A spill pallet is a
bunded secondary containment item that is designed to hold containers of
oil
An oil is any nonpolar chemical substance that is composed primarily of hydrocarbons and is hydrophobic (does not mix with water) and lipophilic (mixes with other oils). Oils are usually flammable and surface active. Most oils are unsaturate ...
, hazardous liquids, and
fuel
A fuel is any material that can be made to react with other substances so that it releases energy as thermal energy or to be used for work (physics), work. The concept was originally applied solely to those materials capable of releasing chem ...
s, typically in either a
drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system, it is a membranophone. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a ...
or in an
intermediate bulk container
Intermediate bulk containers (also known as IBCs, IBC totes, or pallet tanks) are industrial-grade containers engineered for the mass handling, transport, and storage of liquids, partial solids, pastes, granular solids or other fluids. There are ...
. It is called a 'secondary containment item' because it is designed to catch the leaks and spill of the container's contents which rest upon it.
The spill pallets can come in a variety of sizes to accommodate multiple containers. Several designs have been developed.
UK legislation
In the UK, a container of oil or fuel cannot be stored outside unless it is bundled in a secondary containment item (Oil Storage Regulations 2001). This means that if the container of oil leaks, it will be contained within the
bund. The secondary containment item must be able to hold 110% of the largest container above.
If a person were to store 4×200-litre drums on the sump pallet, the sump pallet must be able to hold of oil.
Although there are no laws in the UK stating that a sump pallet must hold 110% of the largest container upon it, it is still considered good practice to do so.
Materials
Sump pallets can be made in a variety of materials, but due to the nature of the oils or chemicals which will be stored upon it, they are typically made from either
UV stabilised polyethylene
Polyethylene or polythene (abbreviated PE; IUPAC name polyethene or poly(methylene)) is the most commonly produced plastic. It is a polymer, primarily used for packaging (plastic bags, plastic films, geomembranes and containers including bott ...
, or
steel
Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon that demonstrates improved mechanical properties compared to the pure form of iron. Due to steel's high Young's modulus, elastic modulus, Yield (engineering), yield strength, Fracture, fracture strength a ...
that is
galvanised
Galvanization ( also spelled galvanisation) is the process of applying a protective zinc coating to steel or iron, to prevent rusting. The most common method is hot-dip galvanizing, in which the parts are coated by submerging them in a bath o ...
for further protection from harsher chemicals. Also available in stainless and mild steels.
See also
*
Spill containment
Spill containment is where spills of chemicals, oils, sewage etc. are contained within a barrier or drainage system rather than being absorption (chemistry), absorbed at the surface. One method is to use an inflatable stopper or pneumatic bladder ...
*
Salvage drum
References
Pollution control technologies
Pallets
Packaging
Oil spill remediation technologies
{{environment-stub