Drip trays for hazardous substances

Sump pallets for hazardous substances: Areas of application

Sump pallets enable safe storage and safe waste processes in buildings, workshops and the like. The trays are manufactured and coated with various materials to ensure that they are resistant to the respective hazardous substances to be stored. Thus, they are suitable ...

• Steel sumps (galvanised or powder-coated) for paints, varnishes and lacquers.
• Plastic sumps (PE or GRP) for acids or alkalis.

A drip tray is needed wherever substances are handled that can have a harmful effect on the surroundings or the environment (e.g. flammable or toxic substances). Therefore, the use of such drip trays is required by law.

Drip trays in the laboratory

Drip trays for the storage of water-endangering, aggressive, flammable or otherwise hazardous substances are mandatory safety measures if the current legal situation is complied with. Collecting trays for hazardous substances are designed to collect liquids leaking from the containers, such as

• Lacquers
• Acids
• Diesel
• (Used) oil
• Release agents
• Lyes
• Paints
• Cleaners

and thus prevent them from escaping into the environment. They are therefore essential for the handling and storage of environmentally hazardous, aggressive hazardous substances in the laboratory. Collecting trays for everyday laboratory use are ideally suited for a variety of purposes, for example, as storage trays for instruments, as a tumbler tray, as an experimental tray, as a medical tray and so on.

Types of collecting trays

Drip trays are not only the right utensil for use, but especially for the storage of numerous hazardous substances. It is of course important that the tray is insensitive to the substance stored in it. Not all sumps are suitable for all hazardous substances. Therefore, the materials and coatings of the tray types also depend on the substances stored in them:

Sump trays made of polyethylene (PE)

Sump trays made of polyethylene plastic are essential for the safe in-house transport and storage of substances hazardous to water. Because they have a higher chemical resistance, plastic trays are rust and corrosion free, but not heat resistant. This makes them particularly suitable for the storage of corrosive and aggressive substances, but not for flammable substances. The manufacture of plastic collection trays is extremely flexible thanks to modern production methods (e.g. 3D printing). Accordingly, plastic collection trays are very popular with customers who need specific tray shapes for the storage of hazardous substances.

Glass fibre reinforced plastic (GRP) drip trays

Sump trays made of GRP offer the advantage that they are very good value for money and can be used universally. This means that many hazardous substances such as diesel, fresh, used and old oils, alkalis and acids are no problem. In addition, collection trays made of GRP are corrosion-resistant, resistant to cold and weather as well as UV-resistant. Maintenance is extremely convenient, as plastic sumps are not subject to any additional inspection of the sump bottom.

Stainless steel drip trays

Collecting trays made of high-quality, resistant stainless steel are shock and pressure resistant. In addition, stainless steel guarantees long-term corrosion protection, even with aggressive chemicals such as acids, alkalis, etc. Stainless steel drip trays are particularly easy to sterilise and, due to their non-flammable, conductive material, are very suitable for the storage of aggressive, flammable and combustible liquids in potentially explosive areas.

Steel sumps (galvanised and coated)

As a non-flammable material, steel is ideally suited for the storage of flammable substances. With galvanisation, the steel drip tray can also withstand solvents, which are often a component of flammable substances. In addition, steel is extraordinarily robust and shock-resistant and is therefore particularly suitable for internal transport. In special cases, it is possible to supplement the steel tray with plastic insert trays and thus adapt it to all possible specific requirements.

Tip: If you are not quite sure which sump is optimal for your own purposes, you can use the following guiding principle as a guide: Aggressive chemicals: stainless steel or plastic drip tray Flammable substances: catch basins made of non-flammable media such as steel (galvanised & coated)

Choosing the right collection trays for hazardous substances

Sump trays have to meet many requirements. It is important to know for which use a sump tray is intended. For the numerous areas of application, there are therefore different shapes and equipment features to meet each specific use:

Shelf tray

With a single containment tray, hazardous substances can be stored in practical shelving systems. The sump trays are simply placed on the support profiles of shelving units. In this way, shelving systems can be quickly relocated if necessary so that storage can be handled in accordance with legal requirements.

