Plastic drumsare one of the most versatile and cost-effective containers suited to industrial storage and transport needs, because they are suitable for awiderange of different materials, including harmful chemicals and hazardous waste.
However despite their versatility, plastic drums aren’t always appropriate for storing fuel,such as petrol or diesel. Fuels are commonly needed on industrial sites, but you need to be careful about how you store it, so selecting the correct storage containers is imperative for meeting health and safety requirements.
In this article, our expertsexplainwhy plastic drums are not suitable for storing fuelandtake a look at some of thebest alternatives.
THEHAZARDS OF STORING FUEL
Fuel is essential to many businesses,so it’s crucialthat industrial sites and companies know how to safely store and transport the fuel they need to keep things operating.
When you’re storing fuel, there are strict government regulations that need to be followedto create a safe working environment and to prevent dangerous incidents from occurring. Not only is fuel extremely flammable, it’s also unfortunately difficult to store.
Fuel contracts and expands when the temperature changes,and liquid fuel can easily evaporate or begin to break down,even after short periods of storage. It’s not a substance that can readily be stored for a long timewithout being chemically treated.
While you might thinkplastic drumsmake a good storage container, most plastic drums can’t be used to store fuel.
WHY CAN’T I STORE FUEL IN PLASTIC DRUMS?
The biggest concern withplastic drumsis the fact that fuel can start to react and break down the plastic.
Plastic drums are usually manufactured from HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene), a polymer-based plastic. The bonds that hold those polymers in place and essentially give theplastic its shape and strengthreadily interact with fuel.
Over-time, this leadstothe plastic drum breakingdown, as the bonds aredisruptedby interaction with the fuel. This produces a dangerous storage container,and cross-contamination that will affect the chemical composition of the fuel.
Plastic drums can start to leak fuel, and then thefuel can become unstable.
WHAT CAN I USE TO STORE FUEL INSTEAD?
Standard industrial plastic drums should never be used to store fuel, but there are many alternatives for safe storage of industrial quantities of fuel.
Some plastics are specifically designed and manufactured to be used for fuel storage. However, these are often only produced on a small scale (such as plastic Jerry Cans) for short-term storage of small quantities below 10 litres. These aren’t suited for industrial storage.
Instead, the best option forindustrialfuel storageissteel drums. The steeldoesn’treact with the fuel in the same way that plastic does, and steel drums can be used to store fuel for several years at a time if needed.
Steel drums are strong and durable, and they are suited for both storage and transport. They will generally have an access point on top, and will readily hold large quantities of fuel, often up to 210 litres.
Most importantly, remember that you can check with the manufacturerwhetheryour drum is suitable for fuel storage before you purchase.
SAFE STORAGE OF FUEL
As well as storing fuel safely inside an appropriate container, such as asteel drum, there are many guidelines and regulations that need to beadhered towhen youstorefuel in an industrial capacity.
Companiesare oftenlimited in terms of the total quantity of fuel they can store, while storage containers need to meetgovernment-approved standards, and all containers must be clearly marked to show that they are carrying flammable materials.
Anyone handling industrial quantities of fuel must be health and safety qualified, and companies must have stringent policies and procedures in place to ensure that accidents don’t happen. Fuel needs to be stored in a safe environment, without any danger of it catching alight.
Storing fuel in an industrial capacity requires important health and safety considerations. Picking the right storage containers is integral to safely storing fuel, in both the short and long term.
It’s important that you have access to the correct information, so if you need furtheradvicebefore ordering storage containers, the staff at ITP Packaging are on hand to ensure that you make an informed decision. We stock a wide range of industrial products and can recommend suitablestorage solutionsfor your needs.
Contact ITP Packaging todayto find out more about storing fuel safely.
