be made of high-grade material impervious to chemicals and acids. It must also be leak and crack free with sloping floor and walls that can contain any spills. It should be sufficient in size to contain 10 per cent of the total liquid volume being unloaded. In addition, there has to be a drainage system that can efficiently remove spills from the area.
Interestingly enough, these devices date back to the time of the Dutch and their dike-building. The term describes the sod mounds that Dutch farmers built to hold back the sea from spilling into their farmland. As time went on, these sod mounds became part of the natural terrain and looked a lot like the mounds and earth dwellings found in Middle Earth and made popular in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
In modern-day usage, berms are an efficient way to unload industrial liquids such as acids, jet fuel and crude oil. The flooring is made of heavy-duty materials that are highly acid and fuel resistant. A variety of sizes and models have been developed to meet each and every industrial need. Trucking companies are often required to equip their vehicles with portable spillage devices; in which case, the smaller, portable styles are preferred.
There are presently two basic types to meet industrial demands: portable and fixed or durable. The portable models can easily taken down or moved. In addition, their ends are interlocking so that a larger area can be made if needed. The durable type is best suited for loading areas that have a constant traffic of vehicles involved in loading and unloading liquids.
One of the latest designs among the portable models features foam logs or sides. These allow vehicles to drive over them so that they retain their shape afterwards. The sides are made of foam and then covered with heavy duty material that is fuel resistant and designed for easy cleaning and repeated use. Sizes for the foam log type range from 62 gallons up to 1,885 gallons.
Another portable model has a drive-through feature which allows the driver to enter/exit without leaving his vehicle. In case a spill occurs, the walls automatically rise up to contain it. These can easily be set up and deployed. The heavy-duty flooring fabric can withstand most chemicals and stores easily. These range from 145 gallons to 5,341 gallons in size.
Containment berms are an innovative development designed to meet the environmental safety concerns that chemical and fuel companies have. In an increasingly aware society, companies are conscientious about complying with EPA safety regulations. This, in turn, will lead to greater customer confidence and increased sales.
The EPA, also known as the US Agency for Environmental Protection, has established standards for containment systems. That means the flooring underlying the drums or containers for the transfer of liquids must be made of high-grade material impervious to chemicals and acids. It must also be leak and crack free with sloping floor and walls that can contain any spills. It should be sufficient in size to contain 10 per cent of the total liquid volume being unloaded. In addition, there has to be a drainage system that can efficiently remove spills from the area.
Interestingly enough, these devices date back to the time of the Dutch and their dike-building. The term describes the sod mounds that Dutch farmers built to hold back the sea from spilling into their farmland. As time went on, these sod mounds became part of the natural terrain and looked a lot like the mounds and earth dwellings found in Middle Earth and made popular in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
In modern-day usage, berms are an efficient way to unload industrial liquids such as acids, jet fuel and crude oil. The flooring is made of heavy-duty materials that are highly acid and fuel resistant. A variety of sizes and models have been developed to meet each and every industrial need. Trucking companies are often required to equip their vehicles with portable spillage devices; in which case, the smaller, portable styles are preferred.
There are presently two basic types to meet industrial demands: portable and fixed or durable. The portable models can easily taken down or moved. In addition, their ends are interlocking so that a larger area can be made if needed. The durable type is best suited for loading areas that have a constant traffic of vehicles involved in loading and unloading liquids.
One of the latest designs among the portable models features foam logs or sides. These allow vehicles to drive over them so that they retain their shape afterwards. The sides are made of foam and then covered with heavy duty material that is fuel resistant and designed for easy cleaning and repeated use. Sizes for the foam log type range from 62 gallons up to 1,885 gallons.
Another portable model has a drive-through feature which allows the driver to enter/exit without leaving his vehicle. In case a spill occurs, the walls automatically rise up to contain it. These can easily be set up and deployed. The heavy-duty flooring fabric can withstand most chemicals and stores easily. These range from 145 gallons to 5,341 gallons in size.
Containment berms are an innovative development designed to meet the environmental safety concerns that chemical and fuel companies have. In an increasingly aware society, companies are conscientious about complying with EPA safety regulations. This, in turn, will lead to greater customer confidence and increased sales.
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