How to Choose the Right Spill Containment Tray or Berm for Your Needs

An effective spill containment tray or berm to contain hazardous spill can prevent hazardous chemicals from polluting the environment and spreading throughout. Your choice will depend on which chemicals are being handled and their specific characteristics. 

Some berms feature low sidewalls to allow trucks to drive into and out of them with ease, while other models use soft foam walls that rise automatically when vehicles enter them.

Size

There is an assortment of spill containment products to meet every business need and size when it comes to chemicals, oil and fuel spills entering stormwater systems or polluting the environment in any other way. Furthermore, they help businesses comply with EPA secondary containment regulations.

One of the top selling solutions from ENPAC, the Stinger Snap-Up Berm, features rigid L-bracket wall supports that are easily installed and sturdy enough to be driven over by vehicles. Their walls may be lower than wall berms or foam trays but still offer ample spill containment capacity.

Throw ‘N Go Berm is another excellent solution, easily deployed within minutes for optimal spill containment at an economical price. Featuring no fixed sidewalls and rollability to fit tight spaces while freeing up floor space for other purposes; track mats also prevent wheels from puncturing it and causing further damage.

Weight

Based on the materials used and how a tray or berm is set up, different options will have different weights which will impact how easily they are transported and stored.

Trays that snap together are an ideal option for facilities with limited storage space, as they require minimal assembly and can be rolled up into smaller spaces for easier storage. They also take up less storage volume than a traditional spill containment berm.

Some trays use heavy-duty, corrosion-resistant polyethylene that’s suitable for handling a range of chemicals and liquids. For instance, this Justrite 28446 mini-berm flex tray is perfect for safe tabletop parts cleaning operations as well as fluid transfer operations involving oil or other harsh chemicals; its ribbed bottom adds strength while resisting saturation during use; its lower trough features convenient drainage ports while perimeter walls feature sturdy Copolymer-2000 material that features 12″ high collapsible sides with built-in aluminum struts that slide into heat-welded pockets for rigidity and durability.

Deployment

There are various deployment options when it comes to your spill containment tray. Some berms feature rigid walls on both the left and right sides that rise automatically in case of a spill, with flexible ends so vehicles can drive on and off safely without damaging it.

Other berms feature flat, foam sidewalls which flex to absorb and hold liquid. This makes them suitable for protecting vehicles, equipment, or containers onsite.

Some models also boast quick setup times and self-raising designs for easy deployment and driving over. Others are semi-permanent solutions which adhere to the floor of your work zone like curbs or dikes; these berms are ideal for protecting long-term storage containers onsite while meeting EPA SPCC regulations; agriculture often needs this style of berm to protect its equipment against hazardous materials spills.

Durability

Durability should always be at the forefront when selecting an effective spill containment solution. Your chosen berm must withstand whatever substances you work with – from coolants to corrosive chemicals – while being able to support its intended weight load as well as weather variations.

Many different materials are employed when fabricating these products, from PVC and copolymer fabric to foam walls designed to absorb liquid, similar to how memory foam in mattresses absorbs moisture. This enables vehicles to drive over the berm without incurring damage – making loading/unloading drums/IBCs simpler.

Some berms feature rigid L-bracket wall supports, while others come equipped with collapsible sidewalls that can be folded up when not needed. Some even come equipped with self-rising designs which remain flat until a liquid spills over it – at which point its outer top perimeter rises automatically to contain it.