When it comes to industrial tanks, pressure vessels, and chemical storage, secondary containment systems play a crucial role in preventing environmental contamination and ensuring worker safety. Whether you’re dealing with oil, fuel, chemicals, or wastewater, understanding secondary containment requirements is key to maintaining regulatory compliance with EPA, OSHA, and SPCC standards.
In this article, we’ll break down what secondary containment is, why it matters, the regulatory landscape, and how T BAILEY LLC supports clients in meeting containment requirements through expert design, fabrication, and construction.
What Is Secondary Containment?
Secondary containment refers to a system or structure designed to capture leaks, spills, or failures from a primary storage container, such as a tank, pressure vessel, or drum, before they can escape into the environment.
At its core, secondary containment is about controlling the atmosphere and environment where work is performed, especially during painting or coating operations. These systems can serve dual purposes:
- Protecting the environment from hazardous material leaks
- Creating controlled work zones for activities like coating or welding in harsh weather conditions
By doing both, secondary containment systems help ensure safety, compliance, and quality across every phase of industrial tank projects.
Why Secondary Containment Is Important
Secondary containment systems are often required by federal and state laws to reduce the risk of environmental damage and contamination. For industrial projects, especially in urban or high-traffic areas, these systems help contain overspray during coatings and shield the surrounding environment from hazardous materials.
From a safety and operational standpoint, containment is especially important when weather conditions such as wind, rain, and cold temperatures can impact coatings or construction quality. For example, at the Port of Alaska project, T BAILEY LLC fabricated a fully self-supporting containment system that could be craned into place to protect pipe splicing operations from the elements.
Regulatory Landscape: EPA, OSHA & SPCC Requirements
Three main regulatory bodies define secondary containment regulations:
- EPA (Environmental Protection Agency): Under the SPCC (Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure) Rule, the EPA requires facilities to provide adequate secondary containment for oil storage containers.
- OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration): OSHA’s secondary containment requirements focus on chemical safety and worker protection.
- SPCC (Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure): These requirements are part of EPA guidelines and apply to facilities that store oil above threshold quantities.
Key EPA & SPCC Secondary Containment Requirements Include:
- Must contain 110% of the volume of the largest container within the area.
- Must be impervious to the materials being stored.
- Systems must be inspected regularly for leaks, damage, or capacity concerns.
Understanding and adhering to these regulations is critical for maintaining environmental compliance, operational safety, and avoiding costly penalties.
Do Requirements Vary by Tank Type or Material Stored?
In general, the regulatory requirements don’t change drastically depending on the material being stored, whether it’s fuel, chemical, or wastewater. That said, site conditions and client specifications often dictate the performance level and design of the containment system.
At T BAILEY LLC, we rely on our coatings team and industry standards to ensure compliance, and we always follow the project specifications laid out by our clients.
Design Considerations for Effective Secondary Containment
Secondary containment isn’t one-size-fits-all. Each project’s location, surrounding infrastructure, and climate play a role in system design.
Key factors to consider include:
- Wind loads: Especially in elevated or exposed environments
- Scaffold support and bracing: Critical for maintaining containment structure stability
- Access and mobility: For example, we’ve engineered containment systems that are pickable via crane and reusable on multiple tanks
During the Santos project, for instance, T BAILEY LLC explored innovative containment strategies due to extreme wind conditions at the Port. The team even considered crane-movable containment domes to increase productivity while maintaining safety.
Common Types of Secondary Containment Systems
The most common containment structures include:
- Scaffolding wrapped with poly sheeting: Ideal for temporary environmental control
- Self-supporting containment enclosures: Engineered for mobility and heavy-duty use
- Earth berms or concrete basins: Used for permanent spill containment around tank farms
T BAILEY LLC often partners with trusted subcontractors for large containment builds, but also self-performs on select projects where fabrication expertise is required.
Challenges with Secondary Containment Systems
The biggest challenge? Weather.
From wind to rain and freezing temperatures, Mother Nature is the number one disruptor of containment systems. T BAILEY LLC frequently reinforces scaffolding and uses durable materials to withstand site conditions. Regular maintenance and inspections are also vital, especially when dealing with long-term projects.
How T BAILEY LLC Supports Compliance and Construction
T BAILEY LLC stands out because of our ability to fabricate, construct, and adapt containment systems to meet project-specific needs. Our in-house team has delivered custom containment solutions for clients in high-risk, high-precision environments, from the Port of Alaska to urban infrastructure developments.
Our fabrication capabilities often allow us to engineer movable containment structures, enhancing safety and reducing downtime. Additionally, with over 30 years of experience, we’ve developed longstanding partnerships with subcontractors and coatings experts who share our commitment to quality and compliance.
Final Thoughts
Understanding secondary containment requirements is essential for environmental safety and regulatory compliance. Whether you’re navigating OSHA, EPA, or SPCC regulations, the stakes are high, but so are the risks of non-compliance.
T BAILEY LLC offers comprehensive support for tank construction, coatings, and containment systems. With proven fabrication expertise and a deep understanding of industry standards, we’re ready to help you protect your project from start to finish. Contact us today to discuss your project or learn more about our steel tank fabrication services.
