Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Utilizing Spill Berms Is Sure To Save Your Business Cash

By Lana Bray


Throughout the years spill berms have been used for many different applications. They are an ingenious bit of engineering that has stood the test of time. During the mid-evil era they were mainly used for defense. Nowadays they are mainly used to contain hazardous materials. They can be as simple as a mud hill, or as elaborate as a stone wall.

The military has taken advantage of them for hundreds of years. One example is trench warfare. Soldiers would dig a wide trench and then heap the dirt up along the top of one side. This created a strong barrier that was difficult to penetrate. It could also be used as protection during a battle. Soldiers would hide behind it while shooting at the enemy.

One other popular usage for a mud retaining wall is to control attrition over waterways. This contour is known as a levy. The form and construction is pretty simple. Interlocking steel sheets are forced deep in to the ground with dirt piled over the top. This produces a substantial fortification and it can hold many tons of water. Cities and towns are saved from water damage by using easy berm technology.

Modern retaining walls are made using many types of materials. These materials allow the structures to be scaled depending on the circumstances. For example, a small, temporary structure might be placed around a fueling depot. This prevents fuel spills from polluting the ground below. The secondary purpose provides an additional layer of protection from accidents. Larger walls can be erected around storage facilities to do the same thing.

Modern highway construction companies use them as a noise barrier and for safety. City managers will then hire landscaping crews to add landscaping along the bottom. This makes the entire project more appealing. Property values behind the wall go up while highway aesthetics and safety improves. These improvements are usually realized at a marginal cost. People that live along the highway reap the greatest benefits.

The most common use, though, is to contain environmental accidents and hazardous liquids. The Environmental Protection Agency mandates that fuel and oil be stored using secondary containment measures. These containment areas are usually manufactured using fabric that can provide soil protection. The sidewalls are typically made using PVC or other type of material that can withstand exposure to chemicals.

The side benefit of owning a spill containment system is it saves business owners many thousands of dollars. For instance, if an oil spill should happen, the liquid or oil stays within the containment area. It can then be pumped into temporary storage for salvage. As a result the berms pay for themselves many times over by saving the valuable liquids.

Nowadays, spill berms are available in various sizes and capacities. Portable devices can be quickly set up around a fueling station. Semi-permanent devices can be used around larger facilities. Permanent devices can be as large as necessary. Installing them can save a business a lot of money in clean up fees. Not having them can cost a business planning in legal worries.




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