Sump tray with drain

Sump trays with integrated drains are ideal for collecting hazardous substances. This makes the work of collecting waste from the environment much easier and makes the sump trays very versatile.

Pallet sump tray

Pallet sumps are corrosion-resistant and have a low construction height, as no floor clearance is required. With this type of sump tray, hazardous goods can be stored and transported safely and in accordance with regulations on EU standard pallets.

Hazardous material depot with tren

A sump tray with enclosure offers special protection because it encloses the hazardous material including the tray on all sides. The hazardous material is thus protected from all external influences and storage can take place indoors as well as outdoors.

Sump tray with access lugs

Entry pockets on drip trays for hazardous goods enable easy and safe transport within the company, usually with forklift trucks or pallet trucks. This prevents the tray from slipping during transport. In some cases, direct loading with a barrel trolley is also possible.

Drums and drums sump tray

This type of sump also functions as a filling station. It can accommodate several horizontal drums and prevents any spillage from affecting the environment during filling or refilling operations: Leaking hazardous substances are safely channelled into the tank. For safe use, pumps or drainage taps can also be purchased as an alternative, which enable more targeted filling of the horizontally placed drums.

Mobile drip tray

The mobile drip tray eliminates the need for a forklift or lift truck. The mobile sump tray can be conveniently pulled or pushed and positioned as required thanks to its mobile handle and manoeuvrable castors. Mesh inserts and tension belts are also available as an option for mobile sump trays to secure them during transport.

Sump tray with large volume

For the storage of large quantities of hazardous substances, a sump tray with a large volume is the ideal solution. These have a very large capacity and allow the storage of many drums next to each other. Depending on the hazardous substance, the shape of the large-volume drip tray can be varied or adapted. In addition, the following applies: A drip tray must be able to hold at least 10 % of the total storage volume or the largest stored container size. The tank must be adapted to this volume or container size, whereby even stricter regulations apply to water protection areas.

Guidelines and regulations for the laboratory drip tray

The Water Resources Act prescribes the use of drip pans when handling substances hazardous to water. The purpose of these catch basins is to prevent hazardous substances from escaping into the environment and damaging it. This includes ingredients from cosmetics, pesticides, medicines, cleaning agents and the like. The WHG distinguishes between three intensity levels:

Water hazard class 1 (WGK)

Low water hazard substances include non-flammable and highly flammable substances and liquids with a flash point of > 55C. Examples:

• Hydrogen peroxide
• Silicic acid
• Ethanol
• Caustic soda
• Acetic acid

Water hazard class 2 (WGK2)

Substances clearly hazardous to water include non-flammable substances and substances classified as flammable (flash point 2155 C) in accordance with the Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health. Examples:

• Heizl
• Sodium hypochlorite
• Iodine
• Ammonia
• Mineral based lubricants

Water hazard class 3 (WGK3).

Substances in water hazard class 3 include highly flammable liquids with an FP of < 0 C and non-flammable substances. Examples:

• Petrol
• Lead oxide
• Lubricating emulsions
• Altl

Marking catch basins for hazardous substances

Containment trays used for the storage of hazardous substances must be marked accordingly, i.e. with the approval mark (-sign) according to the approval regulations of the respective country. The marking must be permanent and contain the following information:

• Manufacturer
• Year of manufacture and serial number
• Material of the collection tray
• Load capacity of the collecting tray or grating
• Collecting volume of the tray
• Note Use according to StawaR
• if applicable -symbol

In addition, the drip tray must be labelled"Use according to StawaR" *.

Find the right collection tray for your purposes at MedSolut.

We always have the right collection tray for your purposes in our range. Whether stainless steel or fibreglass, the right material in the right design is waiting for you. Do you have any questions? Don't hesitate to contact our helpful customer service. We are available at +49 30 209 657900 or by e-mail ([email protected]) at any time and with pleasure.