Know What You Need to Capture Spills, Leaks, and Drips

It's the law, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) requires containment systems to prevent spills or leaks that could escape into the environment or endanger personnel. Proper measures must be taken to control drips, leaks, spills and accumulated precipitation.

What is Secondary Containment?

It is the means of capturing a spill, leak or drip from a package. Whether it's a pallet, tray, basin, or deck, all containment systems must have three basic design features to comply with EPA 40 CFR 264.175:

According to the EPA, they must be "leak-proof and sufficiently impervious to the liquid container to contain leaks, spills, and accumulated precipitation until the collected material is detected and removed."

•  They must be "designed and operated to drain and remove liquids from the leak, spill, or precipitation, unless the containers are elevated or are otherwise protected from the accumulated liquid."

• They must "have the capacity to contain 10% of the total volume of all containers stored, or 100% of the volume of the largest single container, whichever is greater."