Chemical storage is not just about putting containers on a shelf. For UK industrial sites, facilities teams and MRO stores, chemical storage solutions must reduce the risk of spills, protect drains and help you maintain environmental compliance while keeping chemicals accessible for day to day work. Serpro provides chemical storage solutions designed around spill control, bunding, segregation and practical site workflows, so you can store, move and use chemicals more safely.
Question: What problems do chemical storage solutions need to solve on an MRO site?
Solution: Start by treating chemical storage as a risk and inventory management task, not a housekeeping task. In MRO and maintenance environments, typical issues include unlabelled decants, part used containers, incompatible chemicals stored together, poor control of re-ordering, and spill response equipment being too far away. These problems increase the likelihood of leaks, slips, vapour exposure and pollution incidents. A robust chemical management approach reduces waste, improves availability and supports compliance expectations for hazardous substances handling and environmental protection.
Serpro supports a managed approach to storage and use, aligning storage hardware (bunded cabinets, bunded pallets, drip trays and bunded walk-in areas) with operational controls such as clear labelling, defined storage locations and faster access to spill kits and drain protection. For background on chemical management in MRO settings, see: MRO chemical management.
Question: How do I choose the right bunded storage for chemicals?
Solution: Select bunded storage based on container size, the way chemicals are handled, and the likely spill scenario. Bunding is designed to contain leaks and spills before they spread across floors or reach drainage. For many sites, a mix of solutions works best:
- Bunded pallets for drums and IBCs in goods-in areas, engineering stores and production.
- Spill pallets and platforms for dispensing points where minor drips are common.
- Drip trays under taps, pumps and small containers where frequent small leaks occur.
- Bunded cabinets for smaller packs, aerosols and higher risk liquids needing controlled access.
The practical aim is simple: keep chemicals on secondary containment as standard, not just after an incident. This supports spill control and reduces clean-up time, downtime and the risk of contamination spreading to walkways and drains.
Explore related spill containment and storage products via: Spill Control.
Question: How do I prevent chemical spills from reaching site drains?
Solution: Combine good chemical storage with immediate access to drain protection. Even well-managed storage areas can experience accidental knocks, failed valves, or overfilling. The best practice is to plan for containment at three levels:
- At source: bunded storage and drip control at the point where chemicals are stored and dispensed.
- On the route: spill kits positioned where chemicals are moved and used.
- At the drain: drain covers and drain protection products ready for rapid deployment during an incident.
This approach reduces the likelihood of a pollution incident and supports environmental compliance expectations for preventing contaminated run-off. Serpro can supply drainage protection and spill response items designed to work alongside bunded chemical storage.
See: Drain Protection and Spill Kits.
Question: What does good chemical segregation look like in real workplaces?
Solution: Store chemicals by compatibility, not by convenience. Segregation reduces the consequences of leaks, particularly where incompatible substances could react. A practical method is to define storage zones and use labelled locations:
- Engineering stores: oils, lubricants and solvents in bunded storage with absorbents nearby for routine drips.
- Cleaning cupboards: acids and alkalis separated, with secondary containment to control leaks from small packs.
- Workshop and maintenance bays: use drip trays at benches and bunded pallets at refill/decant points.
- External yards: weather-resistant bunded storage for drums and IBCs, plus drain protection for nearby gullies.
Serpro can help you map a chemical storage layout that supports safer access, faster stock checks and reduced cross contamination. This also reinforces good MRO chemical management by making it easier to see what is held, what is running low, and what is in the wrong place.
Question: How do chemical storage solutions support environmental compliance?
Solution: Environmental compliance is supported when your site can demonstrate that it prevents spills, contains leaks, and responds quickly to incidents. Chemical storage solutions contribute by:
- Reducing the risk of ground and water pollution through bunded containment.
- Improving housekeeping and reducing slip hazards from oil and chemical drips.
- Speeding up spill response by positioning spill kits, absorbents and drain protection where they are needed.
- Supporting routine inspections by making leaks visible and contained.
This is especially relevant where chemicals are stored in multiple areas across a site (stores, production, maintenance, external compounds). A consistent spill control standard helps operations teams, HSE and facilities maintain predictable controls.
Question: What spill response equipment should be paired with chemical storage?
Solution: Match your spill response to the chemicals you store and the volumes you handle. A common approach is:
- Chemical spill kits near acids, alkalis and aggressive liquids.
- Oil spill kits near lubricants, fuels and hydraulic oils.
- General purpose spill kits for mixed workshop areas where water-based and light chemicals are used.
- Absorbent pads, socks and rolls for day to day drip management and quick containment.
Position kits where spills are most likely: decant stations, chemical issue points, goods-in bays, maintenance workshops, and near routes to drains. This strengthens your spill control plan and makes response faster and more reliable.
See: Absorbents and Spill Kits.
Question: Can chemical storage solutions reduce cost and waste?
Solution: Yes, when storage is designed to support control and visibility. In MRO environments, oversupply and expired stock often happen because containers are spread across departments, partially used packs are duplicated, and no one owns the chemical inventory. Standardising chemical storage locations with clear labelling, compatible segregation, and controlled access can reduce duplicate purchases and reduce waste disposal costs. Bunded containment also reduces the hidden cost of clean-up time and the risk of damaged stock from leaks.
For a wider operational view of reducing waste and improving availability through better chemical management, read: MRO chemical management.
Question: What is a practical next step for improving chemical storage on site?
Solution: Run a short chemical storage walkround and document what you find. Focus on where chemicals are stored, where they are used, and how spills would be contained. Typical quick wins include adding drip trays under dispensing, upgrading to bunded pallets for drums and IBCs, placing chemical spill kits closer to risk points, and introducing drain protection where gullies are within reach of a potential spill.
If you want to build a complete spill control approach around your chemical storage solutions, start here: Spill Control.