Monday, June 24, 2013

Spill Containment Berm Controls Mess

By Lana Bray


Accidents and mishaps are a simple fact of life and no matter how careful one is, they are bound to pop up occasionally. When they do happen, the use of a spill containment berm may be the perfect solution to keeping things under control. They come in a lot of different shapes, sizes and style in order to deal with various circumstances.

These products are known as berms which are basically barriers that are used to contain materials, hazardous or not, within a specified space. In order to handle a myriad of substances, these walls may be constructed from many different things from concrete to metal or plastic. Many are made to be temporary structures though some are designed to serve on a more permanent basis.

When companies deal with hazardous materials, or even those prone to leakage, on a daily basis, they tend to have a stock of berms on hand. Sometimes they use these products on a regular basis as a standard operating procedure to prevent contamination of different substances in the same area. Other may simply be kept for emergency deployments only.

These products are something that any emergency response team will know all about. They are trained in which type should be used for a particular type of threat and how to erect them quickly. It is important to know the best kind of berm to use, especially when dealing with chemicals, because some substances may have a negative reaction when in contact with certain materials.

Because every situation is different and may have extenuating circumstances, there are a lot of different types of berms available. Large flows in open areas are often best served by the use of tall, triangular shaped barriers made of either concrete or plastic. The solid constructions are generally used for more long term issues such as road work or constant flooding while the lighter walls are usually reserved for short temporary duty.

For indoor use on smaller leaks and spills, one may opt to deploy thin berms in L shapes that hook together end to end to form a continuous wall or a squared enclosure. This type is often used inside warehouses where drums of flowing substances are stored as a precautionary move. If anything were to seep from its container while unattended, the risk and mess would be neatly confined to a specific space.

Uneven areas or spaces without level boundaries may be best served by a flexible tubing barrier. This option is flat and can be stored rolled up like a fire hose then quickly deployed to fit even the curviest and bumpiest of terrains. Once set in place, it is inflated and the base will conform to whatever shape lies beneath it, forming an effective seal.

No matter the situation, it is likely that there is a spill containment berm that has been design to effectively handle and maintain the spread of materials. They can handle most anything from sand, grain and salt to liquids both hazardous and benign. These products are made in both flexible and rigid forms and can be used as a permanent or temporary solution.




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