What Does
Drum Storage Containers Mean?
Drum storage containers are used to provide safe housing for multiple storage drums. The number of storage drums held by a given container can range from less than 10 to well over 100.
They are considered to be a form of secondary containment, as storage drums that hold hazardous materials are designed to existing standards as primary hazardous substance containers.
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Safeopedia Explains Drum Storage Containers
Because there is an international standard size for storage drums—200 liters (55 U.S. gallons)—the number of drums that a storage unit can contain can be calculated based on the unit’s internal dimensions. This standardization also allows for the inclusion of certain features designed to make drum transport easier, such as providing space for pallets and allowing for the easy attachment of a ramp designed for forklifts and other powered trucks.
The use of a certified drum storage container can help employers meet their obligations to provide secondary containment of hazardous materials. In order to be considered a standards- and regulation-compliant form of hazard storage, they must meet standards that specifically describe the proper storage of drums.
Storage drums are a very common transport container for many hazardous and non-hazardous goods. Their cylindrical shape is both sturdy and space-efficient, and as a result the use of storage drum containers is very common at work sites that need to receive and/or distribute liquid or powdered substances in bulk. Due to the standardized nature of drum containers and their significant association with hazardous materials, drum storage containers are subject to a variety of standards related to the safe storage of drums. These standards may vary depending on the goods being transported.
For instance, the safe use of the plastic drums that house corrosive materials may require different safety procedures compared to those needed for the handling of metal drums housing explosive materials. Standards for hazardous material housing for drum storage units include the use of sumps or bunds that are capable of containing the spilled material to the unit. Depending on the chemicals present in the drum, the storage unit may also need to be situated away from occupied worksites. OSHA standards require these units to effectively protect the drums from physical injury that could release their contents. If the material held by the drum is flammable, the storage unit will be subject to additional legal and consensus standards, such as the National Fire Protection Association's NFPA 30 standard.