Spill Decks vs Spill Pallets: Which Is Right for Your Drum Storage Area?

Quick Answer

Buy spill pallets when you have one to four drums that may need to move, because a pallet can be picked up empty with a forklift. Buy spill decks when drums stay put and you want to cover a whole row or area at floor level. Spill decks sit about 5 3/4 inches tall, so drums are easier to load, but they can't be moved with a forklift or pallet jack. A single 1, 2 or 4 drum deck doesn't hold 55 gallons on its own, so you connect decks together, add a bladder, or buy a one piece P6 or P8. UltraTech's standard P2 and P4 spill pallets each hold 66 gallons right out of the box.

If you're still deciding between steel and poly pallets, our drum spill pallet guide covers that. This post is about the step before it. Pallet or deck?

Start with how much sump you need

For hazardous waste container storage, EPA's rule at 40 CFR 264.175 says containment must hold 10% of the volume of all the containers or the volume of the largest container, whichever is greater. With 55 gallon drums, the largest container usually wins.

• 4 drums: 220 gallons total, 10% is 22. You need 55.
• 8 drums: 440 gallons total, 10% is 44. You still need 55.
• 12 drums: 660 gallons total, 10% is 66. Now you need 66.

Once you pass 10 drums, the 10% math takes over, so add up the whole area. The same rule says spills and rainwater have to be removed from the sump fast enough that it doesn't overflow, and the base under the containers has to be free of cracks or gaps.

General information, not legal advice. Your SPCC plan, state rules and local fire code can ask for more. Check with your environmental manager.

Spill decks vs spill pallets at a glance

All figures are UltraTech's. Load ratings are for evenly spread loads.

When a spill pallet is the better buy

• You might move it. The Spill Pallet P4, Part #1000 takes forks from all four sides, and the Spill Pallet P2, Part #1010 from the two long sides. UltraTech doesn't recommend moving one loaded, so empty it first.
• You have one to four drums. Each standard pallet holds 66 gallons with no add ons. Nothing to connect.
• You want to see leaks. The yellow sidewalls are translucent, so a leak shows from the outside.
• You want a drain. The with drain models, like the P4, Part #1001, have a 3/4 inch threaded plug in the sidewall.

The tradeoff is height. A standard P2 stands 16.5 inches, so you're lifting a full drum a long way up. The P4 has a ramp, Part #0678, for rolling drums on.

When spill decks are the better buy

• The drums stay put. A filling station, a satellite waste area or a row along a wall.
• Loading needs to be easy. At 5.8 inches tall, the deck is a short climb for a drum. Add the Spill Deck Ramp, Part #1089 and you can roll drums on with a cart. It's rated for 600 lbs and clips onto the deck so it won't shift.
• The area is odd or growing. Decks come in 1, 2 and 4 drum sizes and connect to cover the footprint you have. Need more later? Add another module.
• You're building a dispensing station. UltraTech lists drum dispensing, hazardous waste collection and battery storage as deck applications.

The tradeoff is that decks don't move. UltraTech says it plainly. What look like forklift pockets on the sidewalls are supports for the grating.

Five ways to build a spill deck area

1. Modular standard decks

The Spill Deck P1, Part #1321, P2, Part #1086 and P4, Part #1072 lock together with bulkhead fittings that let a spill flow from one deck to the next. You need one Bulkhead Fitting, Part #1073 and one T Strip, Part #1131 for every 26 inches of connected length. The T strip covers the seam so a spill lands in a deck instead of between them. Two P4 decks side by side need two of each. If you take a deck away later, a Sidewall Plug, Part #2221 closes the hole.

Two connected P4 decks give you 88 gallons of shared sump (44 each). That covers eight drums. We also carry ready made sets, the P6 System, Part #1090 (one 4 drum and one 2 drum module) and the P8 System, Part #1074 (two 4 drum modules). Ask us what ships with each before you order.

