The United States Environmental Protection Agency has established guidelines to help protect the environment from harmful spills. Not only are industrial facilities required to have primary containment for potentially hazardous materials, but they are also required to have secondary containment in place in case the primary containment fails.
Often, secondary contaminants include concrete pads, trenches, basins, and sumps. These designated areas collect any materials that have spilled or leaked and safely store them until they can be appropriately disposed of per EPA and other regulatory compliance guidelines.
If your secondary contaminants are not properly constructed and sealed, they will leak and corrode over time. Issues with industrial secondary containment structures can cause significant damage within your building, to your employees, and to the environment, as well as lead to regulatory fines.
Industrial-grade coatings can prevent those issues from happening, improving protection and long-term durability, as well as helping maintain compliance, and we’ll share more in the guide below.
Why Protective Coatings Are Essential
Even if you have a secondary containment system within your facility, you may still experience issues without protective coatings. Industrial-grade coatings can withstand extreme conditions, protecting your containment system from cracks, corrosion, and chemical damage.
These coatings will help:
- Prevent chemical seepage into soil and groundwater. If this happens, your building will face serious fines and be required to clean up the damages, which can be significant. You may even have to shut down operations until the issues can be fixed, causing you to lose revenue.
- Maintain compliance with EPA, OSHA, and local regulations. In order to maintain a safe workplace and minimize negative environmental impacts, you must stay in compliance with all pertinent regulations. Industrial-grade coatings are a great way to do so without worrying.
- Enhance structural integrity and reduce long-term repair costs. Depending on what your facility manufactures, its chemicals can degrade even the toughest of surfaces. Industrial-grade coatings provide another line of defense, helping to bolster your container’s strength. The stronger it is, the less likely it is you’ll need to repair it as often without the coating, saving you money in the long run.
Industrial-grade coatings are essential to help protect your investment and the environment, but it’s critical that you select the right type of coating to maximize your protection.
Selecting the Right Coating System
Not all industrial coating systems are created equal. Some are designed to protect against specific chemicals and components, so it’s essential to choose the right one for your facility’s needs.
As you’re deciding the right coating system for you, consider the following.
- Evaluate chemical resistance based on stored substances. For example, if your facility handles water and sewage treatment or petrochemicals, your secondary containment structures may benefit from a flexible plural-component polyurethane coating. This coating will enhance performance, adding shock resistance, waterproofing, and chemical and temperature resistance. The type of substances you store will impact the level of chemical resistance you need in your coating to be most effective.
- Consider substrate compatibility. What you are trying to protect should also inform the type of industrial-grade coating you need. Select coatings are more compatible with concrete vs. steel, while others can be more targeted to specific needs like fire safety.
- Factor in environmental conditions like humidity and extreme temperatures. Many containment systems house materials that require extreme temperatures, moving from highs and lows. Industrial-grade coatings can help insulate the container and prevent cracking due to these extremes, as well as prevent moisture from getting in or out to maintain a controlled environment.
Professionals can help guide you through the process of selecting the right industrial-grade coating system within your secondary containment structures. They will ask pointed questions and make recommendations based on your facility.
Application Best Practices
The industrial-grade coating process doesn’t have to be lengthy and complex. There are steps you can take to help move the process along, though it’s recommended to work with professionals for best results.
- Prepare the surface. Conduct a thorough cleaning of the secondary containment structure’s surface, removing any debris and dirt from the surface. A degreaser can also help remove some of the most stubborn areas. Profile the surface, including sanding and grinding, to ensure an easy and even application.
- Prime the secondary containment structure’s surface. Using primers, sealants, and multi-layer coating systems can help provide maximum protection. Just make sure that you use products that complement each other and that they properly dry and cure before applying the next layer.
- Work with skilled professionals. Employing trained applicators will ensure even and durable coverage. You know the work has been done right and can withstand any accidents your facility may face.
While an investment, working with a professional on your secondary containment structures’ industrial-grade coatings will save you in the long run.
Maintenance and Inspection Strategies
Just like any structure in your facility, you should create a maintenance and inspection schedule. That way, you can catch any issues before they become more costly.
- Establish a regular inspection schedule. Work with your operations and maintenance teams to add secondary containment structure inspections to their routine. Typically, these should be conducted every 1 to 6 months, though you may need to do them more frequently depending on your facility.
- Make a list of things to look out for. This includes signs of wear, bubbling, cracking, corrosion, and other potential issues. Create a process to help bubble up and address potential issues.
- Recoat as needed to maintain containment effectiveness. The EPA and OSHA don’t mandate how often secondary containment structures need to be recoated; however, select states do. Be sure to check local regulations to stay in compliance. If there are no regulations in place, you should recoat and repair as soon as you notice signs of damage.
By staying up to date with your routine maintenance and inspections, you can prolong the life of your secondary containment structure’s coating systems.
Benefits of Long-Term Coating Performance
Compliance is one of the biggest reasons many companies invest in industrial-grade coatings for their secondary containment structures, but that’s not the only benefit.
- The additional coating can extend the life of containment structures, reducing the natural wear and tear by adding an additional layer of protection and chemical resistance.
- Industrial-grade coating can reduce liability from leaks or spills. Your facility met all regulatory requirements to mitigate any potential impacts from future issues.
- Coatings can lower maintenance and operational disruption over time on your secondary containment structures, improving their durability. You will have less downtime to fix potential issues.
Specialty industrial-grade coatings can also add fireproofing, waterproofing, and corrosion protection to your surfaces. Your facility will be safer and compliant when you invest in coating for your secondary containment structures.
Why Choose Alpine Painting and Restoration
Alpine Painting and Restoration is one of the leading providers of specialty coatings, trusted by clients across Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the Tri-State area. We’re especially known for our quality products and compliance with local, industry, and federal regulations.
We offer specialized experience in high-performance coatings for industrial containment. We work with you to determine your needs, offering thorough surface preparation, product selection, and application methods to help protect your assets.
Protecting your secondary containment structures with industrial-grade coatings could help prevent future disasters, so reach out today to get started and learn more about how Alpine Painting and Restoration can help you.
FAQs About Secondary Containment Coatings
Below are some commonly asked questions about Alpine Painting and Restoration’s secondary containment coatings to help you through the process.
What kinds of chemicals can these coatings resist?
Alpine Painting and Restoration’s industrial-grade coatings can resist most chemicals used in industrial settings, including acids, alkalis, solvents, salt, oils, and other corrosive and caustic substances that can cause surface breakdown over time.
How long do containment coatings typically last?
The length of your coating depends on the type of coating you receive and the environment it is exposed to. You can expect your coatings to last anywhere between 1 to 20 years, though it’s best to consult with a professional to understand which is best for you. Epoxy may only last 5 years, while polyurea coatings could last up to 10 years with proper care.
Do coatings require permits or special inspections?
You may be required to pull a permit depending on the VOCs being emitted during the process. Consult with a professional for guidance on what you need to do to prepare to install secondary containment structure coating in your facility.
How soon can a recoated area return to service?
Recoated surfaces can return to service within 24-72 hours. Prematurely returning containment systems to service could prevent the coating from curing and damage its application. Our team can help you understand exactly how much downtime you’ll have based on the coating.
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