4 Steps to Finding the Right Spill Pallet
Current UK regulation stipulates that containers of oil and fuel cannot be stored outside unless used with 'secondary containment,' such as spill pallets and drip trays (Oil Storage Regulations 2001). The reason for this is if one of your containers leaks, then any escaped material will be contained within the spill pallet. Secondary containment items should be able to hold 110% of the maximum capacity of the largest tank or drum.
You are further required to use spill pallets when storing and transferring substances that are hazardous to water in order to reduce pollution risks to land, surface water and groundwater.
Another important point about spill pallets is they allow you to meet your health and safety obligations as an employer through reducing slip and trip risks from leaks and spills. Our expert range of spill containment solutions help to maintain safe and clean working environments that are in full compliance with UK legislation.
DENIOS Know-How
As the manufacturer and supplier of the UKs largest range of spill pallets, we understand the importance of choosing the right storage and handling solutions for your business. To make the decision-making process easier for our customers. The experts at DENIOS have got together to create this useful guide for selecting spill pallets.
Read on and find out how to choose the right spill pallet for your business...
1. The materials you are storing
The materials you are working with will dictate the type of spill pallet that you need. Before making your purchase, ensure any spill pallets have the necessary level of resistance to whatever materials you are planning on using with the pallet.
For the storage of water-polluting, flammable substances such as oils and lacquers - steel spill pallets should be used. These are available in both galvanised and painted versions.
For the storage of aggressive chemicals such as acids and alkali - stainless steel or plastic spill pallets should be used.
Media Resistance List
When looking to identify which spill pallet type is suitable for the materials you are using, it's best practice to consult the safety data sheets for the materials. Within these, you will find all the relevant information regarding the safe storage and transport of your materials.
To help you figure out which spill pallet is most suitable for your needs, we've complied a media resistance list - which covers a wide variety of storage media.
For many chemical substances, spill pallets made of steel (1.0038) can be used. For corrosive substances such as acids and alkali, spill pallets made of polyethylene or stainless steel are required.
| Chemical stored | Concentration | Steel 1), 4) | S-Steel 2) | PE 3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acetaldehyde | ≤ 40 % | ✓ | ||
| Acetaldehyde | max. poss | ✓ | ||
| Acetic acid | ✓ | |||
| Acetone | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Adhesives | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Aircraft turbine fuel | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Alcohol | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Ammonium hydroxide | ≤ 30 % | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Ammonium nitrate | saturated | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Ammonium solution | ✓ | |||
| Anti-freeze (car) | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Battery acid | ≤ 78% | ✓ | ||
| Benzene | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Benzoic acid | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Bio Diesel | ✓ | |||
| Boric acid | ≤ 10% | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Brake fluid | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Butanol | max. poss. | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Calcium acetate | aqueous | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Calcium chlorate, aqueous solution | ≤ 65% | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Calcium hydroxide | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Calcium hypochlorite | saturated | ✓ | ||
| Chlorbenzene | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Chloroacetic acid | ≤ 50% | ✓ | ||
| Chloric acid | ≤ 20% | ✓, 5) | ||
| Chromic acid | ≤ 20% | ✓ | ✓, 5) | |
| Citric acid | ✓, 5) | ✓ | ||
| Crude oil | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Dichlorethylene | max. poss. | ✓ | ||
| Diesel fuel | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Fuel | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Ferric (II) sulphate | saturated | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Ferric (III) chloride | saturated | ✓ | ||
| Ferric (III) sulphate | saturated | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Ethyl acetate | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Ether | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Ethyl chloride | ✓ | |||
| Ethyl glycol | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Gearbox oil | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Glycerol | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Glycolic acid | ≤ 70% | ✓ | ||
| Heating oil | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Hydrazine | ≤ 10% | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Hydrazine hydrate | aqueous | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Hydrochloric acid | > 37% | ✓, 5) | ✓, 5) | |
| Hydrogen peroxide | ≤ 95% | ✓ | ✓, 5) | |
| Isobutyl ether | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Isobutanol | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Isobutyl acetate | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Isobutyl chloride | ✓ | |||
| Iso-hexane | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Iso-pentane | ✓ | ✓ |
| Chemical stored | Concentration | Steel 1), 4) | S-Steel2) | PE 3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isopropyl alcohol (Isopropanol) | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Kerosene | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Magnesium carbonate | saturated | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Magnesium chloride | aqueous | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Magnesium nitrate | saturated | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Magnesium sulfate | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Methanol | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Menthol | solid | ✓ | ||
