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If you need a secondary spill containment system, should you use a deck or a pallet?

There are several factors to take into consideration in choosing a deck or a pallet. Here’s a quick overview:

• accessibility
• full containment, and
• good housekeeping
• liquid type

1. Accessibility

Loading and draining are two significant aspects to consider when choosing a spill pallet or deck.

a) Loading: because pallets and decks are elevated surfaces, keep in mind ramps, drum-lifting devices or forklift attachments that help raise and lower containers. Although you can “bump” a drum up over the edge of some lower-height decks, doing that repeatedly can cause stress cracks in the deck over time.

b) Draining: pallets can be fitted with factory-installed drain plugs to help drain any accumulated liquids. For decks, the ports on each side can be fitted with a pass-through, allowing a drain plug or hose to be connected. If drain plugs won’t fit your application then a  pump-out kit is another option to remove fluids.

2. Full containment

Spill containment pallets are available in various sizes, to carry different numbers of drums, from one US 55-gallon drum (or 208 litres) to several. Think about whether the unit will be moved while loaded. Standard-duty pallets are great for static loads, but aren’t designed to be moved while loaded.

3. Good housekeeping

Decks have inter-connectible sumps that can be used independently to capture annoying spills and leaks, and they can also be linked together to increase sump capacity.

Decks are often the best option when:

• the unit doesn’t need to be portable
• a single device is used for “housekeeping” purposes rather than “full containment”
• there’s space for linking multiple units together to achieve a higher sump capacity
• you want a low profile for drum-top accessibility or frequent loading/unloading

4. Liquid type

Lastly, think about the item’s resistance to potential hazards. New Pig’s low-density polyethylene (LDPE) construction in both spill pallets and decks means they resist UV rays, rust, corrosion and most chemicals, including corrosive chemicals and non-flammable liquids, and in areas where temperature extremes are not a factor.

A product for every need

Because of their versatility, containment pallets and decks can fit multiple needs, making it difficult to choose which is best for a certain application. If you’re still unsure whether to go with a pallet or deck, consider testing both out to see what fit is best for you — and ask the experts for some guidance!

For help in choosing the right type of spill containment pallets and decks for your facility, call us on 1800 HOT HOG (468 464). Or get in touch with us.