Chemical Bund Lining is the process of lining a container or storage tank with a polymer-based coating to protect against leaks and spills. This can be either a fibreglass or epoxy coating. It is vital to have an effective secondary containment system in place to prevent any chemicals from leaking out of a primary tank or storage vessel and potentially harming the surrounding environment.

A chemical bund is effectively four walls and a base around a tank or container of dangerous or hazardous chemicals to contain any potential leaks or spillages, thus preventing environmental contamination or damage to equipment, machinery or flooring. Chemical bunds can be made from steel, concrete, prefabricated plastic or a combination of these and are generally located close to the primary tanks on a site. Ideally, they should be able to hold 110% of the largest tank volume.

Safety in Layers: The Essential Guide to Chemical Bund Lining for Containment

It is necessary to use a chemical-resistant bund liner when constructing a new tank or installing into existing concrete, steel or brick structures. The wrong bund lining material can lead to the lining becoming damaged quickly and can be difficult or impossible to repair once damage has been caused.

There are three core types of chemical-resistant bund linings, which are GRP liners, epoxy liners and polyurea liners. The type of lining you require depends on the level of chemical resistance you need, the conditions of the site (drainage etc), whether it will be trafficked by vehicles or people and how often the bund will need to be accessed and cleaned. GRP lining systems are ideal for aggressive chemical environments and offer excellent corrosion resistance, they are also very durable preventing movement stress cracking. Epoxy linings are best suited for steel and concrete bunds, however they do not offer the same level of chemical resistance as a GRP lining system.