Spill sumps and drip trays

Spill sumps and drip trays protect the surroundings against leaks from stored drums and containers – mandatory equipment when storing hazardous liquids in accordance with environmental protection regulations.

They are used in warehouses, industrial plants and municipal waste collection points (PSZOK) for storing liquid waste.

We size the sump so that it can hold the entire volume of liquid from the stored containers in the event of an incident, in line with the principle applied to the storage of liquid substances. Galvanised grids make it easier to position drums and allow any leakage to drain freely. The galvanised components and the entire structure fall within the hazardous waste containers category.

Spill sumps are made in two basic material versions – steel, either galvanised or powder-coated, and polyethylene, which is resistant to corrosion and to the aggressive action of acids and alkalis. The choice of material depends primarily on the nature of the stored substance – for most oils and fuels the steel version is sufficient, whereas for highly corrosive substances plastic is the safer choice.

The range includes models designed for a single drum as well as larger pallet sumps holding one or two pallets of IBC containers – the latter are ideal for storing larger quantities of liquid in one place, for example in a production hall or at a selective waste collection point.

Installing a spill sump usually comes down to placing it on a level, stable surface at the location specified in the warehouse documentation – the structure does not require permanent anchoring, although for drive-on versions that allow access by a forklift truck, the permissible grid load should be checked before regular use.

Periodic checks of the sump's tightness and cleaning deposits from the grid are the basic maintenance tasks that keep the sump fully functional for many years – neglecting them is one of the more common causes of adverse findings during environmental inspections at industrial plants.

When choosing the size of a spill sump, a good reference point is the number and capacity of the containers that are to stand on it at the same time – too tight a fit hinders access to the drain taps of individual drums, while too much spare room needlessly increases the floor space occupied in the warehouse, so it is worth consulting the supplier on the selection before placing an order.