Military installations often utilize large vehicles and heavy equipment to store or transport oil. Secondary containment units designed for military applications can be deployed to assist with spill and leak control in the event of the unintentional discharge of oils or other hazardous substances. Flexible containment berms function as long-term containment units that can be used to house vehicles, tankers, or other heavy-duty machinery.
Flexible containment solutions can be quickly deployed in any area where secondary containment for trucks or other heavy equipment is needed. These berms can be used as a passive secondary containment option that will mitigate leaks if they occur. Passive containment refers to a berm used to store equipment and retains oils in the event of a leak or spill. Passive containment options are a preventative countermeasure, and they do not require human intervention to contain spills.
Storing vehicles and heavy equipment in flexible containment berms designed for military applications can reduce the impact that a leak or spill would have on the environment, help facilities comply with secondary containment regulations and help protect personnel and equipment. To help users find the flexible containment option that is best suited to their needs, here is an outline of the SPCC requirements regarding secondary containment and the berms designed to comply with those regulations and provide reliable long-term containment.
EPA Regulations for Secondary Containment
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), any facility with an above ground oil-storage capacity that exceeds 1,320 gallons using storage units such as tanks, containers, drums, or portable totes may be required to have an SPCC plan to meet secondary containment requirements. A Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) plan is a procedural outline of steps that a facility has implemented that are designed to mitigate the impacts of an oil leak or spill.
As a subcomponent of the Clean Water Act, SPCC plans are specifically designed to prevent pollutants from reaching navigable waterways. One element of these plans is to show that countermeasures have been adopted to reduce the impact that an oil leak or spill would have on the environment.
A flexible containment berm can enable facilities to comply with EPA regulations and satisfy the requirements of an SPCC plan by providing secondary containment that can passively mitigate the impacts of an oil discharge.
Flexible Military Berm Options
The Fail-Safe® MilBerm™ is a versatile containment option from Basic Concepts designed to provide reliable passive containment in military applications. The Milberm is constructed using a single piece of material which gives it maximum durability and structural integrity. No assembly is required to use this berm; it can be deployed in minutes anywhere that vehicles or other equipment require secondary containment.
The heavy-duty fabric of the Milberm is resistant to corrosive solvents, chemicals, and extended wear. Berms with a floating-wall design are susceptible to wall failure. The Milberm features a patented stainless-steel brace support system that provides a secure, leakproof containment when the walls are in the 90-degree locked position. The Milberm also features a drive-over design. By pushing on the outer walls, users can unlock the perimeter supports, allowing vehicles to safely drive over without damaging the berm.
Military Failsafe Berms from Basic Concepts incorporate wall designs that maximize the usable space inside the berm while eliminating potential tripping hazards. When in the upright position, the walls of the Milberm will even prevent snow and ice from interfering with the berm’s ability to contain oil leaks and spills. The Fail-Safe® MilBerm™ is ideal for heavy-duty secondary containment in a variety of military installations.
Find the Containment Option that is Right for You
For over 25 years, Basic Concepts has provided innovative secondary containment solutions to military installations and industrial sites worldwide. In addition to flexible secondary containment for fuel trucks, BCI offers various containment solutions approved for military use, including military light-duty berms, military permanent containment, and bulk storage containment.