Versatile Portable Spill Containment Berms

By Cornelia White


Emergency situations call for quick responses, especially when fluid, possibly hazardous materials are involved. Controlling the spread of such substances can protect both people and the environment as well as minimize the area that needs to be cleaned up. Portable spill containment berms make this task much safer and easier.

A barrier constructed between two areas with the purpose of keeping a flowing substance within its designated space, is known as a berm. They are often used for materials that drift such as liquids, sand and grains. There are quite a few different styles of these constructs available and each one is meant to handle a number of situations, making the task more manageable.

No matter what the situation, there is most likely a product of this type that can handle it perfectly. Each style and model is created with both easy transportability and quick deployment in mind so that every hazard may be contained as quickly as humanly possible. There are hundreds of size, shape and method combinations available, giving versatile options when faced with either an emergency of this nature, or a planned need for such walls.

During certain construction circumstances as well as plenty of emergency ones, wall barriers are quickly put into position. Having wide bases and tops that stand just a few feet high, these products are often seen along roadsides when repair work is underway. They are also useful when substances like sand, rocks or gravel require temporary holding in a confined area, or as levies along waterways when weather threatens to result in flooding.

When the substance needing restraint is not expected to be very deep, L-slats are sometimes the barrier of choice. These metal bars come in various lengths, stand less than a foot high and are bent in the shape of the twelfth letter of the English alphabet. The ends of each section features an interlocking joint allows them to hook together and be formed into enclosures of whatever dimensions best suit the situation.

Another style of portable barrier is not only the quickest and easiest to deploy but also the simplest to transport and is known as an inflatable. This is because it resembles a flattened fire department hose that has been rolled up for storage between uses. When time comes to set it up, one end is anchored and the rest is rolled out in the shape of the area's perimeter.

This one has the major advantage of being extremely flexible and able to lay in practically any shape and on any terrain, even those with exposed tree roots, pot holes, dirt, sand or grass. When it is in the desired position, the tube conforms to the bumps and dips of the terrain when air is pumped inside of it. These are quite effective in situations where oil and gasoline spillage is present or during chemical leaks.

These are just general examples of some of the basic designs of portable spill containment berms used most often. Each type will have multiple variations on size, style and function for even more versatility. All the different models available make it possible to quickly deploy temporary barriers for both anticipated and unexpected situations, minimizing contamination and risk of danger or exposure.




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