Steel Spill Containment

Spill containments made of steel:

Why use steel spill containment?

Steel is one of the best options for storing flammable substances. In the case of flammable products, steel spill containment bins make it possible to maintain tightness in the event of a fire. Legislation states that a hazardous product must be stored in such a way that the risk of uncontrolled leakage is minimized. If retention bins are used, they must ensure tightness, if we handle flammable products, where the risk of fire is very high, the spill containment bin must be made of steel and not plastic so that it is flame resistant.

Steel retention systems:

According to current legislation; the spill containment must be able to contain the volume of the largest container placed over it or 10% of the total number of containers. In some areas requiring special protection, a retention volume of 100% of the total quantity stored may be required.

In all cases, the spill containment must be tight against hazardous products and have sufficient mechanical strength. Steel is therefore the ideal material.

Galvanized steel spill containment bins are suitable for the safe storage of flammable liquids and chemicals that pose a threat to the environment.

Properties of Galvanized Steel:

Galvanized consists of several layers of zinc-iron alloys. It has 100% penetration, covers the entire surface of the galvanized part, as well as other surface areas of the retention spill containment that are not accessible by other protection methods.

1 Abrasion resistance

Metallurgical bonding with good adhesion. Layers of zinc-iron alloys, harder even than steel, and a softer outer layer of zinc form a system that is highly resistant to impact and abrasion.

2 Corrosion resistance

• • Galvanized coatings provide steel with triple protection.
  • Protection through a boom effect. Isolation from the aggressive environment.
  • Cathodic or sacrificial protection. Zinc is sacrificed to give protection to steel.
  • Restoration of bare areas (self-curing). Zinc corrosion products plug the small ungalvanized areas, protecting them from oxidation.

2.1 Atmospheric corrosion

The duration of spill containment protection provided by galvanized coatings against atmospheric corrosion is extremely high and depends on the climatic conditions encountered.

2.2 Corrosion in fresh water

Galvanized steel resists well because the carbon dioxide, calcium and magnesium salts, which are normally dissolved in this type of water, help the formation of zinc passivation layers, which are inert and insoluble, and insulate the zinc coating from subsequent contact with water.

2.3 Corrosion in seawater

The galvanized coatings of our spill containments resist the corrosive attack of salt water quite well. This is because the Mg and Ca ions present in the water inhibit the corrosive action of chloride ions and promote the formation of protective layers.

Flammable Substances:

If you handle this type of substances, you should know that the most suitable material for their storage would be the spill containments made of steel:

Flammable or Combustible Substances, are a type of Hazardous Substances that in the presence of a comburent and an ignition source (heat, spark...) ignite producing a combustion reaction:

Flammable Substance + Comburent → Products + energy.

The main characteristic of a Flammable Substance is its flash point or ignition point, which is the temperature at which ignition of the fuel begins to occur spontaneously or by the action of a spark.

Types and Examples of Flammable Substances:

According to their flash point they can be:

>> Extremely Flammable:
Liquids whose flash point is below 0ºC and boiling temperature is also below 35ºC. Gases that ignite in air at room temperature, such as:

• • Hydrogen H2 (burns at room temperature in contact with oxygen in the air).
  • Acetylene (CH≡CH)
  • Ethyl ether (H3C-CH2-O-CH2-CH3)
  • Methane

>> Highly Flammable:
Solids readily flammable on contact with a source of ignition and liquids with flash point below 25°C that are not extremely flammable, such as:

• • Ethyl alcohol (burns at 12ºC).
  • Methyl alcohol (burns at 11ºC)
  • Acetone

>> Flammable:
Liquids with flash point below 55ºC, such as:

• • Gasoline
  • Diesel
  • Kerosene
  • Toluene
  • Benzene
  • Ammonia
  • Pentanol
  • Acetic acid