Spill Containment Berms Prevent Accidents

By Helene Norris


In most situations, in particular those that involve potential risks from toxic or harmful substances, the number one priority should be safety. Even if the materials are not considered to be hazardous, but may pose a danger is spilled, the best option to avoid accidents is to keep it confined to a defined area. The most effective way to achieve this goal is generally through the use of spill containment berms.

A berm is meant to behave as a wall that keeps one environment or substance from invading the space of another. Products like these are used in numerous different situations, therefore they needed to be manufactured in just as many variations. Every model has been designed with specific functions in mind and with slight variances within each group, there is very little they can not handle.

The circumstances under which these products may be deployed are as vast and varied as are the many available designs. Practically any liquid, from plain water to complex chemicals and dangerous acids, may be confined using these barriers. They are equally effective on flowing solids such as minerals, gravel, rocks, grains, rice, salt and many other substances.

Tarps, flow-stops and pallets are the three main categories in which most confinement barriers will fall. Within each grouping are dozens of design and style variations. All of them have the same basic goal though they may go about reaching it via different ways because they will be catered to fit a myriad of unique situations.

Pallets are most commonly, though not exclusively used in situations where canisters, barrels and boxes containing flowing products are being stored. This may be in a store room, on a ship, in a warehouse or other facility. Varying in actual appearance, they will generally feature cups, grates or other openings into which spilled products will enter and remain held within the a secured area until a clean up is possible.

One of the more versatile options is the flow-stop barrier. They can be used in storage situations as well as quickly deployed walls during an emergency situation. The range of available styles is extremely wide, stretching from solid formations in multiple heights and widths to L-shaped sectionals that vary in lengths and can be hooked together to make an enclosure of any size, as well as inflatable hose like tubes that fit securely in odd shapes and uneven terrain.

Tarps are mostly used when one needs to store or do maintenance on a vehicle. They provide protective covering for the ground and come in an immense range of sizes from small enough to hold a motorcycle, to large enough for a jumbo jet. These products are equally varied but basically they all form a solid holding zone by framing the sheeting with collapsible borders of some type.

Made from several different materials, spill containment berms are a great way to safely confine most any flowing substance. They are capable of meeting virtually any challenge because of the versatility in their styles, shapes and sizes. When it comes to emergencies, maintenance or storage, there is probably a product of this type that will suit the need.




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