Bunded Pallets - Everything You Need to Know

Bunded pallets are an essential part of good chemical and hazardous liquid storage. Any time you store potentially dangerous liquids in storage tanks, drums or smaller containers, these should be kept on top of a bunded pallet.

Also known as spill containment pallets or spill trays, a bunded pallet is a platform with a liquid-tight base to contain any leaks or spillages from the containers that are stored on it.

Designed to be kept underneath your oil/fuel drum or other liquid chemical storage units, any leaks or spills will be collected in the bunded pallet, preventing contamination of the site/personnel and hastening the clean-up process.

Often found in industrial, manufacturing and warehouse environments, bunded pallets can usually deal with the most common fuels and chemicals.

Why do I need bunded pallets?

The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) Regulations 2001, which came into effect on 1st September 2005, states that anyone storing oil in containers greater than 200L must comply with its rules.

Any type of tank, container or drum must be bunded to contain any leaks. The bund must have a capacity of not less than 110% of the largest container or 25% of their total aggregate storage capacity, whichever is the greater.

Therefore, it is by law that you must use bunded spill pallets when storing oils in large quantities. But there are also more benefits to using bunded pallets:

• Spills can be cleaned up much easier and quicker with less impact on productivity, and often without the use of additional spill kits and specialised equipment
• Personnel and the environment can be kept safe and protected from the risks of contact with hazardous chemicals
• They can help you to meet various health and safety and environmental regulations and guidelines

How to choose the correct Spill Pallet for your needs

There are many types, sizes and designs of bunded pallets. Which one is right for you depends on several factors, such as:

Is it the correct kind of bunded pallet for the way I store chemicals? Chemical bunds and spill trays can be designed for a single oil drum, multiple drums or for larger storage containers like an intermediate bulk container or IBC.

Does the bunded pallet meet any legislative or regulatory requirements? Various chemicals are subject to differing controls with regard to safe storage – that could be the DEFRA Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (England) Regulations of 2001, or basic COSHH guidelines. Make sure that your bunded pallet is compliant with relevant rules.

Will I need to move the chemical and pallet? If so, you will want to look at bunded pallets with fork pockets that can be lifted with forklift trucks or pallet trucks for safe and easy movement.

Will I be storing chemicals outside or inside? The nature of bunded pallets means that rain and snow can seriously impact their usefulness. If you store chemicals outside, you will want to consider a covered or completely enclosed unit.

What are they Made From?

Because they are working with Oils, Chemicals and other industrial fluids, the pallets must be made from the right materials. Most spill pallets are made from plastic, specifically Polyethylene (PE), which is not only the most commonly used type of plastic in the world but also offers excellent resistance to most workplace liquids.

Whilst the plastic pallets are designed to handle significant weights of up to 2000kg (depending on the model), Steel Spill Pallets are also available for more extreme applications.

Where can I buy Bunded Spill Pallets?

There are several industrial equipment suppliers and spill control specialists. Please consider the range of Bunded Spill Pallets available from First Mats that have been specially selected to offer the best quality for the best price.