2. Bladder systems

Got just one, two or four drums but want the low deck? Add a bladder. UltraTech's bladder systems carry a rolled 66 gallon bladder in a housing. Small drips stay in the sump. A big leak or a failed drum pushes the bladder out. Totals come to 77 gallons for the P1 Bladder System, Part #1320, 88 for the P2, Part #2329 and 110 for the P4, Part #2330. UltraTech says all of its bladder systems meet EPA requirements.

Leave room. A deployed bladder rolls out 65.5 inches from the deck and spreads 66 inches wide. Bladders are one use only. Replace one after it catches a spill, deploys, falls out of its housing, or sits unused more than five years. Already own decks? The Bladder Attachment, Part #2317 includes the bladder and housing.

3. Flexible decks

The flexible models swap the rigid poly sump for an 18 oz PVC sump that folds or rolls down, so they take up a lot less room in storage and shipping. Once set up, UltraTech says they work like the hard wall version. The Spill Deck P4 Flexible Model with Bladder, Part #1362 is rated 6,000 lbs and holds 110 gallons with the bladder. Watch the deck only flexible models, though. UltraTech notes they hold less than the standard decks, so you may need more of them to comply.

4. One piece P6 and P8

If you'd rather skip fittings and seams, the Spill Deck P6, Part #1175 holds 66 gallons and is rated 9,000 lbs. The Spill Deck P8, Part #1075 holds 75 gallons and is rated 12,000 lbs. Both are one molded sump, 5.3 inches tall, ready to use out of the box. The catch is they stand alone. UltraTech says they can't connect to other decks, so size them for the area you'll have, not just the one you have today.

5. InLine decks along a wall

For drums in a single row, the InLine decks keep the footprint 25 7/8 inches deep and come in 3, 4, 5 and 6 drum lengths, like the InLine 4 Drum, Part #2361. UltraTech says the InLine systems meet EPA container storage and SPCC rules.

Sizing a deck area in three steps

1. Count drums and find your minimum. The larger of 55 gallons or 10% of the total.
2. Lay out the footprint. Each drum spot on a standard deck is a 24 by 24 inch square of grating. Leave space in front of any bladder.
3. Add up the sump. Connected standard decks share their capacity. If the total is short of your number, add a deck or a bladder.

UltraTech has a connection worksheet for drawing out larger layouts. Send us your drum count and floor space and we'll do the math with you.

Get a drum containment quote

Tell us how many drums, what's in them, whether they ever need to move, and your delivery address. We'll recommend pallets or decks, list every fitting and T strip you need, and quote freight to your site. Made to order plastic items ship in 7 to 10 business days.

Request a Spill Deck or Pallet Quote

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a spill deck and a spill pallet?

A spill pallet is a raised, self contained unit you can move empty with a forklift. A spill deck sits about 5 3/4 inches off the floor, can't be forklifted, and connects to other decks to cover a larger area.

Does a single spill deck meet EPA requirements?

Not the 1, 2 or 4 drum standard decks by themselves. UltraTech says they must be connected to a bladder or another deck to reach 55 gallons. Its bladder systems, InLine systems and standard P2 and P4 pallets meet that number on their own.

Can you move a spill deck with a forklift?

No. The openings on the sides are grating supports, not fork pockets. If drums need to move, buy a spill pallet and move it empty.

How do I connect two spill decks?

Use one bulkhead fitting (Part 1073) and one T strip (Part 1131) for every 26 inches of connected length. The P6 and P8 one piece decks can't be connected.

How much room does a spill deck bladder need?

When fully deployed, the bladder rolls out 65.5 inches from the deck and is 66 inches wide. Keep that space clear.

Which is easier to load, a deck or a pallet?

The deck. It stands 5.8 inches tall versus 11.8 inches for a standard P4 pallet and 16.5 inches for a P2. Ramps are available for P2 and P4 decks and for the P4 pallet.

Related guides

• Drum Spill Pallets: Steel vs Poly, and How to Choose
• Secondary Containment Requirements Explained: A Practical Guide
• Spill Pallet vs Spill Berm: Which Spill Containment Solution Is Right for You?
• Avoid These Common Mistakes When Using Spill Containment Pallets

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