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Calcimator

Secondary Containment Calculator

Calculate secondary containment volume and dimensions per EPA SPCC requirements.

Inputs

Results

Required Containment (gallons)

724

Containment Area (sq ft)

48.4

Base Containment (gallons)303
Precipitation Allowance (gallons)421
Square Dike Side (ft)7
Estimated Cost$726.00
Liner Required1
Inspection Interval (days)30
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Enter the Largest Container (gallons) in the storage area — EPA SPCC requires containment of at least that volume.
  2. Enter Total Storage (gallons) for the aggregate inventory; the calculator uses 10% of total or the largest container, whichever is greater.
  3. Select Containment Method (1=Dike/Berm, 2=Double-Wall Tank, 3=Vault, 4=Drainage System) appropriate for your facility.
  4. Toggle Outdoor Installation and enter the 25-Year Storm (inches) to add precipitation capacity for outdoor berms.
  5. Review Required Containment (gallons) and Containment Area (sq ft) to design or verify your dike dimensions.
  6. Use Estimated Cost and Inspection Interval (days) for budget planning and to establish your inspection schedule.

How the result changes with Largest Container (gallons)

Largest Container (gallons)Required Containment (gallons)Containment Area (sq ft)
10,00525,7891,724
35,00390,2056,030.2
65,002167,28611,183.1
90,001232,04815,512.4

What each input means

Largest Container (gallons)
Volume of the single largest container in the storage area.
Total Storage (gallons)
Total aggregate storage volume of all containers.
Containment Method
1=Dike/Berm, 2=Double-Wall Tank, 3=Vault, 4=Drainage System.
Outdoor Installation
1 if containment is outdoors, 0 if indoors.
25-Year Storm (inches)
25-year 24-hour precipitation amount for your area.

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    4 parameters
    Largest Container (gallons) = 275, Total Storage (gallons) = 2000, Containment Method = 1, Outdoor Installation = 1 = 5 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate Required Containment
    Required Containment
    724 = 724
  3. Calculate Containment Area
    Containment Area
    48.4 = 48.4
  4. Calculate Base Containment
    Base Containment
    303 = 303
  5. Calculate Precipitation Allowance
    Precipitation Allowance
    421 = 421

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