| Methyl acetate | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Methyl acrylate | ✓ | |||
| Methyl chloride | ✓ | |||
| Motor fuel | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Nitric acid | ≤ 10% | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Nitrobenzene | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Oil | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Oleic acid | max. poss. | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Penthanol | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Petroleum | max. poss. | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Phenol | 100% | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Phosphoric acid | ≤ 95% | ✓ | ||
| Potassium carbonate | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Potassium chlorate | ✓ | |||
| Potassium chloride | aqueous | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Potassium chloride | ≤ saturated sol. | ✓ | ||
| Potassium hydroxide, aqueous sol. | 50% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Potassium nitrate | 50% | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Potassium nitrate | ≤ saturated sol. | ✓ | ||
| Potassium phosphate | ≤ saturated sol. | ✓ | ||
| Potassium sulphate | ≤ saturated sol. | ✓ | ||
| Propanol | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Salicylic acid | saturated | ✓ | ||
| Silicic acid | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Sodium acetate | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Sodium bisulphate | ✓ | |||
| Sodium bisulphide | aqueous | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Sodium carbonate | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Sodium chloride | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Sodium hydrogen sulphate | ≤ GL | ✓ | ||
| Sodium hydrogen sulphide | ≤ GL | ✓ | ||
| Sodium hydroxide | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Sodium sulphate | ✓ | |||
| Sodium sulphide | ≤ GL | ✓ | ||
| Sodium hypochlorite | ✓, 5) | |||
| Spirits of turpentine | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Sulphuric acid | ≤ 80% | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Sulphuric acid | 95% | ✓ | ||
| Sulphurous acid | saturated | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Toluene | ✓ | |||
| Urea | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Uric acid | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Xylene | ✓ | ✓ |
1) Painted (WN 1.0038) or galvanised (1.0242) steel
2) Stainless steel 1.4301 (V2A)
3) Polyethylene (PE)
4) Galvanised sump pallets are not suitable for the storage of the following liquids: organic and inorganic acids, sodium bicarbonate, caustic potassium carbonate solution as well as other alkali hydroxides, chlorinated hydrocarbons, amine, nitro compounds, acid chlorides and other chlorides, phenol, aqueous alkaline solutions, nitrile.
2. The importance of collection volume
As we previously mentioned, it's important that spill pallets are able to hold 110% of the maximum capacity of the largest tank or drum in use. This is a legal requirement when storing certain hazardous substances outside, and good practice in general when dealing with hazardous substances in any industrial setting.
Please bear in mind that the weight of the materials you are using will affect which spill pallet is appropriate for your needs. Spill pallets have a maximum load capacity that should not be exceeded. Should you need to discuss this further you can speak to one of our technical experts on 01952 811 991.
There are a wide range of storage solutions available for the safe containment of spills and leaks. You may also want to consider spill decking and containment racking if you are looking to bund whole areas, or it may be more suitable to use spill trays and pallets if you only need to bund individual 60 and 205 litre drums and IBCs.
Storing large quantities?
If you need to store large quantities of hazardous substances, you may also need a specially designed hazardous materials store. We offer a wide range of both standard and advanced solutions, tailor-made to customer's budgets and requirements.
Contact us now to discuss how we can help you with your storage requirements.
3. Additional functions should be fulfilled
Spill pallets must be able to meet different requirements - depending on the intended use. Spill pallets for easy storage are often already equipped with a foot construction or integrated fork pockets that facilitate transport by forklift on the factory premises. If the spill pallet is to be transported particularly frequently, mobile spill pallets specially developed for this application are recommended. Filling work on stored goods can be carried out particularly effectively with a dispensing station. Spillage deckings protect larger areas from the penetration of hazardous liquids into the groundwater. These floor elements (flat trays) are ideal for safely lining entire rooms thanks to a wide range of accessories from edge fixings to drive-on ramps.
4. Spill Pallets can be equipped with these practical features
DENIOS offers a wide range of accessories with which you can make the handling of hazardous substances and the equipment in the event of a leakage in your spill pallet even more comfortable and safe. In order to be able to react quickly in the event of a leak, we recommend additionally equipping your spill pallet with the SpillGuard® hazardous substance leakage warning system. The compact SpillGuard®, which is suitable for any spill pallet, can be activated simply by pressing a button and warns in the event of a leak for at least 24 hours with an acoustic and an optical signal. In the area of handling, we recommend practical drum lifters or drive-on ramps. Get an overview here.
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The specialist information on this page has been compiled carefully and to the best of our knowledge and belief. Nevertheless, DENIOS Ltd cannot assume any warranty or liability of any kind, whether in contract, tort or otherwise, for the topicality, completeness and correctness either towards the reader or towards third parties. The use of the information and content for your own or third party purposes is therefore at your own risk. In any case, please observe the locally and currently applicable legislation.
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