If your drums or IBCs leak, pans or floor surfaces aren’t enough. Without secondary containment (bunding, pallets, tray systems), spills will spread into drains, soil or buildings.
What is “bunded storage”?
It’s a built-in barrier around your primary container — a containment sump or bund — capable of holding the full contents (or a regulatory fraction) of the largest container inside. Spill Containment UK offers many spill pallets and bunded storage solutions. spillcontainment.uk+2spillcontainment.uk+2
How to size your bund / spill pallet
Good practice: capacity >= 110% of the largest volume stored over the bund. (i.e. if you have a 1,000 L drum, the bund should hold 1,100 L)
Consider multiple drums: hold 110% of the largest single container, not sum of all.
Think about freeboard (extra height to allow splashing, rainfall) and drainage.
Materials & durability
Many bunds / pallets are made of UV-stabilised polyethylene (chemical-resistant).
Steel galvanised or stainless versions exist for harsh chemical exposure.
Ensure bunds are compatible with stored liquids — acids, solvents, hydrocarbons all behave differently.
Best practices / tips
Inspect bunds frequently (cracks, distortions, degradation)
Keep them clean (no sludge buildup, residue)
Label them, include drain valves if needed (with secure closure)
Use bund covers or weather protection if outdoor
Case study / hypothetical
“Imagine a workshop storing four 200 L drums of solvent on a bund that can only hold 300 L — illegal, impractical, and dangerous. One leak, and the solvent is in the storm drain before you realise.”
Conclusion
Secondary containment isn’t optional or add-on — it’s fundamental. Don’t trust a floor to save you. Retrofit where needed; use reliable bunded pallets; pick material that fits your chemicals.