Dike or Containment Berm

Dike Or Containment Berm
A fuel tank with a dike or berm built near it.

A quick definition: a dike or containment berm is a moat-like structure built around a storage tank used to contain the total contents of the container should it spill.

A Dike or Containment berm stops leaks and accidental spills.

  1. Containment of Spills or Leaks from the protected tank
  2. Detection of leaks in the storage tank. (If there is fluid in the containment berm then there is a chance that the tank leaks)

Federal SPCC secondary containment requirements for fuel storage tank dikes or berms stipulate that the barrier be sized to contain more than the total storage volume of the tank.

Berms help you comply with the SPCC and EPA container storage regulation 40 CRF 264.175.

Common materials used to make Dikes or Berms are

  • PVC Fabric
  • Cement
  • Other specialized materials for chemicals.
  • Steel

Containment Berms and Containment Dikes can be constructed to meet the size of any storage tank. They come in sizes to match standard tank volumes, or they can be quickly built to accommodate the capacity of any size tank. Surrounding a storage tank with a berm protects discharge from going beyond the spill berm. If the dike is built to the correct volume level it will safely contain the total volume of the stored fluid. This demonstrates a commitment by a company to apply an aggressive containment solution. Containing accidental spillage or tank leaks is a required responsibility. The SPCC requirements apply to installed storage tanks and temporary tanks on construction sites etc. Any stored fuel tank should have back-up containment solutions in place.

Installed containment dikes or containment berms are the best sort of defense for secondary spill containment. SafeRack can advise about all spill containment and secondary containment solutions for your company. Does your company have all storage tanks covered with this defense?