How to Use a Secondary Containment Calculator to Determine Correct Containment Capacity

What Is a Secondary Containment Calculator?

A secondary containment calculator is a specialized tool for determining the volume capacity required for secondary containment systems, such as berms and containment walls. These calculators consider various parameters, including the volume of the primary containment units and additional factors like rainfall or fire suppression water.

Below are the steps involved in using our berm containment calculator.

Step 1: Gather Necessary Information

Before using the calculator, you’ll need to know the volume of the primary containment unit (e.g., tank or drum) and the dimensions of the containment area.

Step 2: Enter the Parameters

Input the gathered information into the calculator:

• Volume of Primary Containment: Enter the total volume of the primary containment units.
• Additional Factors: Add 10% for potential rainfall or fire suppression water.
• Dimensions of Containment Area: Provide the length, width, and height of the containment area.

Step 3: Calculate the Required Capacity

The calculator will process the entered parameters and provide the required containment capacity.

What a Secondary Containment Calculator Does

A secondary containment calculator helps you determine the volume capacity required for secondary containment systems, such as berms and containment walls. These calculators consider various parameters, including the volume of the primary containment units and additional factors like rainfall or fire suppression water.

Follow these steps to determine what type of secondary containment system is required for your job site:

1. Inventory the Containers: List all containers that will be placed in the secondary containment area.
2. Add Up the Contents: Determine the total volume of the containers in gallons.
3. Calculate Freeboard Volume: Add 10 percent to the total of all contents for freeboard and add this to the total contents.
4. Convert Volume to Cubic Feet: Use this conversion factor: cubic feet = gallons divided by 7.48.
5. Determine Area Needed: Use the height of the berm walls to convert your volume measurement into the required area (area = volume divided by height).
6. Calculate Dimensions: Determine a length and width that fit within the available workspace, ensuring the calculated area is maintained.
7. Select a Suitable Berm: Choose a standard berm that meets your calculated requirements.

Pro Tip: Containment areas with multiple tanks must account for displacement to ensure the proper containment volume is determined. For example, if you have two tanks in the same containment area, you must subtract the volume the second tank would take up in the containment area from the total containment volume to get the final containment figure.

Putting Your Berm Calculator Into Practice

Here’s an example to give you an idea of how this works. Let’s say you’ve got an oil refinery and you need secondary containment big enough to manage the truck’s contents if there’s a spill. Here’s how you calculate the berm size:

• Determine the Largest Load: The maximum truck size using this loading area is a 5,000-gallon tanker.
• Add Freeboard Volume: Adding 10 percent freeboard volume results in a total secondary containment volume of 5,500 U.S. gallons.
• Convert Volume to Cubic Feet: Convert the volume to cubic feet using the conversion factor (5,500 divided by 7.48 = 735.29 cubic feet).
• Calculate Required Area: With a berm wall height of 3 feet, the required area is calculated as 735.29 cubic feet divided by 3 feet = 245.09 square feet.
• Determine Berm Dimensions: Let’s say this 5,000-gallon tanker has a width of approximately 8 feet. To accommodate a leaking tanker, select a berm width of 12 feet. The minimum length required is 245.09 square feet divided by 12 feet = 20.42 feet.
• Choose a Berm: To be in compliance, you’ll need a berm that’s at least 12 feet by 21 feet by 3 feet. This configuration provides adequate space and volume to manage potential spills effectively, ensuring compliance with safety and environmental regulations.

Finding a Solution

Once you know what’s required, it’s time to determine if your current containment system is adequate or if modifications are needed. Polystar Containment has several products that can bring your facility into compliance:

• Poly Dike: A heavy-duty, surface-mounted secondary containment system for hazardous materials. This modular dike wall system is known for its superior corrosion resistance, structural strength, and easy installation. Made from high-quality fiberglass-reinforced plastics, the Poly Dike offers a durable alternative to traditional concrete dikes, making it ideal for a variety of industrial applications, including chemical storage and oil containment.
• Camel Tri-Star: An innovative spill containment berm that effectively manages incidental spills during truck transfer operations. This durable, drive-over berm contains spills of hazardous liquids and fuels, preventing environmental contamination and ensuring regulatory compliance. The Camel Tri-Star is easy to install and relocate, making it a versatile solution for various industrial settings.
• Camel Tri-Star OPS (One-Piece Spill Containment): A portable, one-piece spill containment berm designed for quick deployment and easy relocation. This berm is engineered to provide effective spill prevention during truck transfer operations, offering a more mobile solution compared to traditional containment systems. The Camel Tri-Star OPS is ideal for dynamic job sites where spill containment requirements frequently change.

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