Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Protected, Attractive And Trustworthy Spill Containment Berms

By Serena Price


The development of reliable spill containment berms relies heavily on the proficiency of the landscape architect. In zones where petroleum exists one must beware of any busts that may cause public catastrophes. Land can be used to create this safety measure to contain the damage.

Ground surfaces greater than 5 percent are perceived as being more sloped and become increasingly difficult to work with as their degree of incline increases. The eye is invited to move along a sloped plane rather than resting as it is able to do in a level surface. This can be exciting in some cases, but disconcerting in others.

This is also true for buildings and other structures placed. They, too, must be designed to get stable footing by creating level terraces for their location or by special structural systems that connect them. Surface drainage is a constant issue on a hill. Unless the trees are located on the crest of a hill, it is quite likely that some portion of a gradient will drain towards them.

Water, soil, stones, debris, and so forth all gravitate downwards over time. If possible, restrict movement in these areas to avoid the event of a catastrophe. Even people usually find it easier to walk downwards than uphill. It is necessary to grade the uphill area to divert the surface drainage around the house. Outdoor use areas can also be properly tailored by orienting them to minimize grading.

This is frequently accomplished by placing the long dimension of outdoor spaces parallel to the contours. Retaining walls, sometimes located on both the uphill and downhill sides of spaces, can also be employed as a means of accommodating the different elevation between spaces.

This approach gives a soft appearance to the landscape and separates spaces by the horizontal distance across the zones. Retaining walls should not exceed 3 or 4 feet in height without requiring special engineering and cost. To locate outdoor use areas in excess of 15 percent most often requires a deck.

Some outdoor uses may not be possible here. Outdoor areas that are large in size and require a gentle ground surface may need to be eliminated from a design program. The steepest areas are often best left alone. The designer might reserve the steepest areas for vegetation on disturbed or graded lots as well. Therefore, it may also be necessary to incorporate ramps, especially in the public areas such as the approach to the front of the house.

This is necessary but becomes more difficult on steeper sites because of the potential for erosion. Valley-like excavations into the earth, which are cut to catch and direct water, should be designed so they visually fit into the topography. Trenches that look like gashes because of overly steep side slopes should be avoided. The low side on the other hand, may be wetter because of the water that drains to it. Storm water must be directed in a manner that does not compromise the integrity of spill containment berms.




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