Drip Trays

Drip trays are a simple but highly effective way to control small leaks, drips and minor spills before they spread across floors, enter drains or create slip hazards. They are commonly positioned beneath pumps, valves, small containers, dosing points, machinery, generators and other equipment where regular leakage can occur. In practical spill control terms, they help keep liquids contained at source and support faster, cleaner housekeeping. ^[1][2]

In the UK, drip trays also form part of the wider approach to secondary containment. GOV.UK guidance states that businesses storing liquids or materials that may pollute the environment need suitable secondary containment, such as a drip tray or bund, with impermeable base and walls. HSE guidance further describes drip trays as “mini-bunds” used beneath equipment liable to small leaks. ^[3][4]

Why drip trays matter

Even a slow leak can become a serious issue if it is left unmanaged. Oils, coolants, glycol, fuels and chemical dosing liquids can create slip risks, damage surfaces, contaminate stock, interrupt maintenance operations and, in the worst cases, escape to drainage systems or the ground. In plant rooms, boiler rooms, construction sites, data centres and power generation settings, controlling small losses early is often the difference between routine housekeeping and a reportable pollution incident. ^[5][6][7][8]

Drip trays help businesses keep work areas cleaner, safer and easier to inspect. They also support good site standards by defining a clear containment area for storage, maintenance, decanting and temporary equipment placement. ^[2]

Typical uses for drip trays

Drip trays are suitable for many day-to-day applications, including:

• under generators and temporary power equipment
• beneath pumps, pipe joints, valves and dosing points
• under drums, cans and small chemical containers during storage or transfer
• under plant and machinery during servicing and maintenance
• in loading bays, workshops, warehouses and depots
• in plant rooms and boiler rooms where glycol, oils and treatment chemicals are present
• on construction and civil engineering sites where fuel, hydraulic oil and other liquids may be handled in changing conditions

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Where drip trays fit within spill control

Drip trays are best viewed as part of a broader spill prevention and containment strategy. For small and routine leakage, they provide immediate local capture. For larger storage volumes, businesses may need more substantial secondary containment such as bunded areas, spill pallets, drum bunds or IBC bunds. The correct solution depends on the liquid, the container size, the environment, the likelihood of leakage and whether the risk is from occasional drips or a larger release. ^[2][3]

For example, where multiple drums or bulk containers are stored together, a larger bunded footprint may be more appropriate. Where the issue is regular drips beneath a single item of equipment, a properly selected drip tray can be the practical and economical answer. ^[2][9]

Choosing the right drip tray

When selecting a drip tray, consider the type of liquid, the likely volume of leakage, the size and weight of the equipment, and whether staff or wheeled plant need access across the tray. The material of construction must also be suitable for the substances involved, especially where oils, fuels, coolants or chemicals could affect plastics, coatings or seals. GOV.UK guidance also advises that secondary containment must be suitable for the substances stored, including its size and construction. ^[3][10]

Some sites need rigid trays for static equipment, while others benefit from more flexible formats that are easy to move, carry and deploy beneath temporary plant. For mobile work, event use, field service and temporary operations, foldable tray designs can be particularly useful. SERPRO’s Flexi-Tray range, for example, includes rubberised trays designed to pop back into shape, with models described as easy to wheel plant and equipment into and easy to fold and store in vehicles. ^[10]

Common drip tray types

SERPRO supplies a wide range of drip and spill trays to suit different environments and applications. Depending on the task, users may choose from compact trays for smaller containers, gridded drip trays for cleaner working surfaces, bunded drum trays for drum storage, or flexible portable options such as the Flexi-Tray. ^{[11][12][13][14]}

Where containment requirements extend beyond routine drips, it may be worth reviewing SERPRO’s wider containment solutions and spill containment and bunding guidance, especially for sites handling multiple drums, IBCs or process liquids. ^[2][9]

Drip trays in specific industries

Plant rooms and boiler rooms

Commercial plant rooms and boiler rooms often contain glycol, oils and chemical dosing agents. These liquids can be harmful, slippery or corrosive when released, so local containment beneath pumps, valves and dosing equipment helps reduce the chance of spread and supports safer maintenance. ^[5]

Construction and civil engineering

Construction sites are high-risk environments because layouts change frequently, storage locations can be temporary and weather can rapidly spread contaminants. Drip trays can provide a practical first line of defence beneath plant, generators, refuelling points and maintenance areas, helping reduce the chance of pollution reaching drainage paths or surrounding ground. ^[6]

Data centres and critical infrastructure

In data centres and battery rooms, facilities may need to manage diesel, coolants and battery electrolytes. Small leaks in these settings can contribute to corrosion, downtime, fire risk and environmental concerns, making preventive containment an important part of operational resilience. ^[7]

Power generation and CHP

Power stations and CHP facilities may handle hydraulic oils, fuels, lubricants, coolants and maintenance chemicals. In these environments, drip trays can support spill prevention at source around vulnerable equipment and complement wider spill control planning. ^[8]

Good practice for use

• Place trays on a stable, level surface wherever possible.
• Match tray size and capacity to the realistic leak risk and the equipment footprint.
• Inspect trays regularly for damage, overfilling and compatibility issues.
• Do not allow collected liquids, rainwater or debris to reduce available containment capacity.
• Pair drip trays with suitable absorbents and spill kits so minor leaks can be cleared promptly.
• Where larger volumes are stored, move up to bunded or higher-capacity containment rather than relying on a small tray alone.

^[3][4][9]

Related SERPRO pages

• Drip and Spill Trays
• Bunded Drum Trays
• Gridded Drip Trays
• Flexi-Tray
• Containment Solutions
• Spill Containment and Bunding
• Managing Glycol, Oils and Chemical Spills
• Spill Management in Construction & Civil Engineering
• Spill Control in Data Centres
• Spill Control in Power Generation

Sources

1. SERPRO Containment Solutions – containment trays and drip trays are suited to pumps, valves, small containers, dosing points, benches and machinery where regular drips can occur.
2. SERPRO Containment Solutions – bunded areas, trays, spill pallets and other containment options for operational spill prevention.
3. GOV.UK: Pollution prevention for businesses – secondary containment guidance, including use of drip trays or bunds and indicative capacity guidance.
4. HSE: Secondary containment – drip trays described as mini-bunds beneath equipment liable to small leaks.
5. SERPRO Blog: Managing Glycol, Oils and Chemical Spills in Boiler and Plant Rooms.
6. SERPRO Blog: Spill Management in Construction & Civil Engineering.
7. SERPRO Blog: Spill Control in Data Centres.
8. SERPRO Blog: Spill Control in Power Generation.
9. SERPRO: Spill containment and bunding – secondary containment for fuels, oils and chemicals, and the role of bunding in best practice.
10. SERPRO Flexi-Tray – portable tray features including foldability and plant access on selected models.
11. SERPRO Drip and Spill Trays.
12. SERPRO Bunded Drum Trays.
13. SERPRO Gridded Drip Trays.
14. SERPRO Flexi-Tray.