A bunded pallet is a proactive solution to contain liquid, oil, and chemical spills coming out of a storage container. But you need to buy the right type of a bunded pallet for your industry. When purchasing bunded pallets from suppliers, it is highly likely to presume each of them to have the same feature and weighing capacity. But, the reality is far different.
Keeping in mind the different uses in various industries, there are varieties of bunded pallets. You can find material-specific, container-specific, and even design-specific bunded pallets. The more you explore each of them, the easier it would be to identify them.
In this blog, you will walk through the standard structure of a bunded pallet. You will also learn about different types of bunded pallets and how to choose the right one. So, keep reading the blog till the end.
What Are Bunded Pallets?
A bunded pallet has a tray-like structure, featuring a sump at the foundation and a grid deck at the top. It carries large and bulky drums or intermediate bulk containers containing oil, chemicals, gas, or other liquids.
If the containers loaded on the pallet spills or leaks for any reason, the grid decks and sump of a pallet function as a saviour. While grid decks allow spills to pass through into the sump, the sump holds the volume of at least 110% of the largest container.
In a nutshell, a bunded pallet prevents harmful substances from spreading into the land, contaminating the environment, and affecting workplace safety. While you might see a bunded pallet as a safety precaution tool, it is now mandatory to invest in one to meet the industry-specific safety regulations.
Types of Bunded Pallets
When buying a bunded pallet, the first thing to see is to choose the right bunded pallet type.
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Material-Based Types
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Polyethylene (Plastic) Bunded Pallets
A polyethylene-made bunded pallet is rust-free, portable, and cost-effective in the long run. You can safely carry your storage containers on the plastic-build structures, whether you are from the chemical-making industry or a practitioner in a laboratory.
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Steel Bunded Pallets
Carbon steel is another popular choice of pallet material to keep the pallet durable and load-bearable. You can store your containers without having to worry about the weather impact.
Also, the fact that the steel material is fire resistant makes it an obvious choice for storing tanks with flammable oil, diesel, or fire-inducing chemicals. Manufacturers in oil and gas industries who need a reliable and recyclable bunded pallet often prioritise steel material for outdoor storage.
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Stainless Steel Bunded Pallets
Stainless steel bunded pallet is another type for highly specialised industries. If you need natural corrosion-resistance properties, weather-resistance, and low-maintenance options, stainless steel pallets are a good investment.
Unlike mild steel, it does not require periodic coatings to resist rust. So, manufacturers in pharmaceutical industries, food processing, high-risk chemical processing industries must rely on this type of pallet for optimum safety.
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Container-Specific Types
Besides choosing the material-specific bunded pallet, you must weigh the pallet’s load bearing capacity. And for this reason, drum bunded pallets and IBC bunded pallets are two of the most popular types available.
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Drum Bunded Pallets
As the name suggests, a drum bunded pallet accommodates large and heavy storage drums. It is designed to carry up to 8 drums and features ramps for lifting and loading the pallet onto the transportation truck. Ideally, it is best suitable for manufacturing plants and warehouses.
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IBC (Intermediate Bulk Container) Bunded Pallets
IBC bunded pallets are spill-proof structures which support up to 1000 litres of IBC containers. It has robust materials like polyethylene or steel to keep the oil, chemical, or acidic substance safe throughout the period of storage. The best thing about having the IBC bunded pallets is their higher sump capacity than the rest of the pallets.
3. Design-Specific Types
Last but not the least type of bunded pallets are in the design-specific category. You can choose to have covered, stackable, or wheeled pallets as well. Let’s have a look at each of them.
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Covered Bunded Pallets
A covered bunded pallet is also a great option for industries storing bunded pallets outdoors. It is fully-covered with a hard-bearing material or comes wrapped in a plastic sheet. During unpredictable weather, covered bunded pallets enhance the safety of containers.
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Stackable Bunded Pallets
This type of bunded pallet has a space-saving design to stack one tank over the other when empty. It is not best suitable for spill-proofing, rather for keeping the barrels in a vertical position and saving the warehouse flooring space.
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Mobile Bunded Pallets
Replacing forklifts, mobile pallets feature wheels for easy movement throughout the warehouse. It makes sense to use them in facilities where frequent use of oil, chemical, or other liquid is crucial for operations.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Bunded Pallet
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Type of Liquid Stored:
You must check if the pallet’s material is suitable and non-reactive to the chemical, oil, or acidic substance stored in the container. Usually, steel is a better alternative to plastic bunded pallets for harmful chemicals, oil, and gases. But if you are storing mild chemicals or other liquids, then it is wise to go for polyethylene
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Storage Capacity:
You must ensure the sump’s volume capacity to handle potential spills. Each sump has different capacity, which typically varies in terms of size of the pallet, number of containers stored, and regulatory requirements.
To calculate the sump capacity, weigh the total volume of the storage containers you are going to keep. Multiply it by 110% to get the minimum required sump volume.
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Indoor vs. Outdoor Use:
For outdoor storage conditions, it is best to go with the covered pallets or UV-resistant stainless steel pallet. However, indoor storage requires stackage design for added convenience.
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Maintenance:
Last but definitely not the least factor to buy a bunded pallet is the maintenance. Ensure the pallet features a removable grid deck to clean and inspect sump. Drain plugs or ramp-accessible design are crucial for disposing the collected spillage.
Final Words
We hope you found this blog useful. As you see, a bunded pallet is beyond a spill-proof strategy. It ensures compliance with safety regulations, keeps the environment safe, and prioritises the health of workers running your business.
Now is the time– consult with expert suppliers of bunded pallets like Akuna Services to understand your specific requirements.
