Chemical Secondary Containment Requirements

Hazardous materials can harm humans, animals and the environment when improperly handled, stored or transported. In the United States, laws and regulationsare designed to limit interaction with dangerous agents, including chemical, biological or radiological materials.Containing hazardous spills and waste begins with clear objectives, training and accountability.

In this Article:

Chemical Containment and Hazardous Waste Management
What Is RCRA Hazardous Waste?
Secondary Containment Requirements for Chemicals Under OSHA
Secondary Containment Volume Requirements

Chemical Containment and Hazardous Waste Management

To adhere to chemical secondary containment requirements, facilities must follow specific guidelines, such as the use of high-quality tanks and storage units, as well as protective gear and tools to contain chemicals and hazardous waste. For example, a custom-built secondary containment system can offer the right spill protection for specific facility or material needs.

View our Chemical Containment Solution

What Is RCRA Hazardous Waste?

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) defines hazardous waste under RCRA in Title 40 CFR 216. Hazardous waste is divided into two categories: characteristic wastes and listed wastes. There is no regularly updated list of hazardous wastes, as the secondary containment for hazardous waste determination process involves many steps. However, facilities can ask questions to classify waste:

Is the waste a solid waste?
Is the waste specifically excluded from the RCRA regulations?
Is the waste a listed hazardous waste?
Does the waste exhibit a characteristic of hazardous waste?

Learn more about Chemical Secondary Containment Requirements

Secondary Containment Requirements for Chemicals Under OSHA

As part of the United States Department of Labor, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)promotes safe and healthy working conditions for Americans through standardized enforcement, training, community engagement, and education. Hazardous waste sites must comply with hazardous waste secondary containment requirements as determined by OSHA, including:

Site-specific occupational safety and health programs to protect employees
Training programs for employees that discuss expectations, techniques and procedures
Decontamination procedures tailored to specific site hazards
Emergency response plans
Personal protective equipment programs
An incident command system to control and manage operations during an emergency
Site and safety control plans
Medical surveillance programs
New technology and spill containment programs

Facilities that handle hazardous waste must implement a secondary containment plan to contain and control accidental spilled material, as well as maintain employee safety. Traditional cleanup techniques include diatomaceous earth. However, modern options, such as secondary spill containment systems, provide first responders with more effective tools and methods for hazard reduction and cleanup. Some applications and devices for secondary containment for chemicals under OSHA include:

Portable pressurized applicators similar to fire extinguishers
Nozzle and hose systems similar to firefighting foam systems
Solidifying agents such as acid or caustic neutralizers, or activated carbon absorbents
Vapor suppression agents
Proper protective clothing

Secondary Containment Volume Requirements

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides volume requirements for secondary containment systems in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) found in Title 40 CFR 264.175(b).According to the RCRA act, secondary containment systems must be designed as follows:

The secondary containment system must have sufficient capacity to contain 10% of the volume of containers or the volume of the largest container, whichever is greater. Containers that do not contain free liquids need not be considered in this determination. Run-on into the containment system must be prevented unless the collection system has sufficient excess capacity to contain any run-on which might enter the system. Excess capacity must be in addition to the 10% of the volume of containers or the volume of the largest container, whichever is greater.

States and municipalities must follow these federal volume requirements; however, many mandate stricter containment regulations.Explore your state and local regulations to ensure your facility is EPA compliant. For more information about Polystar secondary containment systems, browse our productsor contact us.

Additional Resources For Chemical Secondary Containment Requirements

Learn more about hazardous waste secondary containment requirements with the additional resources below. Polystar Containment is an industry-leading long-term and temporary spill containment equipment provider.With our spill containment products and solutions, you can enhance your preparedness and response capabilities, minimizing the environmental risks associated with hazardous materials handling.

Secondary Containment and Chemical Storage

Chemical Containment and Hazardous Waste Management

What Is RCRA Hazardous Waste?

Secondary Containment Requirements for Chemicals Under OSHA

Secondary Containment Volume Requirements

Additional Resources For Chemical Secondary Containment Requirements