What Is Secondary Containment?

Understanding the Need and Requirements for Secondary Containment

If you store hazardous materials and/or hazardous wastes at your facility, you need secondary containment systems to meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. Even though OSHA and EPA broadly define hazardous materials, consider any materials with a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) or liquids that harm a person or the environment as hazardous.

Why is Secondary Containment Necessary?

If your primary storage container–like a drum/barrel, IBC tote, or storage tank—fails, a secondary container is a precautionary system to prevent a spill from spreading. Any system, device, or control measure used to stop a discharge from leaving a specific area is considered secondary containment. For environmental, health and safety protection agencies, secondary containment helps to prevent harm by containing hazardous material spills.

Why Do I Need Secondary Containment?

You need secondary containment if you store regulated materials or materials that are:

Toxic
Flammable
Reactive
Combustible
Corrosive

Check the Federal CERCLA list and your state’s Critical Materials Register to find out if the materials you store are regulated. However, secondary containment is still recommended even if the materials you store aren’t mandated or regulated.

Industries that commonly use or require secondary containment include:

What Are the EPA’s Secondary Containment Requirements?

The Environmental Protect Agency’s (EPA) secondary containment requirements include the Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) Rule, which aims to prevent illegal discharges of oil into navigable U.S. waters and adjoining shorelines. The SPCC rule requires facility owners or operators with significant aboveground or underground oil storage capacity to have a written plan detailing how the facility prevents oil spills to navigable waters and adjoining shorelines.

What Are Common Types of Secondary Containment?

Secondary containment systems and spill containment systems come in a variety of configurations, sizes, and styles. Systems range from a simple shed to a complex underground vault system. A custom-built secondary containment system offers the right spill protection for specific facility or material needs.

Types of secondary containment systems include:

Tank spill containment
Berms
Drip buckets
Track Pans
Sunken floors
Curbs
Dike MPE systems
Liners

Polystar Containment manufactures spill prevention and secondary containment units for a variety of industries. Contact us today to find out how we can help with your secondary containment and spill prevention setup. View our Secondary Containment Products