As hazardous as they are there are chemicals that are used in various industries to create items we all use on a daily basis be it made from plastic, metal, glass, rubber and so on. These chemicals require the use of IBCs or intermediate bulk containers so that they can be stored in a safe manner.

These containers are made so that in the case of a spill or a leak the risks from such an accident are reduced as much as possible. Thanks to the unique design of IBC bunds, various storage facilities and production plants are able to prevent polluting the environment, the air and from causing health issues.

Factors to Consider with IBC Bunding

Physical Hazards

There are several factors to consider with an IBC bund pallet and one of them is the risk factors at your workplace. One such example is the physical hazards that can be caused. An IBC bund chemical spill pallet needs to be able to reduce the risk of fire or dissolvment which is why you should consider a chemical's flashpoint as well as its flammability.

Environmental Hazards

You should also ask yourself if there are any environmental hazards with the chemicals on site. For instance, are they toxic to the environment and if so, how much of the chemical is enough to contaminate nearby rivers as well as soil?

Health Hazards

In case of a chemical spill, you should also consider how much of a health risk the chemicals you store are going to be bad for people's health, especially in close proximity. Can they cause skin irritation or burns or damage someone's eyesight if close enough?

Containers

The containers themselves should be something you focus on in order to get the right ones for your worksite. You should check beforehand how vulnerable they are to impacts, deterioration, overfilling and cracking.

Site Vulnerability

Another form of vulnerability that should be checked out is the one of the worksite too. Is your work area safe from the above-mentioned hazards and if so, how can you improve it with the use of IBC bunds?

Chemical Properties

The chemicals you have at your facility need to have their properties assessed. Are they reactive or corrosive and if they are, how much of an adverse effect can they cause to their surroundings?

IBC Guidelines

Capacity

To make sure that you can store all of the chemicals you have sufficiently you should check the sump capacity of containers. This also affects the bund itself which should allow you to fit the largest capacity container you'll need. This way the tank or container won't overflow even in a complete spill.

Material

The materials both the container and bund come made of should be adequate for the type of chemicals you have on site. The most common materials for IBC bunds and tanks are steel and polyurethane. You'll come across other chemically resistant bunds and tanks just make sure you pair them with the right one.

Access

An IBC bund pallet should be easy to access and just because it contains a harmful chemical it doesn't mean you should be able to get to it or manage the bunds and tanks. Having enough space around your IBCs is key here as it helps you make regular inspections more easily.

Bund Height & Tank Distance

Both the height of the bunds and the distance of the tanks from the wall are two quite important specs. The bunds should be between 50 cm and 1.5 metres tall if they're wall-type bunds. The closer you have the tank to the wall the higher the bund should be with a minimum of 1 metre distance being mandatory between the bund and tank.

IBC Standards and Regulations

Class 3

A Class 3 IBC bund spill pallet is able to protect from flammable and combustible liquids such as category III flammables.

Class 4

Using Class 4 bunds means you get protection from flammable solids and similar dangerous goods.

Class 5.1

IBC bunding made according to Class 5.1regulartions and standards means it can help minimise the risk of oxidising agents and it covers not only bunds but also the use of protective equipment.

Class 5.2

Class 5.2 bunds are used for the storing and handling of organic peroxide.

Class 6

A Class 6 bunding system is made for handling and storing toxic substances from different categories such as solids, liquids, gases, dust, fibres and so on.

Class 8

With Class 8 approved bunds corrosive substances are the most common hazards they're used for but you can also use them for spill control and for the disposal of corrosive substances.

Class 9

Class 9 IBCs are made for handling miscellaneous dangerous goods. These can be. But not limited to low-risk goods either for storage or transport needs.