Enter your largest drum, tote, tank or truck compartment. The calculator shows the capacity your berm needs and every berm we stock that holds it, with inside size, wall height and price.

1 What will sit in the berm?
2 Sizing rule
3 Space and access optional
Floor space needed inside the berm (feet)
×
Drum about 2 × 2 ft. IBC tote about 3.5 × 4 ft. Pickup about 7 × 20 ft. Box truck about 8.5 × 26 ft. Add room to walk around.
Most space you have (feet)
×
Compared with the berm’s inside size. Walls add a little on the outside.
Enter your largest container to see the capacity you need.

    This is a sizing aid, not legal advice. Confirm the required capacity in your SPCC plan or with your regulator. Capacities are the manufacturers’ figures for a level surface.

    How to size a spill containment berm

    1. Start with the largest single container. Size the berm for the biggest drum, tote, tank or truck compartment that will sit in it, not the total of everything inside.
    2. Leave room for rain on outdoor berms. EPA’s SPCC rule (40 CFR part 112) requires secondary containment that holds the largest container plus enough freeboard for precipitation. A common rule of thumb is 110% of the largest container. If your SPCC plan names a design storm, choose “100% plus rainfall” and enter it.
    3. Hazardous waste storage has its own rule. For containers of hazardous waste with free liquids, 40 CFR 264.175 calls for the larger of 10% of the total volume or 100% of the largest container.
    4. Check the floor space. The berm’s inside floor has to fit what sits in it, plus room to work around it. We list inside dimensions; the outside is slightly larger because of the walls.
    5. Pick a wall height and a way in. Low walls (2 to 6 in.) are easy to roll carts and forklifts over. Taller walls (12 in. and up) hold more in less floor space. For vehicles, foam, self-rising and flexible walls let you drive over the wall, drive-through berms have an entry and an exit end, and collapsible or aluminum-bracket walls fold or lower to drive in.
    6. Match the liner to your fluid. Most product pages include the manufacturer’s spec sheet and chemical compatibility guide.

    How much does a berm hold?

    Gallons = inside width (ft) × inside length (ft) × wall height (in.) ÷ 12 × 7.48
    Example: 12 ft × 50 ft × 12 in. ÷ 12 × 7.48 = 4,488 gallons
    Largest container Berm capacity at 110%
    55-gallon drum 61 gallons
    275-gallon IBC tote 303 gallons
    330-gallon IBC tote 363 gallons
    500-gallon tank 550 gallons
    1,000-gallon tank 1,100 gallons
    2,000-gallon tank 2,200 gallons
    5,000-gallon tank 5,500 gallons

    Need help choosing?

    Our team can size a berm for your site, or build one to a custom size. Call (800) 869-9633, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM Pacific, or email [email protected].

    Shop all spill containment bermsBerm accessories