Pollution Control, Spill and Firewater Containment: Background Theory

Most sites to varying degrees are at risk from chemical oil spills either due to the nature of

their business or during deliveries of items such as fuel oils or foodstuffs.

However, virtually every site is at risk from firewater - the run off from fighting a fire. The

site owner is 100% responsible for the containment of firewater and the fact that they

have called 999 or 911 doesn't pass this responsibility onto the emergency services.

The drawing above shows an example of the risks due to spillage on a site and the

drawing below the massively increased risk due to fire water.

 

 

Spill and Fire water containment rather than absorption is acknowledged to offer major

environmental advantages and is recommended under PPG11, PPG18, PPG21 and the new

ELD Environmental Liability Directive 2004/35/EC. By using our Flapstopper Check Valve

fire water or a spill can be contained within the drain and then simply pumped/sucked up

ready for re-cycling, whereas if an absorbent material is used - it is too often condemned

to landfill or incineration and there is no chance of collecting the spilt agent for re-cycling.

In the UK, the Environment Agency (EA) now recognise this fact and are happy to accept

the use of containment apparatus as part of a spill mitigation/pollution management

programme for those seeking site operators licences.

 

 

Now even hazardous materials can be safely contained thanks to semi or fully automated

pneumatic bladder or pneumatic non-return valve systems. This overcomes the many

situations where sending an operator into a spill area would be dangerous and in breach

of H&S regulations.