Secondary Containment Flooring

Since the main purpose of a secondary containment system is to contain a spill until it can be neutralized, cleaned up and properly disposed of, all secondary containment areas must have a specific degree of chemical resistance in order to contain leaks and spills from primary storage tanks of any hazardous fluids. These types of systems are very popular in the chemical processing, intermediary, pharmaceutical and mining industries and in any facility that has a large amount of storage for chemicals that are highly acidic, alkaline or otherwise corrosive.

Many secondary containment structures, especially in older facilities, were built from formed concrete due to low material costs and ease of application. Concrete on its own is not suitable for providing effective chemical resistance or a reliable barrier for the permeation of most acids and chemical concentrations. The permeation into the concrete causes severe deterioration, corrosion and cracking which allows the commodity substance to leach out and contaminate the environment.

Protecting the concrete with a chemical resistant coating and/or lining can be an economical option for protecting these areas. Evaluating the concrete to determine its current condition is the first step in order to determine what kind of surface prep, crack filling, filling bug holes and damage repair that needs to be completed before a coating or lining can be applied in order to ensure a proper bond and long lasting coating performance. Depending on the level of substrate damage, stress or settling that has occurred, significant repairs might need to be performed with a compatible mortar before installation begins on the secondary containment system.

A chemical drum failure, human error, accidents, leaking connections, gaskets or seal failures can all result in spilled fluids which can potentially damage a facility’s infrastructure, create environmental contamination or workplace safety issues. Facility managers and safety directors have found that a major benefit and cost value of installing a high performance secondary containment system is that the system helps avoid much more costly damage in the event of a spill or corrosion over time. Regulatory agencies like the EPA or OSHA enforce strict standards and when a facility fails to comply, they can be forced to pay costly fines, pay for very expensive last minute fixes or institute a workplace shutdown which all have a negative effect on your facility’s bottom line and operation. If an inadequate system is installed in your facility, it creates the possibility of your entire slab becoming contaminated, which requires costly and labor intensive remediation.

The main factors involved in secondary containment coatings are chemical resistance and impermeability. Western Concrete Coatings’ primary goal is to install a system for you that will not be damaged if the floor comes into contact with corrosive fluids in the event of spills or leaks. As certified installers through several manufacturers, we are trained to solve these complex problems through our extensive technological expertise, products lines and service capabilities. In addition, Western Concrete Coatings is MSHA certified in order to work in mining environments safely